2,000+ HUMAN SERVICES WORKERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS & ADVOCATES RALLY AT CITY HALL TO DEMAND PASSAGE OF WAGE EQUITY LEGISLATION
Facing Affordability Crisis, Coalition Calls on City Council to Pass Int. 0452 to Address Chronic Underpayment in Human Services Sector, Fight for #JustPay
NEW YORK – More than 2,000 nonprofit human services workers, advocates, nonprofit leaders representing 70 organizations, and elected officials rallied at City Hall today urging the New York City Council to pass Int. 0452, legislation that would establish wage equity protections for city-contracted human services workers.
The rally brought together a broad coalition of 85 organizationsand workers from across New York City’s human services sector to demand action on decades of inequitable pay between nonprofit employees and City government workers performing comparable jobs, as they are asked to do even more to support Mayor Mamdani’s universal childcare expansion and other agenda priorities.
“We cannot solve New York City’s affordability crisis while underpaying the very workers who keep families housed, feed seniors, support children, and care for our communities,” said Councilmember Althea Stevens, lead sponsor of Int. 0452. “Human services workers are being priced out of the neighborhoods they serve every single day. Int. 0452 is about making sure essential workers get equal pay and can afford to continue doing the work New Yorkers depend on.”
“New York City has relied on nonprofit human services workers to hold together the social safety net while paying them far less than government workers doing comparable jobs. That injustice is fueling a workforce crisis across the sector,” said Michelle Jackson, Executive Director of Human Services Council. “We thank Council Members Stevens and the growing number of Council sponsors backing this bill and standing with the workers who keep this city running. United, our message could not be more clear: equal work deserves equal pay.”
The nonprofit human services sector provides critical services to millions of New Yorkers, including mental health care, homeless services, afterschool programming, domestic violence support, elder services, workforce development, and family support programs. Chronic underfunding and low wages have fueled staffing shortages and turnover across the sector.
Int. 0452 would require City-contracted human services providers to pay workers wages aligned with comparable City civil service positions. The bill would also require City agencies to include sufficient funding in contracts to support those wages and associated fringe costs. The legislation would help stabilize the workforce, improve retention, and strengthen the delivery of essential services citywide.
“Our human services workers are the backbone of the support system for Bronx residents and deserve fair and equal pay,” said Eileen Torres, CEO of BronxWorks. “Int. 0452 would help BronxWorks and other organizations like ours maintain a stable workforce and ensure we can reliably provide housing support, meal assistance, workforce training, and many other essential services to those who need them most. We’re grateful to Council Member Stevens for her leadership on this critical issue and for standing with the workers who help keep the city running every day.”
“Human services workers are the frontline in New York City’s fight against homelessness, hunger, violence, and mental health crises. However, the City does not compensate them fairly for this crucial work, despite being directly in control of their salaries,” said Wayne Ho, Board Chair of the Human Services Council. “For too long, the City has relied on nonprofit workers to hold together the social safety net while paying them far less than public sector employees doing comparable work. We are in strong support of this legislation that will ensure that this essential workforce is finally treated with the dignity and fairness they’ve earned.”
“The #JustPay campaign has been extremely effective in securing city and state COLAs, but it is so much broader in scope than annual salary increases for direct care staff,” said Corinne Hammons, President & CEO of Little Flower Children & Family Services of New York, and HSC Board Secretary. “By rallying toward the positive hope and promise of true, codified, wage equity, we will ensure both a more affordable New York and also a workforce whose value is understood and supported by all New Yorkers. As a proud member of the #JustPay steering committee, I am certain the rally will be a pivotal moment in the movement.”
“Intro 0452 closes the gap between what New York City pays nonprofit human services workers and what City workers would get paid to do the same jobs. Our staff makes almost 30% less on average than their City government peers; and over 1 in 10 depend on SNAP food stamps to make ends meet. Workers in our sector deserve fair pay for the essential services they provide, services that hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers depend on each and every day,” said Dan Lehman, HELP USA President & CEO.
“Human services workers are part of the communities they serve. Our staff at NMIC help families stay housed, support people through crises, and keep vital programs running every day. New York depends on this workforce, and the people doing this work deserve wages they can actually live on,” said Maria Lizardo, LMSW, Executive Director of NMIC.
“Serving older New Yorkers, Encore Community Services provides a critical safety net that saves our city millions of dollars by preventing unnecessary hospitalizations and early long-term care admissions. But the people delivering that care are paid far less than comparable workers in government and healthcare. Wage equity isn’t just a budget line item; it’s a moral obligation to the workforce that keeps our older neighbors safe, fed, and at home. The City should invest in the professionals who make this care possible by finally delivering a fair, livable wage,” said Jeremy L. Kaplan Chief Executive Officer of Encore Community Services.
Over 85 organizations from across New York support today’s action. Below are members of the Just Pay Steering Committee:
o NMIC
o BronxWorks
o Chinese American Planning Council
o Encore Community Services
o Little Flower Children and Family Services
o Queens Community House
o University Settlement
o HELP USA
o Special thanks to previous member Urban Pathways
About Human Services Council
The Human Services Council of New York, a leading advocate for nonprofits providing human services, works to strengthen the ability of nonprofit agencies to maximize human potential in communities across New York. Nearly 200 nonprofit organizations throughout New York City and State are HSC members. Visit HSC at www.HumanServicesCouncil.org.
