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I hope you''re having a good Labor Day weekend, a holiday born out of the courage of working people who fought for their rights nearly 150 years ago. Once a radical movement, it's now a holiday that governments and companies commemorate with a day off - though, as a freelancer on your own schedule, it's just as likely you're working tomorrow.

For us at Freelancers Union, this day is an occasion to look at what's at stake right now for the freelance workforce, who continue to be marginalized and left behind by government systems that do not work for them.

As we go on Month 6 of this pandemic, we're looking back at months of mismanaged PUA payments, evaporated contracts, and economic anxiety. There have been great leaps forward - the acknowledgement of freelancers as part of the workforce for purposes of unemployment insurance and PPP and EIDL funding. But there is still a long way to go.

This Thursday, I'll be having a one-on-one conversation with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer about the current status of relief negotiations and what we can do to ensure freelancers' needs are met. I'll also discuss the PRO Act with him, so we can continue to advocate for labor laws that preserve your right to freelance.

I will also be speaking with other guests who can shed light and guidance on these issues.

Please join us at www.freelancersunion.org/live on Thursday, September 10, at 5:30pm ET to watch the conversation, and respond to this email with questions that you'd like me to ask any of our guests.

This holiday is a reminder that once-radical ideas can become second nature. 25 years ago, when Freelancers Union was founded, freelancing was a radical career choice, too. Let's keep the movement going together.

Take care and stay safe,
Rafael Espinal
President and Executive Director

It's disappointing.
 

There's no other way to put it. On Thursday, the Senate broke for recess after just two weeks when they were supposed to be working on a relief package that would address the serious economic crisis of this moment. 
 

They let the $600 FPUC program end without a solution for the millions who are still unable to work. They left mixed earners - freelancers who receive both W-2s and 1099s - taking home as little as $5 a week in unemployment benefits. They refused to address rent and mortgage relief for those who have had to choose between feeding their families and paying for their homes.
 

And now they're on vacation again.
 

It can be easy to feel demoralized by the lack of support. We have all been working so hard, and there have been so many calls to action, that to get this far into the summer without a real plan for aid is heartbreaking. But every step we have taken together counts. Bills have been introduced - like the Mixed Earner Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Act - that are a direct result of our advocacy. We are making progress, even when it doesn't feel like things are moving quickly enough.
 

It's crucial that we don't give up hope. This is a marathon, not a sprint, and we've got miles to go before we can rest. While they're out of the office, fill up your representative's voicemail with our demands. Send emails every day to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. Take a look at the resources our friends at Extend PUA (out-of-work freelancers themselves) have compiled and participate in their daily actions.
 

In a couple of weeks, I'll be hosting another Freelancers Union Town Hall to talk with you directly about what we have planned for when the Senate returns to work. I hope you'll join me then.
 

Do what you can, wear a mask, and stay safe.

Today, I announced the launch of an ambitious new study Freelancers Union is undertaking with researchers at Old Dominion University and the University of Minnesota. 

The goal of the project is to better understand the fullness of the Freelancers Union community. It's my goal as your President to make sure that the work we are doing represents every single one of our more than 500,000 members, no matter where you are in the country or how you identify. This study will help us get a better picture of the diverse backgrounds, professions, and personalities that make up the fullness of our community.
 

We've partnered with academics to help us conduct this research so we can also increase awareness of freelancers' needs. You and I know that freelancing is the future of work. The results of this academic study will give validity to freelance work in the eyes of the public.

Briefly, the study consists of a few 15-minute online surveys. If you choose to participate, you will be assigned to one of two groups that will receive a different set of questions about why you choose freelancing, your experiences at work, and some basic information about you. All responses are completely anonymous and confidential.

I hope that you will take the time to participate in this study. I have heard from many of our members that they want to be more involved in advocating for our community and a more just future - this is an easy way to make a priceless contribution to our work. 

Take care and stay safe,
Rafael Espinal
President and Executive Director, Freelancers Union
 

After a two-week vacation, the Senate is back in session this morning. The first thing that must be on their docket: a new relief package to support the millions of Americans who are struggling worse than ever.

In just one week, the $600 Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation program will end. I have heard from so many Freelancers Union members who are depending on this boost to stay afloat right now, and who are terrified of what will happen when it ends.

That's not to mention the hundreds of thousands of freelancers who have still not been able to access unemployment insurance benefits at all. Four months after the CARES Act, it's painfully clear we need bold action from the federal government if we are going to get through this crisis.

That's why we've sent a letter to the Senate demanding that they take action today, and why we're asking every Freelancers Union member to raise their voice and join us.

In short, we're asking for:

• States to include all income for freelancers in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance calculations, including W-2 and 1099

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance to include all workers who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic

• Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation to continue until the pandemic is over

• A monthly stimulus payment of $2,000

• Rent and mortgage forgiveness

Read more about our campaign on the blog today, where you''ll find an easy script to use to contact your senator.

It's now or never for millions of freelancers. Let's make this moment count.

Take care and stay safe,

Rafael Espinal,
President and Executive Director, Freelancers Union