Our Endorsement Committee has made its final decisions and is recommending that Freelancers Union members pull out all the stops for these candidates in 2010, including Eric Schneiderman and Velmanette Montgomery. See all our endorsements here, check out the coverage in City Hall, and volunteer today to get them elected!

We kicked off our first voter registration drive, with a goal of bringing 1,500 new voters to this fall's elections! Registering freelancers to vote means we can show politicians just how many of their constituents care about issues like taxation, health care, and protection from deadbeat clients. Sign up now to help register members to vote.

For two weeks in July, members interviewed New York State candidates as part of the Freelancers Union 2010 endorsement process. The Freelancers Union Endorsement Committee, composed of members, board members, and staff, convened to determine the final endorsed candidates based on responses to our candidate questionnaire and members' feedback from candidate interviews. Read about the experience.

Because of our efforts and lots of great involvement from members, the New York State Senate and Assembly introduced bills (S8084/A11520) that would protect freelancers from unpaid wages. The bill authorizes the Department of Labor to investigate complaints; make claims for compensation; assess liquid damages, civil penalties and criminal penalties; and authorizes the award of attorney fees and liquidated damages to freelancers facing nonpayment. Now we have to get the bill passed!