Union Strong

What a Biden Presidency will mean for working people

The voters have spoken – Democracy is prevailing. President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are already moving our country forward with plans to beat COVID-19, and get our economy back on track by putting working people first.

 

On this podcast New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento breaks down what the Biden Presidency means for working people and what it will mean for New York State.

In Solidarity with TWU and IAM Airline Mechanics

Airline industry workers, like so many others during this unprecedented health and economic crisis, are teetering on the edge. 

Thousands of airline workers have already received furlough notices, thousands more are wondering if they will be next – and their future lies in the hands of our federal government still unable or unwilling to agree on desperately needed funding to save jobs and support the aviation industry.

In the middle of this crisis, a rogue labor group is attempting to divide union members by raiding the unions that represent mechanics at American Airlines.

On this podcast we talk to the TWU International President John Samuelsen and TWU International Vice President Gary Peterson on what is at stake and why it is happening now.

Labor 2020

With just weeks to go before the general election, we hear from a labor activist who also ran her own successful political campaign on the importance of getting out the vote. Westchester/Putnam Central Labor Council Director Jenn Puja talks about the power behind labor’s endorsement, running for office as a woman and a mother of two, and why it’s so important to get involved. NYS AFL-CIO Chief of Staff Ryan Delgado also joins the podcast to talk about what’s at stake in the upcoming election and what labor is doing to ensure a victory for our endorsed candidates.

Lights out on the entertainment industry

Broadway, one of the biggest tourist destinations in New York City will remain closed for the rest of the year and New York's Metropolitan Opera just canceled its entire season because of the coronavirus. 

 

On this podcast we hear from James Claffey Jr., president of Local One of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) on when and how live performances will return and how workers are coping with the lights out.

 

Labor Day 2020 – Where we have been and where we need to go

Each year on Labor Day we recognize and honor the incredible achievements and many contributions of working people. This year however is like no other. While we still honor the hard work of working people, the unemployment rate in New York State is at nearly 16 percent, workers fear about their safety on the job and the safety of their families. Parents struggle with whether to send their children back to school and many families struggle with how to pay for housing and food. And, an alarming number of workers have died or become ill after being exposed to the coronavirus at work.

On this podcast we hear from the President of the New York State AFL-CIO, Mario Cilento. President Cilento talks about where we have been in 2020 and what we need to do moving forward to support workers and our economy.

The USPS, Delivering Democracy

The United States Postal Service is by far the public's favorite agency in the federal government. But just weeks before the 2020 general election, the postal service is caught in the middle of a firestorm with a new postmaster general calling for cutbacks that are causing delivery delays and a President launching an attack on mail-in voting. On this podcast we hear from Bill Cook, the President of the Northeastern New York Branch 358 of the National Association of Letter Carriers to set the record straight. 

The Countdown to Being Counted - Census 2020

There are concerns across the country of a massive undercount for the 2020 Census. In New York state, like many others, residents are falling behind in responding and there is a lot at stake.

 

In New York City the push to be counted is in full force and labor is playing an important role.

 

The New York City Central Labor Council has been working hard to get the word out about the importance of filling out the 2020 Census.

On this podcast our guest is the Political Director of the NYC CLC, Lucia Gomez who explains why the count is so important and how labor is getting over the many hurdles to ensure everyone is counted.

 

COVID-19 Workplace Safety

More and more of us are returning to our workplaces as New York State reopens after the COVID-19 shutdown. You may also be visiting retail and department stores, hair and nail salons and barber shops. Many New Yorkers are also dining out.

The big question is, how do we return safely as clients, customers and workers.

On this podcast we will talk about workplace safety in the office setting, and in the retail industry to learn what we can do as customers, clients, and coworkers to stay safe.

Our guests are:

Geraldine Stella – Health & Safety Specialist at the NYS Public Employees Federation (PEF)

David Mertz – Assistant to Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) President Stuart Appelbaum

Charlene Obernauer – Executive Director of the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH)

Future of School

After the most unusual school year ever, planning is underway on how to safely reopen schools. NYSUT President Andy Pallotta joins the podcast to talk about what school may look like this fall.

Union Avoidance Exposed

The coronavirus pandemic has more workers concerned about workplace safety, job security and benefits like sick time and health insurance – which is why union avoidance firms are anticipating an increase in union organizing. On this podcast, what companies are doing to try to silence working people.