Recent Activities 

October 28, 2008

Networking Event with NYS Senator Lanza

Freelancers Union members met with New York State Senator Andrew Lanza and Freelancers Union Executive Director Sara Horowitz on Staten Island, where Senator Lanza addressed topics close to freelancers’ hearts: exempting sole proprietors from the Unincorporated Business Tax and creating an Income Stabilization Fund to help freelancers during times of little or no employment. You can view photos of the event on our blog.

October 14, 2008

Forum: Uninsured Young Adults in New York

Freelancers Union co-sponsored a forum with the American Cancer Society, BALCONY, DEMOS, and the NYU Wagner Alumni Association, in which panelists discussed problems within the current healthcare system and proposals that seek to reform healthcare access. Our executive director Sara Horowitz spoke on the panel "Solutions on the Table," discussing the Freelancers Union model.  Learn more about the forum.

August 26, 2008

Networking Event with NYS Senator Martin Connor

New York State Senator Martin Connor joined our executive director Sara Horowitz and Freelancers Union members for an evening of networking and discussion about issues affecting independent workers. Senator Connor has been an independent worker himself, maintaining a part-time law practice for many years, and shared stories of his own about dealing with the complex tax laws that New York freelancers must deal with.  To learn more, read Freelancers Union's Q&A with Senator Connor, and view photos of the event on our blog.  

August 13, 2008

Networking Event with Speaker of the NYS Assembly, Sheldon Silver

Over 150 Freelancers Union members joined our executive director Sara Horowitz and the Speaker of the New York State Assembly, Sheldon Silver, for an evening of mingling and discussion. Topics that Assemblymember Silver addressed included health insurance, unemployment insurance for freelancers, unpaid wages, and reform of the Unincorporated Business Tax. You can view photos of the event on our blog.

April 1-July 4, 2008

Membership Drive: More People, More Pull

We did it! Freelancers Union beat our membership drive goal. As of midnight on July 4, we had 76,620 members - 1,620 over our goal of 75,000! The five states with the highest rates of growth were California, Illinois, Massachusetts, Florida, and Pennsylvania. Through the strength of our numbers, we're getting policymakers to pay attention to our issues, and we're building the next social safety net. You can learn more about the membership drive on our Advocacy page.

January 25, 2008

Roundtable Discussion with NYS Department of Labor Commissioner Patricia Smith

In a meeting at Freelancers Union headquarters, our executive director Sara Horowitz, New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Patricia Smith, and a small group of Freelancers Union members discussed the feast-or-famine nature of independent work.  The meeting was a great opportunity to highlight the fact that independent workers are generally excluded from existing programs, and to talk about innovative new ways that the State could support them.  NOW, the PBS newsmagazine hosted by David Brancaccio, filmed the roundtable discussion, which aired on February 15 at 8:30pm.  You can view the show here.