My FARE Increase

If YOU could decide, what would you want YOUR additonal 25¢ to go to? 

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Stephanie Sapiie, Professor

That is the question the Long Island Bus Riders’ Union has been asking Nassau bus riders.
On September 1st, Nassau County and NICE Bus will be imposing a 25¢ fare increase on cash paying customers as one solution to help fill NICE Bus’ $3.3 million budget shortfall. Does anyone else smell a bailout? Nassau County and NICE Bus have also agreed to chip in, but do not be fooled by this gesture – the buses have needed more money since 2012 and Nassau has not delivered! To top it all off, with little to no public notice, Veolia (NICE Bus operator) held two virtually INACCESSIBLE public hearings with barely any riders’ present. Without any public support, a fare increase was approved, and Nassau County and NICE bus have decided that bus riders should be the ones to pick up the tab and bail them out.
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Mary Frances, Nassau Community College Student

This (un)fare increase comes with no improvements to bus service, yet riders are expected to pay, and for what?!
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Anonymous Rider, Mother of Three

As a response, the Long Island Bus Riders’ Union launched the “My FAIR Increase” Campaign, demanding that Nassau County and NICE Bus give bus riders a public thank you for bailing them out! Aaron and Kimberly will be visiting bus terminals and bus stops until September 2nd to speak with riders about what they want their 25¢ to pay for (see the pictures). We will deliver these demands to NICE Bus on September 2nd, the day after the implementation of the fare increase, where we will demonstrate outside of the NICE Headquarters (700 Commercial Avenue, Garden City) at 6:30PM. We will also visit Nassau County officials on September 8th at their legislative meeting (1550 Franklin Avenue, Mineola) at 1PM (see flyer below for details).

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Simja Bezalel, Medicaid Service Coordinator for the Disabled

Please join us on September 2nd and the 8th as we tell Nassau County and NICE Bus that if they want our money then they need to listen to US, the riders!
Aaron Watkins-Lopez
Organiser
Long Island Bus Riders’ Union

And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!

BRU September Actions

 

This Labor Day: Celebrate, Reflect, and Act for Worker Justice

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Dear Friend,

This Labor Day is a time of celebration. Our economy is finally growing again: the stock market has set new records and corporate profits are up, as is the productivity of American workers.

This Labor Day is also a time of reflection and recognition. The wealthiest 1% of Americans now possess 40% of the nation’s wealth, while the bottom 80% own only 7%.

Workers are still struggling, and many remain in the shadows! Wages are stagnant, and low-wage workers’ incomes are actually shrinking.

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So, this Labor Day is a call to acknowledge that we are coming out of the Great Recession due to the unrewarded, or under-rewarded, toil of workers in the US. We need to celebrate their hard work as we recommit ourselves to economic justice for all.

Long Island Jobs with Justice is offering two opportunities for you to reflect and act on worker justice:
First, for those of you in religious congregations, please incorporate the powerful prayers for workers we are providing into your services on Labor Day weekend.  Here are the prayers you can use at your place of worship: 2014 Labor Day Prayers
2014 Labor Day Prayers
Second, on Sunday, September 14th, we invite you to attend a workshop, “Undocumented and Unprotected: An Action Plan for Farmworker Justice on Long Island,” from 4-7PM at St. John the Evangelist Church in Riverhead. At this workshop, you will learn about the specific hardships faced by undocumented immigrant farmworkers on the East End, who are not protected by federal or state labor laws. The workshop will focus on what you can do to support them in the coming weeks and months  . A free light supper will be provided, but please RSVP with Kimberly Saget at ksaget.lijwj@gmail.com or call 631-348-1170 ext. 317 so that we know how much supper to provide.
Undocumented and Unprotected Flyer
Undocumented and Unprotected Flyer
Let’s make this Labor Day more than a backyard barbecue, back-to-school sale or trip to the beach. Let’s truly honor workers and recognize the labor of those who have been kept in the shadows.
In solidarity,
The staff of Long Island Jobs with Justice:
Anita, Aaron, Kimberly, Victoria and Dick

Sandy Mold Report Release

On Monday, August 11th, Long Island Jobs with Justice in collaboration with NYCOSH, New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health, and supported by allies and Nassau Legislators Curran and Denenberg released a report about the lingering dangers of mold in houses affected by Hurricane Sandy and the necessity for disaster preparedness training and education for community members.

To read the article go here,

To watch the the News12 story about this issue go here.,

And to read the Newsday article about it go here.
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Congratulations Richard!

The 2014 Peacemaker of the Year is our very own Richard Koubek! Here is a picture of Richard receiving the award for Long Island Jobs with Justice from Pastor James Rey and Rev. Ken Graham of the Long Island Presbytery for the remarkable work he is done across Long Island for economic justice! Congratulations Richard!10577102_10153352066474897_5836220528182018977_n

A Call for Justice for New York’s Farmworkers!

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In an effort to bolster New York State’s economic development, Governor Cuomo has hosted a beer, wine and spirits summit, a yogurt summit, and a tourism summit to support local industries and promote job creation. But why hasn’t there been a farmworker justice summit?

New York’s farmworkers form the backbone of the state’s multi-billion dollar agricultural industry, but they are excluded from basic labor law protections like minimum wage requirements, overtime pay and the right to join a union, to name a few.

Many enjoy biting into a crisp apple or a sipping on a glass of wine, but how do these fruits get from the farm to our tables? Join the Justice for Farmworkers Coalition tomorrow, June 17th, at 12pm in front of Governor Cuomo’s Hicksville office (303 Old Country Road) as we rally for accountability along the supply chain and demand justice for New York’s farmworkers! Governor Cuomo’s daughter has called for support for farmworkers, now it is the Governor’s turn!

If you are unable to attend tomorrow, please join us on Thursday, June 26th at 6:30pm at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Shelter Rock (45 Shelter Rock Road, Manhasset) for a screening of The Harvest/La Cosecha and a panel discussion. The Harvest/La Cosecha is the story of the children who work 12-14 hour days on American farms without the protection of child labor laws and subject to heat exposure, pesticides, and dangerous work (event details below).

Don’t forget to RSVP with Anita Halasz (ahalasz.lijwj@gmail.com // (631) 348-1170 x. 304) if you plan to attend.

La Cosecha The Harvest Film Flyer

Father’s Day Vigil Against Deportations – Weather Update

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Our Father’s Day Vigil against deportations is still on for tonight; however due to the rain, we will no longer be marching from Hempstead Turnpike. Instead we will meet at 6pm across from the Nassau Correctional Center by East Meadow High School where parking is available. If using public transportation, you can take the N16/N17 bus to this location. Hope to see you all there!

HELP STOP THE DEPORTATION OF WILFREDIS!

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Yesterday’s primary election defeat of Republican Majority Leader Eric Cantor by the Tea Party has already been tagged as the “death of Comprehensive Immigration Reform” for 2014. A few weeks ago, President Obama put on hold his call for more “humane” deportation policies in the hope that this would move immigration reform in the House. So, now what?

We cannot remain silent in the face of this political paralysis. Join us on June 12th at 6 PM for  a Long Island Jobs with Justice “Father’s Day” vigil in East Meadow to “Stop the Deportations.”  This vigil is especially poignant and important because we will feature one undocumented immigrant, Wilfredis Ayala Castillo, who was arrested in January for unknowingly walking onto private property and now sits in an Alabama detention center awaiting deportation, separated from his wife and 5 year old son, Justin. Give us one hour tomorrow to be the voice for Wilfredis, and the 11 million other hard-working, undocumented immigrants like him who face a similar fate. Help bring Wilfredis home to his family.

Estimado amigos,

Ayer en la perdida de las elecciones primarias del republicano líder de la minoría Eric Cantor por el Tea Party ya se ha etiquetado como la “muerte de la reforma integral de inmigración” para el 2014. Hace unas semanas, el presidente Obama detenio su llamada para revizo a  las deportaciónes  en la esperanza de que se movería la reforma migratoria en la Casa. Así que, ¿ahora qué?

No podemos permanecer en silencio frente a esta parálisis político. Insto a que se unan con nosotros mañana, el 12 de junio a las 6pm  para una  vigilia en honor al Día del padre en East Meadow para “Alto a las deportaciones”. Esta vigilia es especialmente importante porque vamos a apoyar a un inmigrante indocumentado, Wilfredis Ayala Castillo, quien fue detenido en enero por  caminando a la propiedad privada  y ahora se encuentra en un centro de detención de deportación en  Alabama, separado de su esposa y hijo de 5 años, Justin. Danos una hora de su tiempo mañana para ser la voz de Wilfredis, y los otros 11 millones de trabajadores, los inmigrantes indocumentados como él, que se enfrentan a un destino similar.Ayuda a traer a  Wilfredis a casa con su familia.

Wilfredis Vigil 6.12.14

Wilfredis Vigilia