Union for the Self-Employed
- tamelarich
- December 9th, 2009
If you are self-employed (regardless of whether you have employees), you might find a friend in the Freelancers Union (FU). The word "union" is like red meat to American capitalists, but stay with me here. Recall other meanings of the word, for example, as it's used for "student union." Can you breathe now? OK, I'll continue.
The organization defines an independent worker as any worker who... is detached, in whole or in part, from the employer-based system of benefits and workplace protections. This means even if you own a company WITH employees but you yourself are self-employed, you qualify for membership in FU. Membership is free.
No less than PBS's NewsHour ran a couple of features on the organization including this one from November:
Policy focus -- are you listening Mr. President?
The FU says it's time for a new form of unionism to secure equitable taxation, government representation, and social insurance programs for the new independent workforce:
Fair Taxation
Due to an outdated tax code, Freelancers pay more taxes than traditional employees. As 30% of the U.S. workforce, freelancers can call for a fair review.
Unemployment Insurance
Without unemployment insurance, freelancers have no social safety net. They need a method of income stabilization for those vulnerable to periods of unemployment or under-employment.
Affordable Health Insurance
Health insurance is prohibitively expensive for individuals who don’t have coverage through their jobs. In every state, independent workers should be able to form groups to buy affordable insurance.
Unpaid Wage Compensation
The Department of Labor offers an unpaid wage claim system to employees, while freelancers must sue or walk away. Non-payment should be seen as an equal problem for everyone.
Saving for Retirement
Freelancers face unique challenges in planning for retirement. Freelancers Union is designing a flexible retirement plan tailor-made for independent workers and providing education on how to take control of their options.
To see which insurance and retirement savings programs you qualify for, enter your zip code here. NY residents have the most options, but there's something for most everyone.
Self-image issues
In a NYT article about the difference in attitudes between American and European workers, the writer, Steven Greenhouse, noticed what I've been thinking for a long time, "Today, American workers, even those earning $20,000 a year, tend to view themselves as part of an upwardly mobile middle class. In contrast, European workers often still see themselves as proletarians in an enduring class struggle.”
The majority of FU's members live in NYC, and thus have the most clout there. In 2009 Mayor Bloomberg partnered with FU on three projects "critical to making freelance fair" including:
- Fighting to end the NY state-wide UBT (Unincorporated Business Tax), which unfairly double-taxes freelancers’ income
- Developing a federal unemployment protection system to see freelancers through hard times
- Creating an incubator space to encourage freelance work in NYC
I wish the president had invited FU to last week's jobs summit at the White House. The organization's thoughtful policy recommendations deserve a place at the big table.
Tamela's here for small business owners who are watching their dreams and livelihoods go up in flames. With the credibility of someone who's been there, too, she writes about dealing with creditors, the IRS, family members and your own inner demons. She now earns her keep as a business ghostwriter. http://TamelaRich.com
Tickers: employment taxes, freelance, health insurance, political clout, retirement savings, small business, unemployment insurance
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