Page 5 - Immigrant Issues News Today

Hundreds of New York commercial office cleaners are going to Philadelphia to rally for upcoming contract negotiations. The negotiations for New York City begin in November since the contract expires on December 31st of this year. It would cover 20,000 commercial office cleaners of more than 1,300 buildings in the city. ...

A New York immigrants rights organization has created a membership group to develop solutions for better treatment of immigrants arriving in the state. Composed of immigrants, Envision Freedom Funds new group hopes to provide a better understanding of immigrant needs. The program was created out of a desire by previously detained immigrants who want to help those who are now going through the detention process. ...

As the summer season continues, refugees who have resettled in the Fargo area are watching their vegetables and fruit grow in a new community garden. Organizers say it helps New Americans establish self-sufficiency as they carve out a new future. The one-acre community garden, which opened this spring, replaced an old hockey rink at Fargos Village West Park. ...

Summer is usually a busy time for the housing market, but advocates say housing is one of many parts of the economy undocumented workers are excluded from, despite paying taxes. They hope an Internal Revenue Service tool gains more acceptance. The Individual Taxpayer Identification Number is issued by the IRS to ensure those without a Social Security Number, including undocumented individuals, pay taxes. ...

About one in three Indiana workers now works remotely, according to the Center for Business and Economic Research at Ball State University, and some companies are growing frustrated with those who refuse to come back to the office. Some businesses are offering incentives such as a relaxed dress code, onsite dry-cleaning service, or free meals. But workers are not biting; not even for a hybrid schedule. ...

Washington state corrections workers are calling on the state to keep their word and deliver on pandemic-related bonuses. More than 400 union members of the Washington Federation of State Employees who work at the Department of Corrections say theyve been informed they wont get a $1,000 Recognition and Retention Lump Sum payment negotiated in their latest contracts. Jim Furchert, community corrections officer for the Washington State Department of Corrections and a union steward for the Washin...

In West Virginia, babies of Black mothers are dying at higher rates in childbirth compared to white infants - and experts say the lack of access to healthcare for people of color is likely driving those numbers. According to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the states white infant mortality rate was 6.8 deaths per 1,000 births - while the Black infant mortality rate was more than 13 deaths per 1,000 births. The figures are from 2014 to 2017, but Healt...

New federal data show inflation is cooling off in a big way. The relief comes on the heels of a Minnesota policy report detailing how rural areas experienced the situation when consumer prices were peaking. The Consumer Price Index rose 3% in June, the smallest 12-month increase since early 2021. ...

Undocumented immigrants in Massachusetts are now able to apply for a drivers license regardless of their immigration status. The Work and Family Mobility Act went into effect July 1, removing the requirement that residents provide proof of lawful presence in the U.S. Franklin Soults - the senior communications strategist with the 32BJ local of the Service Employees International Union, speaking for the Driving Families Forward coalition - said other states with similar laws have seen reducti...

Despite an approved fare increase, a campaign continues to look for other ways to fund public transit in Portland. In front of crowd of loud protesters in May, the TriMet board voted to approve a 30 cent increase to 2.5 hour fares. Ellie Gluhosky, campaign organizer with OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon, said fare increases are an unreliable source of revenue. ...