By: Sarah Belle Lin, AMNY
Around 500 laborers and workers shut down the Manhattan Bridge during the Monday morning rush hour to push for state legislation that would provide more workers with access to unemployment benefits in times of need.
Groups that participated in the rally included Make the Road New York, Street Vendor Project, NY Taxi Workers, Laborers Local 79, New Immigrant Community Empowerment, Desis Rising Up, Release Aging People in Prison Campaign, and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.
They are calling for Governor Kathy Hochul to establish what’s known as the Unemployment Bridge Program, which would provide unemployment compensation to people not ordinarily covered by standard unemployment benefits, in her 2024 budget.