Good Jobs New York

Good Jobs New York
Name	Good Jobs New York
Type	Nonprofit advocacy group
Founded	2008
Headquarters	New York City, New York
Focus	Labor rights; living wage; municipal contracting; workforce development
Key people	Johan Jacinto; Kim Sweet; Carmen Rivera

Good Jobs New York

Good Jobs New York is a New York City–based nonprofit advocacy organization that campaigns for labor standards, living wages, and accountability in municipal contracting. The group organizes coalitions among labor unions, community organizations, faith groups, and legal advocates to influence policy in New York City and New York State. It has pursued public-facing campaigns, legislative advocacy, and litigation to advance worker protections and procurement reforms.

Overview

Good Jobs New York operates at the intersection of municipal procurement, labor advocacy, and community organizing, working alongside entities such as Service Employees International Union, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, Teamsters, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and community groups like Make the Road New York and New York Communities for Change. The organization engages with elected officials including members of the New York City Council, representatives from the New York State Assembly, and offices of the Mayor of New York City to alter contracting practices for public benefits. It has partnered with legal organizations such as the National Employment Law Project and the ACLU of New York and allied with faith-based groups like the Interfaith Center of New York.

History and Formation

Formed in 2008 amid debates over municipal contracting and living wage policy during the mayoralty of Michael Bloomberg and the early career of Bill de Blasio, Good Jobs New York grew from coalition work by local unions and community organizations following high-profile campaigns around airport concessions and privatized services. Early influences included campaigns led by SEIU Local 32BJ around building services and organizing efforts connected to the Occupy Wall Street era. The group has operated in the context of New York political developments involving figures such as Christine Quinn, Betsy Gotbaum, and Letitia James while aligning tactics with national movements around labor standards linked to organizations like Fight for $15 and advocacy efforts by the Economic Policy Institute.

Campaigns and Programs

Good Jobs New York has run multifaceted campaigns targeting contractors at municipal sites including airports, public housing, and cultural institutions. Notable actions have intersected with campaigns at John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport where labor and community coalitions pushed for higher standards for subcontractors and concessions. Programs have included living-wage campaigns resembling those promoted by Bernie Sanders supporters, accountability measures similar to initiatives by Elizabeth Warren staffers, and community benefit agreements inspired by work with organizations like Urban Justice Center.

The organization has coordinated with legal challenges and administrative complaints submitted to bodies such as the New York City Comptroller and the New York State Department of Labor, and has promoted ordinances before the New York City Council with allies including members aligned with Public Advocate Letitia James and progressive councilmembers. Coalitions frequently include faith leaders connected to the Archdiocese of New York and the Brooklyn Diocese, labor leaders from UNITE HERE, and civil rights advocates from groups like the NAACP New York State Conference.

Policy Positions and Advocacy

Good Jobs New York advocates for municipal procurement policies that require living wages, benefits, and transparency in subcontracting, echoing policy proposals advanced by progressive elected officials such as AOC-aligned staff and municipal reformers associated with Cynthia Nixon campaigns. It supports inclusion of labor standards in city franchise agreements used by institutions like the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and seeks to reform contracting practices at agencies including the New York City Housing Authority and the Department of Education (New York City). The group has pushed for policies resembling local variants of the Fair Labor Standards Act protections, and has lobbied for enhanced enforcement mechanisms akin to measures pursued by the Office of the Inspector General in federal contexts.

Good Jobs New York also advocates for transparency provisions comparable to disclosure regimes championed by the Sunlight Foundation and tax-exemption scrutiny reminiscent of debates involving institutions like The Rockefeller Foundation and Ford Foundation when they intersect with municipal contracting.

Organizational Structure and Funding

The organization is structured as a nonprofit advocacy group that coordinates with labor unions, community organizations, legal clinics, and faith networks. Its advisory and leadership circles have included organizers with ties to unions such as SEIU, policy analysts formerly associated with think tanks like the Brookings Institution and activists who previously worked with groups like ACORN and Jobs With Justice. Funding sources have reportedly included labor-funded political action groups, philanthropic grants from foundations that fund social justice work such as Open Society Foundations–style donors, and contributions routed through community partner organizations. Good Jobs New York has also relied on grassroots fundraising and in-kind support from allied unions including 1199SEIU and New York State AFL-CIO.

Impact, Criticism, and Controversies

Supporters credit the organization with securing wage provisions and accountability clauses in municipal contracts, influencing procurement policies at agencies such as the New York City Housing Authority and affecting concession agreements at venues like John F. Kennedy International Airport and cultural institutions including the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Criticisms have come from business groups like the Business Council of New York State and trade associations representing contractors that argue the group’s demands increase costs and complicate procurement. Legal challenges and media coverage by outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Gothamist have scrutinized specific campaigns, while investigative reporting by publications such as ProPublica and The Village Voice has debated the efficacy and tactics of coalition-driven pressure campaigns.

Controversies have also involved disputes over labor jurisdiction with unions such as Teamsters and Service Employees International Union and debates about the balance between nonprofit advocacy and political activity, occasionally drawing attention from election oversight bodies including the New York State Board of Elections. Overall, the organization remains a visible actor in New York City’s ongoing debates over labor standards, municipal procurement, and community-benefit contracting.

Category:Nonprofit organizations based in New York City