Activists call for additional $3B for Excluded Workers Fund

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — As the state budget deadline gets closer, advocates are pushing for lawmakers to support the workers left behind.

Friday morning the group gathered at Washington Square Park to call for an additional $3 billion for the Excluded Workers Fund.

Excluded workers are those ineligible for state unemployment benefits, or federal COVID-related relief funds.

"They are farmworkers, restaurant workers, construction workers, they are workers who are part of our community they are mostly immigrant workers who continue to put efforts and strength into our community and we continue to ignore them," said campaign organizer Cassandra Bocanegra.

The group also wants a permanent program similar to unemployment insurance for excluded workers, who are ineligible for compensation if they lose a job or earnings.

State lawmakers have until March 31 to adopt an on-time budget.