Union Matters
A roundup of labor news from the NYC CLC
Friday, April 26, 2019
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NEW THIS WEEK
Workers Memorial Day Commemoration
TODAY, 12pm-1pm: Join NYCOSH, the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, the Independent Drivers Guild and other labor partners today as we gather to honor dozens of workers who have died on the job over the past year. This year’s commemoration will take place on the northwest corner of 8th Avenue and 23rd Street, near the site where an Uber driver, 45-year-old Bing Wan, was killed in a hit-and-run in October.
At least 40 workers have died on the job in New York City since the last Workers Memorial Day commemoration. Construction was once again the most dangerous industry with 16 fatalities.
During the program, workers will call attention to the continuing need for increased safety protections and workplace rights, as well as the importance of proper training standards. Click here to share the event on Facebook!
CAMBA Legal Services Workers Headed for Third Week of Strike
Workers at CAMBA Legal Services, members of UAW Local 2325, appear headed for a third week of their strike in response to CAMBA management’s refusal to provide industry-standard benefits and compensation. CLS provides free legal services for low-income New Yorkers in eviction prevention, foreclosure, immigration, and consumer law. CLS staff represent thousands of clients in housing court.
CLS staff reached a stalemate with management over key issues, including the refusal by management to provide paid parental leave, salary increases for support staff, and competitive compensation on par with industry standards. CAMBA management made their “final offer” more a month ago and have offered no changes to their proposal since. Yesterday, the union issued a statement refuting CAMBA’s assertion to the media that the union had walked away from negotiations:
“We have been picketing at various CAMBA offices to raise awareness and show our support to our fellow workers and clients. The community is behind us. Our clients are behind us. Stakeholders are behind us.
These are the facts. We cannot bargain with ourselves.
We want to return to work. We care so deeply for our clients. But the revolving door at CLS is unacceptable and without proper benefits and wages, we will only continue to leave in order to support our families. What you are forgetting is that we unionized so that we can make CLS a place where committed and talented employees stay for the long haul.
If you want to come back to the table, we have a seat waiting for you.”
This week, the union was joined on the picket lines by State Senator Zellnor Myrie, Assemblymember Joe Lentol, and hundreds of supporters. Read more about the strike hereand follow the CAMBA workers on Facebook and Twitter for information on upcoming actions and other ways to show your support!
TIME Magazine’s Editorial Staff Seeks to Break Down “Digital Divide” in Joining Union Colleagues
In an effort to foster equity and secure union protection for all editorial employees of TIME, digital workers requested voluntary recognition yesterday to join their print colleagues as union-represented employees. Though the publication has been represented by the NewsGuild of New York for nearly 80 years, former owners and management of Time Inc. imposed an antiquated digital divide to keep those they deemed digital employees out of the bargaining unit.
“TIME is one of the most beloved and trusted news outlets in our country that continues to deliver high-impact journalism,” said Grant Glickson, President of The NewsGuild of New York. “This historic brand has been built by its editorial employees, and their work, whether it appears online or in print, deserves protection. We are hopeful that management understands this and will show these employees respect by quickly recognizing the union.”
“TIME’s digital workers are integral to its current success and relevancy as a news organization and will be a vital part of its future,” said Cady Lang, a reporter for TIME. “What this comes down to is how some labor is valued more highly than others, a disparity that’s reflected in the job security, compensation and lack of diversity in our newsroom. We’re unionizing to help address these issues.” Read more here!
UFCW Announces Tentative Agreement for Stop & Shop Workers
New England Stop & Shop Workers returned to their jobs on Monday after an 11-day strike, with a tentative agreement under which health care and retirement benefits are preserved, wage increases are provided and time-and-a-half pay on Sunday for current members will be maintained.
“Today is a powerful victory for the 31,000 hard-working men and women of Stop & Shop who courageously stood up to fight for what all New Englanders want — good jobs, affordable health care, a better wage and to be treated right by the company they made a success,” the The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) said in a statement.
“The emotional ride through these last 11 days has been tremendous,” said one employee early Monday in a video recorded outside a Stop & Shop in Wallingford, Connecticut, which the union shared on Facebook. “The only thing that kept us going was the customers stopping, waiving, honking, beeping, bringing us food … thank you.” Read more here and here!
Local 802 AFM Theater Musicians Launch “Musicians of Broadway” Website
The musicians who perform in Broadway productions have launched “Musicians of Broadway,” a new website telling the stories of the union music professionals who bring theater to life in New York City. The website is available to the public at www.musiciansofbroadway.com.
There are almost 10,000 musical theater performances on Broadway every year. The 1,200 musicians working on these shows play a crucial role in bringing them to life. Because these musicians are not always center stage, with many playing from back rooms and closed pits, audiences are sometimes unaware of their presence and the important contributions musicians make to every live performance. Musicians of Broadway was created with the intention of providing a way for the public to learn more about these talented creative professionals. Follow the Musicians of Broadway on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect, 2019
The 2019 edition of “Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect” marks the 28th year the AFL-CIO has produced a report on the state of safety and health protections for America’s workers. This report features national and state information on workplace fatalities, injuries, illnesses, the number and frequency of workplace inspections, penalties, funding, staffing and public employee coverage under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. It also includes information on the state of mine safety and health. Read all about the report here!
UPCOMING EVENTS
We Rise Together: International Workers Day
Wednesday, May 1, 5:30pm: New Yorkers from all across the city will converge at Columbus Circle to rally and then march together to Trump Tower on 5th Avenue. Click here for more info.
Metro New York Labor Communications Council’s 44th Annual Convention
Friday, May 10: Join Metro New York Labor Communications Council in celebrating our Communicators of the Year – the Portside Labor collective. Portside Labor has been a vital resource for the labor community.
Come hear our panel discussion about labor and climate justice, Climate Chaos: Labor’s Duty:
“There are no jobs on a dead planet.” The panelists will discuss how labor can help promote the transition to a carbon neutral economy with good union jobs. How does labor fit into the Green New Deal? Panelists include: Jessica Ramos, NY State Senator; Lara Skinner, Cornell ILR Worker Institute – Moderator; Sean Sweeney, CUNY Institute for Worker Education; James Slevin, President, UWUA Local 1-2; and Todd Vachon, Labor Network for Sustainability. Breakfast and lunch will be served. IBT Local 237, 216 W 14th St, New York. For more info and to register go to metrolabornyc.org/annual-convention.
Book Party for Tim Sheard’s New Lenny Moss Mystery Novel
Saturday, May 11, 3-6PM: Find out what that wily shop steward detective is up to in the 8th exciting story. Refreshments will be served! 256 W. 38 St., NYC, 12 floor (UAW hall). Information & RSVP: sheard2001@gmail.com or 917-428-1352 .
THIS WEEK IN LABOR HISTORY
April 23
United Farm Workers of America founder Cesar Chavez dies in San Luis, Ariz., at age 66 – 1993
April 24
Rana Plaza, an eight-story building housing garment factories in Dhaka, Bangladesh collapses, killing 1,129 workers and injuring 2,515. A day earlier cracks had been found in the structure, but factory officials, who had contracts with Benneton and other major U.S. labels, insisted the workers return to the job the next day – 2013
April 25
The New York Times declares the struggle for an 8-hour workday to be “un-American” and calls public demonstrations for the shorter hours “labor disturbances brought about by foreigners.” Other publications declare that an eight-hour workday would bring about “loafing and gambling, rioting, debauchery and drunkenness” – 1886
Supreme Court rules that employers may not require female employees to make larger contributions to pension plans in order to obtain the same monthly benefits as men – 1978
April 26
On the orders of President Roosevelt, the U.S. Army seizes the Chicago headquarters of the unionized Montgomery Ward & Co. after management defies the National Labor Relations Board – 1944
James Oppenheim’s poem “Bread and Roses” published in IWW newspaper
Industrial Solidarity – 1911
April 28
Congress creates OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The AFL-CIO sets April 28 as “Workers Memorial Day” to honor all workers killed or injured on the job every year – 1971
LABOR STAT OF THE WEEK
A study on childhood trauma finds two-thirds of children had witnessed violence, abuse, or a crime in the last year; this statistic underscores the serious need for providing resources to people working with children in social work, public education, and other fields to support childhood development. Read more on childhood trauma in a new report by the RAND Corporation here.
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Union Matters
A roundup of labor news from the NYC CLC
Friday, April 19, 2019
Send news, events, and tips to
info@nycclc.org
*Not for publication or broadcast
Follow the NYC CLC on Facebook and
Twitter for updates throughout the week!
NEW THIS WEEK
CAMBA Legal Services Workers on Strike!
This week, staff from CAMBA Legal Services (CLS) went on strike because of CAMBA management’s refusal to provide industry-standard benefits and compensation. CLS provides free legal services for low-income New Yorkers in eviction prevention, foreclosure, immigration, and consumer law. CLS staff represent thousands of clients in housing court.
CLS staff reached a stalemate with management over key issues, such as a refusal by management to provide paid parental leave, salary increases for support staff, and competitive compensation that are on-par with industry standards.
“CAMBA’s parental leave policy makes it clear that they do not care about their workers. When I had my first child, I had a post-partum hemorrhage and lost 1.5 liters of blood,” said Dafina Oruqi, Project Coordinator at the CLS Flatbush office. “The doctors thought that I was going to die. As a full-time employee at CAMBA, I had no choice but to apply for Food Stamps to support my family. In addition, it was a struggle to pay my rent.”
The decision for an indefinite strike was not taken lightly by CLS employees who are dedicated to their clients. But after more than six months without any significant progress, CLS employees felt a strike was necessary to make CAMBA a place where employees want to stay and better protect the long-term interests of their clients.
“CAMBA is a revolving door for attorneys. Dozens have left during my time here because CAMBA was not up to par with the other legal service providers in the industry, even the small shops,” said Paola Rodriguez, Law Graduate at the CLS Flatbush office. “It is incredible that they all had to leave for the same reasons: lack of competitive pay, lack of benefits, lack of care for their work-life balance, and poor training – all resulting in workers who are constantly overstressed and overworked.”
Follow the CAMBA workers on Facebook and Twitter for information on upcoming actions and other ways to support them in their fight! #CAMBAonStrike
Dozens Of Brooklyn Key Food Workers Enter Second Week of Lockout
Thirty-eight Key Foods meat department workers — from Park Slope, Sunset Park, Greenpoint and New Utrecht Key Foods in Brooklyn and Rockville Center, Massapequa, and Floral Park in Long Island — are entering their second week barred from returning to work at the company as their union negotiates for better wages and benefits.
Key Food began taking the meat department workers off the schedule and bringing in temporary employees about two weeks ago, when negotiations for a four-year contract started to fail, union Executive Director Kelly Egan said.
“This is the second week of a lockout that never should have happened,” Egan, who runs the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 342 chapter, said Tuesday. “They’re still fighting every day, morning and night. We have to get something for these people — this is not how Brooklyn operates.” Read more here.
NYC Tenement Museum Workers Unionize with UAW
Congratulations to staff at New York’s Tenement Museum, who on Monday voted 72-3 to unionize with UAW Local 2110! Follow them on Instagram: @tenementmuseum_union.
District Council 9 Members Lend Their Time and Skills to Non-Profits and Community Organizations Across New York State During 4th Annual Community Day of Action
Last Saturday, members of District Council 9 lent a hand to non-profit and community organizations in New York donating their time and skills all day for the union’s 4th Annual Community Day of Action. Across New York State, from Bethpage to Troy including the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island both members and leadership spent their weekend transforming non-profit organizations and helping their neighbors by putting their training and skills to work and donating thousands of work hours across seven locations.
“Every year our members look forward to DC 9’s Community Day of Action as it gives us an opportunity to meet the communities we live and work in every day,” said Business Manager/Secretary Treasurer Joseph Azzopardi. “This day reveals the true values that drive this union. Our members are always willing to lend a hand to our neighbors who need it most, and these relationships with our communities make us understand how we can better serve our state not just on our Annual Day of Action, but every day. We live in these communities across New York and we’re happy to give back.”
District Council 9 provides benefits to more than 11,000 members of New York State’s working class, including health insurance, pensions, and continuing education. In addition, DC 9 contributes thousands of working hours, supplies and more to support the regions charitable and community organizations, including through its Annual Community Day of Action, food drives, winter coat drives, walk for breast cancer and more. Check out more pics on DC 9’s Twitter and Facebook pages!
Local 802 Musicians Rally and Perform in Solidarity with Striking Chicago Symphony Musicians
On Friday, April 12, over 150 musicians stood together across from Lincoln Center to demonstrate solidarity with their colleagues on strike at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for over a month over fair wages and pension benefits. A group of thirty brass musicians from the Metropolitan Opera, New York Philharmonic, and New York City Ballet performed and spoke on behalf of their peer orchestra. 802 musicians from every genre were joined by fellow union members from Actors’ Equity, AGMA, IATSE Local One, IATSE Local 764, the NYC CLC, SAG-AFTRA NY, and SDC to show our unity. The group was also joined by Councilmember Helen Rosenthal and a representative from State Senator Brad Hoylman’s office.
The CSO musicians remain out on strike, and Local 802 encourages anyone who wishes to support our union family in Chicago to donate what they can to the strike fund here. Read more about the 802 CSO Solidarity Rally here.
Global Business News Outlet Quartz Becomes Latest Media Company to Unionize
Editorial staff of Quartz, the news outlet formerly owned by Atlantic Media, announced on Monday that an overwhelming majority of eligible staff have signed on to join the NewsGuild of New York, CWA Local 31003. Founded in 2012, Quartz covers the new global economy, including tech, geopolitics, work, and culture. The publication was purchased by Japanese media company Uzabase in July 2018 and is valued at between $75 million and $110 million.
As unionization is increasingly the norm in the media industry, Quartz staff have requested voluntary recognition from management in order to swiftly begin the bargaining process. The union’s mission statement cited a desire to strengthen existing benefits and to improve such issues as pay equity, diversity, and job security through collective bargaining.
“We love Quartz, and we love working here,” said Annalisa Merelli, Geopolitics Reporter. “For us, organizing is a way to double down on our commitment to the publication and the continued pursuit of its excellence. We are excited about the future of Quartz, and we want to make sure we are a part of it.” Read more here and follow @qzunion on Twitter!
As New England Strike Goes on, Effect on Stop & Shop is Increasing
The nearly week-old strike by 31,000 unionized Stop & Shop workers in New England is clearly having an impact, with the union contending that at least several dozen of 240 stores in three states are closed, and many shoppers are staying away from those that are still open.
“In nearly 30 years, we haven’t seen a strike as effective and devastating as this one,” said Burt P. Flickinger III, managing director of Strategic Resource Group, a retail consulting firm that has evaluated grocery store strikes for three decades. Inside stores, shortages are evident. Meat and produce are rapidly disappearing from shelves, and aren’t being replaced because truck drivers in the Teamsters union are refusing to cross the picket line. Workers are blocking other trucks from making deliveries. Read more here.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Workers Memorial Day Mass
Thursday, April 25, 2:30–5:30PM: International Workers Memorial Day Mass for construction workers killed or injured on work sites during 2018 and early 2019. St. Patrick’s Cathedral, 5th Avenue Between 50th and 51st St. Click here for more information.
Workers Memorial Day Commemoration
Friday, April 26, 12pm-1pm: Join NYCOSH, the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, and other labor partners as we gather to commemorate workers who have lost their lives on the job. 23rd Street and 8th Avenue. Click here to share the event on Facebook!
Get Ready for Organizing 2.0!
Friday, April 26-Saturday, April 27: New York’s original organizing training event is coming up. It’s the best place for high quality training in digital best practices for communicators and organizers, grassroots fundraising, integrating offline with online tactics, and communications training specific to the labor movement. Click here to learn more.
Metro New York Labor Communications Council’s 44th Annual Convention
Friday, May 10: Join Metro New York Labor Communications Council in celebrating our Communicators of the Year – the Portside Labor collective. Portside Labor has been a vital resource for the labor community.
Come hear our panel discussion about labor and climate justice, Climate Chaos: Labor’s Duty:
“There are no jobs on a dead planet.” The panelists will discuss how labor can help promote the transition to a carbon neutral economy with good union jobs. How does labor fit into the Green New Deal? Panelists include: Jessica Ramos, NY State Senator; Lara Skinner, Cornell ILR Worker Institute – Moderator; Sean Sweeney, CUNY Institute for Worker Education; James Slevin, President, UWUA Local 1-2; and Todd Vachon, Labor Network for Sustainability. Breakfast and lunch will be served. IBT Local 237, 216 W 14th St, New York. For more info and to register, go to metrolabornyc.org/annual-convention.
Book Party for Tim Sheard’s New Lenny Moss Mystery Novel
Saturday, May 11, 3-6PM: Find out what that wily shop steward detective is up to in the 8th exciting story. Refreshments will be served! 256 W. 38 St., NYC, 12 floor (UAW hall). Information & RSVP: sheard2001@gmail.com or 917-428-1352 .
THIS WEEK IN LABOR HISTORY
April 15
A. Philip Randolph, civil rights leader and founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, born in Crescent City, Fla. – 1889
Eight members of the Musicians union die in the sinking of the Titanic. According to survivors, they played their instruments until nearly the end. Five weeks later a concert organized by the union to benefit the musicians’ families, held in a theater donated for the evening by impresario Flo Ziegfeld, featured the talents of 500 musicians. The evening ended with a rendering of “Nearer, My God, to Thee,” the hymn being played as the ship went down. The union at the time was called the Musical Mutual Protective Union Local 310, the New York affiliate of the American Federation of Musicians – 1912
April 16
Employers lock out 25,000 New York City garment workers in a dispute over hiring practices. The Int’l Ladies’ Garment Workers Union calls a general strike; after 14 weeks, 60,000 strikers win union recognition and the contractual right to strike – 1916
April 18
After a four-week boycott led by Rev. Adam Clayton Powell Jr., bus companies in New York City agree to hire 200 Black drivers and mechanics – 1941
CLC NOTES
April 18, 2019
Reported on CLC scheduled Workers Memorial Day: April 26, recalling workers who died on the job over last year. 23rd St and 8th Ave. 12-1 pm. A reminder that a safe workplace is a basic right that we must fight for
Elana from Organizing 2.0, digital strategies for labor, April 26-27, 9 am to 5 pm, is open for registration for union members. At Murphy Institute, 25 W 43rd St., training workshops to expand your skills.
Museum of the City of NY: a new exhibition about how the labor movement changed NY: great display, very informative and comprehensive. 5th ave and 103rd St.
Report on 31,000 workers on strike in 3 states at Stop N Shop for a fair contract, restoration of holidays and weekend pay and return of sick time. Also fighting reduction in pay and health care coverage.
Next month will be nominations for CLC executive board.
UAW 2325: reported on their struggle, they represent Legal Aid lawyers, paras, support staff. Working conditions have been horrendous, preventing them from providing adequate legal representation for New Yorkers in tenant disputes, family court, etc.. Pay is abysmal, hours terrible, toilets and other infrastructure in the building is crumbling. Management has refused to even meet and negotiate with the union. Next fundraiser is a prospect park race. Mon-Thursd at 141 Livingston, Brooklyn, 1-3 pm pickets.
NYSNA: The New York Nurses Association has a tentative agreement with the private hospitals with which they were threatening a strike. The union is now negotiating with the New York City-owned hospitals.
April 19
An American domestic terrorist’s bomb destroys the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people, 99 of whom were government employees – 1995
April 20
An unknown assailant shoots through a window at United Auto Workers President Walter Reuther as he is eating dinner at his kitchen table, permanently impairing his right arm. It was one of at least two assassination attempts on Reuther. He and his wife later died in a small plane crash under what many believe to be suspicious circumstances – 1948
April 21
New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller signs Taylor Law, permitting union organization and bargaining by public employees, but outlawing the right to strike – 1967
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