NEW YORK— On Tuesday, legal services workers with the Association of Legal Advocates and Attorneys—UAW Local 2325 (ALAA)—rallied in solidarity with striking members to demand the funding, staffing, and support they need to continue delivering justice for low-income New Yorkers.
The rally launched a picket line of 400 workers and drew support from mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, underscoring his close ties to the UAW—the first union to endorse his campaign back in December. They were also joined by State Attorney General Leticia James, New York City Council Labor Chair Carmen De La Rosa, New York City Council Member Justin Brannan, State Assembly Member Claire Valdez, and others.
“ALAA members are striking for the resources they need to represent working class New Yorkers in our city’s courts,” said UAW Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla. “We cannot sustain the high levels of attrition, burnout, and turnover in our workplaces. This is a fight for justice for poor and working-class people all over New York City.
“We need the mayor to step up and utilize these record reserves that they’ve been bragging about to ensure that we actually ‘Trump-proof’ the city by keeping legal advocates and attorneys in their jobs,” said Mancilla.
“ALAA members are the people that keep New Yorkers in their homes. They are the people that keep families together,” said Mayoral Candidate and State Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani at today’s rally. “And it is incumbent upon every single one of us to stand with them so that they can continue to afford to do this work.
“Because for too long, we have asked people to engage in public service at the expense of themselves. Why are we struggling to attract new applications? Why are we struggling to retain the existing workforce? Because this is not work that is paying people enough to stay in this city.”
Every day, ALAA members provide free legal representation to tenants facing eviction, immigrants at risk of deportation, families navigating child welfare and custody cases, survivors of domestic violence, the unhoused, and people seeking access to health care, disability benefits, and other critical services.
“What individuals need now more than ever is someone on their side. And that is a legal aid attorney,” said Attorney General Leticia James at the rally earlier today. “Someone who will defend the rights of marginalized and vulnerable populations. Someone who will go against corporate landlords. Someone who will stand up; someone who will not be afraid.
“As a former legal aid attorney who can relate to ALAA members, I recognize that this city must pay them more so that they can pay their bills. I stand with ALAA in solidarity as they fight for decency and respect.”
Underfunded for decades, these legal services workers are demanding fair wages, adequate resources, and staffing to reduce burnout and high turnover—issues that directly impact the quality of representation their clients receive. Common demands across the sector focus on lifting wages and guaranteeing workload protections that ensure working class New Yorkers get the best, most experienced advocates and that these union members can afford to stay in jobs they love.
“I’m so proud of how much we’ve already achieved. But our fight is not over.” said UAW Local 2325 President Lisa Ohta. “The city needs to invest in our communities now more than ever. We need housing advocates, immigration defense advocates, and public defenders to ‘Trump-proof’ our city.
“This means funding our work so that we can stay in jobs we love and continue serving our communities.”
As the cost of living rises and the city’s legal services funding lags, they are taking action to ensure all New Yorkers—especially working-class communities targeted by the Trump Administration’s harmful policies—have real access to justice.
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