Union Strong

Racial Injustice

The horrific and senseless death of George Floyd has left us all reeling and during an already uncertain time.

As a labor movement, we have always fought for equality, justice, and for civil rights. We must continue to stand united against the hatred that divides us, and instead stand together in peace.

Let’s use this moment of unimaginable pain to bring us all together.

On this podcast you will hear from the President of the New York State AFL-CIO, Mario Cilento and our Secretary-Treasurer Terry Melvin who is also the President of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionist as they address racial injustice in America and what the Labor Movement can do to change it.

2020 Elections

Keeping voters safe during the coronavirus pandemic has led to procedural changes. NYS AFL-CIO Chief of Staff Ryan Delgado explains what you need to know to make sure your vote counts.

 

Reopening New York State

One of the first regions to reopen, during the COVID-19 pandemic, was the nine county Rochester-Finger Lakes region. Labor is at the table and in the “Regional Control Room”. We talk to Dan Maloney, President of the Rochester Labor Council and Rochester & Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation to find out how the reopening process is going and what protocols are in place to keep workers safe.​

Union Construction Sites Ready to Reopen

Construction is one of the first industries to get back up and running as New York state begins to reopen. Pat Purcell, the executive director of Greater New York LECET (Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust), joins us to talk about what that new normal will be like.

Sen. Gillibrand on Protecting Working People

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand discusses the next stimulus package, the Every Worker Protection Act and shares her thoughts on rebuilding our state and country post COVID-19.

Learn about our priorities at nysaflcio.org/cares2 

Nurses Trade Home for a Hotel to Stay Safe During the Coronavirus

Nurses and other front-line workers are so desperate to protect their families from exposure to the coronavirus, they are opting to live in hotel rooms near their hospitals instead of going home. For one nurse the trade-off means screen time and phone calls replace hugs and kisses with her young daughter - all in the name of safety.

The New York State Public Employees Federation took the extraordinary step of providing the hotel rooms and their nurses and other healthcare professionals couldn’t be more grateful. Now they need your generosity to keep the program running. PEF President Wayne Spence joins us along with a PEF nurse to talk about the respite program. 

https://www.pef.org/disaster-relief/  

TWU Hit Hard by COVID-19

Members of the Transport Workers Union are dying at an alarming rate. TWU members deemed essential throughout this pandemic are transporting nurses, doctors and others needed on the front lines. Members continue working on and around airplanes and on Amtrak and are at risk of getting the coronavirus daily. In this podcast, we hear from a flight attendant, an Amtrak service worker, a local leader of the subway division in New York City – and John Samuelsen, the international president of the Transport Workers Union representing more than 150,000 members.

 

COVID-19 Heroes

The crucial jobs of workers in supermarkets, pharmacies and food processing plants during a health crisis. RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum talks about the many challenges his members face and his fight to help workers at Amazon during the Coronavirus pandemic. 

Sen. Schumer on The CARES Act. Plus; the latest on the Postmates case and COVID-19 Workers’ Comp

In this episode: It's the largest stimulus package in American history. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer joins us to talk about what's in the economic recovery package. And, NYS AFL-CIO Special Counsel Joe Canovas discusses the Postmates case and Workers' Compensation during COVID-19.

Learn more nysaflcio.org/covid19

A Day in History that Changed Workplace Safety

Today marks the 109^th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in New York City. Normally on this day, large crowds of union members and others would gather at Washington Place and Greene Street to pay tribute to the 146 lives lost on that fateful day. It was one of the deadliest industrial disasters in U.S. history.

COVID-19 has canceled those plans as gatherings continue to be off-limits. So, as more of us continue to be confined to our homes, we thought it would be fitting to remind you of this podcast – A Day in History that Changed Workplace Safety. It is a look-back at how a single tragedy changed workplace safety and strengthened the labor movement.