Workers from the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG), particularly from the tenants’ rights division, are planning a strike that could disrupt the vital services they provide to low-income tenants facing eviction.
The NYLAG association has become the focal point for these workers, who are demanding better pay, less workload, and free speech rights.
As the largest unit at NYLAG, the tenants’ rights division plays a crucial role in delivering free legal representation to those in need under New York City’s Right to Counsel program.
On Monday, housing, immigration, and labor attorneys, alongside their support staff, picketed outside the Manhattan office, calling for action as they prepare for their contracts to expire on Tuesday.
Their collective bargaining efforts have been ongoing for months, yet progress has been minimal, prompting plans for coordinated action and a potential strike.
Chants of “NYLAG, NYLAG it’s been ages. Pay your workers living wages” resonated in front of their office, a sign of their frustration.
Shelly Pires, a paralegal at NYLAG and a union official, voiced that the high demands of their workload hinder their capacity to represent clients effectively in court.
She noted that challenging workloads jeopardize the quality of representation, stating, “If people can’t pursue the type of zealous representation that would get our clients meaningful outcomes in court because of strenuous workloads, then we’re not doing right by our clients.”
Pires highlighted the difficulty of sustaining a career in such a demanding environment while coping with New York’s rising living costs.
“We’re doing this to ensure that people like us who care about this work can continue doing it for a long time,” she added.
NYLAG workers warn that failure to meet their demands could intensify turnover rates and degrade client representation, which a recent report from Comptroller Brad Lander identifies as a rising concern.
The report indicated that inadequate funding, rigid contract requirements, and overwhelming caseloads hinder legal service providers’ ability to meet the growing demand for assistance.
According to the report, only about 30 percent of tenants facing eviction had legal representation in March, underscoring the need for reform and support.
Central to the negotiations are the demands for salaries to reach a minimum of $70,000 per year, with NYLAG proposing to align all current employees to this salary by the fiscal year 2029.
However, new hires may still start with a salary lower than this minimum.
In addition to salary increases, the workers are advocating for a 5.5% annual salary rise, a 10% retirement contribution, and lower health insurance premiums.
Given NYLAG’s focus on immigrant communities, there is also a call for a pay differential for staff from immigrant backgrounds who utilize their language skills and cultural experiences in their work.
Apart from financial concerns, the workers seek to cement free speech rights at NYLAG, arguing that these rights were curtailed after expressing opposing views on geopolitical issues, notably the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Staff have faced disciplinary action for expressing their viewpoints, leading to a push for policy reform within the organization.
Diana Rosen, a staff attorney, expressed frustration over potential surveillance and harassment from management in relation to personal expression within the workplace.
A representative from NYLAG maintained that the organization aims to foster a supportive work environment and that monitoring is applied consistently across all viewpoints to prevent division.
Another pressing concern for NYLAG workers revolves around excessive caseloads that lead to burnout and staff turnover, jeopardizing client outcomes.
Attorneys at NYLAG often handle upwards of four new cases a month, a figure that fails to account for time spent on necessary administrative tasks.
The union argues for a reassessment of the workload, advocating for a reduction to approximately two and a half cases per month, translating to 30 cases per year.
Jon Bash, a senior staff attorney, mentioned that the current structure makes it difficult for workers to fully engage with their cases, limiting their effectiveness when representing clients.
New York City enacted the Right to Counsel laws in 2017, pioneering the provision of free legal representation for low-income tenants threatened with eviction.
This unique program, operated by the Department of Social Services, assigns legal aid nonprofits such as NYLAG to provide the necessary legal support.
Despite this groundbreaking initiative, reports indicate that fewer than half of the tenants facing eviction have legal representation in housing court.
Malika Conner, coalition coordinator at the Right to Counsel NYC Coalition, emphasized the need for full program funding to ensure that every eligible tenant can receive the assistance they deserve.
She underscored the urgent need for increased funding, as the city’s budget currently falls short of the estimated $350 million annually to meet the demands of Right to Counsel, though it has expanded since 2020.
While the recently passed 2026 budget adds $15.6 million for Right to Counsel, advocates continue to push for a comprehensive funding strategy that aligns legal assistance with rising eviction rates.
Neha Sharma, representing the Department of Social Services, clarified that while the city doesn’t directly handle staffing and pay equity at contracted nonprofits, it has implemented measures to ensure that service providers are adequately funded.
The strategic decision to synchronize contract expirations among various legal service providers is part of a long-term plan to amplify their bargaining power.
If all associated organizations faced with expired contracts take collective action, the impact on housing courts could be significant, likely leading to case adjournments and added pressure on public officials for negotiations.
The alignment of contract expirations mirrors tactics previously established in the United Auto Workers movement, which successfully executed coordinated actions that drew national attention and political support.
While the unique challenges of the nonprofit legal sector present hurdles, NYLAG workers remain steadfast in their pursuit of equitable contracts and improved working conditions.
Estefania Rodriguez, an organizer at the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys, confirmed that the objective is to reach mutual resolutions to avoid strikes, stating, “Our goal has never been necessarily to strike.”
Moreover, she pointed out that the coordinated bargaining approach helps to elevate the broader issues impacting legal aid workers and tenants in New York City.
As negotiations continue, the potential for a strike looms large, necessitating collaborative efforts to ensure fairness for workers and adequate representation for vulnerable populations facing eviction.
image source from：citylimits
