Rafael Espinal

Freelancers Union
Executive Director

Rafael Espinal is the Executive Director of Freelancers Union. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Rafael Espinal became New York’s youngest elected official when he joined the State Assembly at age 26. The son of Dominican immigrants who were union members as well as freelancers, Rafael quickly became a leader fighting on behalf of workers, small businesses, artists, and low-income communities. In 2013, he was elected to the New York City Council, representing Brooklyn’s diverse 37th District.

Rafael has been a steadfast advocate for freelancer rights throughout his career. On the City Council, he was an early supporter and a co-sponsor of the first-of-its-kind Freelance Isn’t Free legislation that passed in New York City in 2016, giving freelancers unprecedented protection from nonpayment and late payment. He co-sponsored a bill passed in 2019 to extend protections against harassment and discrimination to independent workers under the City’s Human Rights Law.

As only the third leader of Freelancers Union since its founding in 1995, Rafael is committed to engaging with freelancers across the country, listening to their concerns, amplifying their voices in important policy debates, and continuing to strengthen and expand a movement that serves a broad spectrum of independent workers and helps them thrive in a fast-changing economy.

In his first year, he has hit the ground running by advocating for the expansion of unemployment assistance for independent workers through the COVID 19 pandemic and creating a national freelancers relief fund to provide direct benefits to workers in need. He has also elevated the Union’s role in city elections by endorsing a slate of winning candidates for NYC Council