Past Activities
2006
Fighting to Eliminate the Unincorporated Business Tax (UBT) for Freelancers
The NYC UBT is a 4% tax paid in addition to regular federal, state and city income taxes. Many independent workers - freelancers, temps, consultants, and sole proprietors - count as unincorporated businesses. These individuals often function more like employees than businesses, but, due to the UBT, many pay taxes as if they are both.
Freelancers shouldn't have to pay more taxes than regular employees. That's why we joined with City Councilmember David Yassky (D - Brooklyn) to support his budget resolution to reduce the UBT. Our Op-Ed on the subject ran in the Daily News on June 19, 2006.
Letter Writing Campaign Requesting Funds From City Council
In May 2006, Freelancers Union conducted a letter-writing campaign requesting support from the New York City Council. More than 850 members participated, showing that freelancers are a growing constituency.
Best Practices for Hiring Freelancers
Based on the responses from our online poll, Best Companies to Freelance For in NYC, Freelancers Union has developed a set of standards for companies that employ independent workers entitled Best Practices for Hiring Freelancers. These 'best practices' can help to ensure that independent workers are treated fairly by their clients and employers.
Best Companies to Freelance for in NYC
In October, the Freelancers Union conducted an online poll of New York City Freelancers. Nearly 1,200 freelancers responded.
Creative Workers Count: New York City's Arts Funding Overlooks Individual Artists' Needs
In its 2005 study of New York's independent creative workers - among them artists, composers, illustrators, photographers and writers - Freelancers Union found that despite their high levels of education and civic participation, creative workers are struggling with financial instability generated by an outdated social safety net, erratic employment, and low incomes.
"Creative Workers Count" examines the challenges New York's creative workers face and makes policy recommendations calling for a new social safety net that would allow creative workers to achieve stability here.
2005
The Rise of the Freelance Class: A New Constituency of Workers Building a New Social Safety Net
Freelancing isn't just a way of making a living, it's a way of life. That's what the Freelancers Union found when it surveyed more than 2,800 New York City freelancers in the spring of 2005. Creative, independent and entrepreneurial, many freelancers are fiercely dedicated to their lifestyle. They also make significant sacrifices to freelance. Their experience illustrates the flaws in our system of social insurance, which limits access to health insurance and retirement plans to those with traditional employment relationships.
2004
Young, Employed, and Uninsured: New York City's Young Independent Workers Face Chronic Gaps in Health Insurance Coverage
Our recently published report, which draws on data from our health insurance affordability survey, highlights the plight of young freelancers who struggle to pay for health insurance and as a result face chronic gaps in coverage. The lack of affordable health insurance options for independent workers under 30 compounds their financial stress, while compromising the city's public health and its creative economy.
Celebration to Honor New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver
On September 9, Working Today honored New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver for his continued and unwavering support of the organization's mission. The event, held at the Henry Street Settlement, was attended by Working Today members, New York City thought leaders and policy makers, and friends of the organization.
The High Price of Creativity: New York City's Artists Face Chronic Gaps in Health Insurance Coverage
Our recently published report, which draws on data from our health insurance affordability survey, details the ways in which artists struggle to afford health insurance and as a result face chronic gaps in coverage. The lack of affordable health insurance options for arts workers compromises New York City's ability to retain its leadership as a creative capital and jeopardizes the city's public health.
Top Companies to Freelance for in New York City
In June, we conducted an on-line poll of New York City freelancers to identify the best companies to freelance for in the city. We asked freelancers to identify the best companies and tell us why these companies deserved recognition. Working Today plans to conduct this survey annually as a first step in setting standards for how companies treat freelancers. Almost 1,200 freelancers voted.
Health Insurance Affordability Survey
In March, we launched a follow-up survey to last year's survey which told us that an individual would have to earn over $100,000 to afford health insurance in New York City. This year over 4,000 independent workers responded.
2003
Prescription Drug Discount Card
In October, Working Today was one of two organizations invited to speak at a press conference with New York City Council Speaker Giff Milller in support of a new discount prescription drug card. The card could help 2.1 million un- and underinsured New Yorkers save substantially on out-of-pocket prescription costs. Our executive director spoke on behalf of independent workers, many who stand to benefit from this plan.
"Freelancers Union" Education Campaign
On May 1st, Working Today launched its Freelancers Union advocacy campaign in the New York City subway and other venues such as local papers and public radio. In addition to announcing the new name for the Portable Benefits Network (PBN), the campaign is designed to educate the general public about Working Today and the difficulties independent workers face in affording health insurance.
Health Insurance (un)Affordability
In January, 2003, Working today conducted an online survey to assess health insurance affordability for independent workers. In the survey, which generated over 800 responses, independent workers indicated that they require some form of assistance to afford current health insurance premiums. In fact, the survey found that unless one earns over $100,000, one cannot afford most health insurance plans in New York.
On March 5th, we presented these findings to the New York City Council at an educational briefing hosted by Council member Bill DeBlasio and chair of the Health Committee, Council member Christine Quinn. At this briefing, Working Today members testified about their struggles to afford health care. The briefing had a standing room only crowd, consisting mostly of Working Today members who came out to support their peers, and generated significant press about the issue.
2002
Governor's Race
In the early fall, Working Today conducted an online survey designed to educate New York's gubernatorial candidates about the needs and concerns of the independent workforce. Overwhelmingly, respondents told us their primary concern was the rising cost of health insurance and requested direct tax credits to offset this cost. We presented this finding to the candidates for governor in New York State to educate them and ask them to consider ways to offset the growing cost of health insurance. Six of the seven candidates issued a response.
City Council Letter Writing Campaign
In May, we urged our members to contact New York City Council member Christine Quinn, the chair of the Health Committee to educate her about independent workers' need for affordable, portable benefits. Over 250 members wrote to Council member Quinn, which resulted in significant support for Working Today.
2001
State of Independent Work Report
In February, Working Today conducted an on-line survey of new media workers with the help of Monitor Consulting. We distributed the survey through several new media organizations including Alley Cat News, At New York, Cyber Scene, Silicon Alley Daily, Wired and two key associations: Downtown Alliance and New York New Media Association. The survey generated 498 responses overall: 193 who work in new media, high-tech or traditional media. Of these, 105 identified themselves as independent workers. This survey provided the first snapshot of how independent workers work and access benefits.
Read the report.
2000
New York's Health Care Reform Act
Working Today successfully worked with the Pataki administration to ensure that low-income independent workers be covered by insurance plans created under New York's Health Care Reform Act. This act uses tobacco settlement money to help insure the uninsured, and one of its products, Healthy NY, now provides coverage to independent workers who make 250 percent of poverty or less.
1999
Contingent Workers: Incomes and Benefits Lag Behind Those of Rest of Workforce
In 1999, there was almost no data on the independent workforce. It was difficult to determine if this sector was growing or whether working independently affected this group's ability to access affordable benefits. To address this need for research, Working Today asked Senator Robert Torricelli to commission a General Accounting Office (GAO) study on the independent workforce. In the first analysis of its kind, the study found that over one-third of the American workforce work in non-standard arrangements (over thirty million workers). As the title of the report suggests, independent workers are less likely than the rest of the working population to have health insurance and pension benefits.
Read the GAO Study, Contingent Workers: Income & Benefits Lag Behind.
