IATSE President Matthew Loeb has drawn a line in the sand saying the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees will go on strike Monday unless a deal is reached. IATSE has been in a contract fight with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers for more than five months over safer working conditions, fair wages, and sustainable benefits. On the latest Union Strong podcast, Cinematographer Sarah May Guenther of IATSE Local 600 describes the current working conditions and talks about the union’s demands.

Union Strong - New York State AFL-CIO

Episode 75: Potential Shutdown of Film and TV Production as Strike Looms

On the latest episode of the Union Strong podcast, our guest is New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon. Commissioner Reardon discusses a variety of topics including the unemployed, job creation, apprenticeship programs, workplace safety and the role unions play in all of it.   https://dol.ny.gov/

Episode 74: Department of Labor Update with Commissioner Roberta Reardon

Newly elected AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler joins us on the Union Strong podcast to talk about Labor’s priorities and what’s behind the growing support of labor unions. 

Episode 73: Labor Day 2021

The Essential workers at United Metro Energy Corporation in Brooklyn, New York have been on strike since mid-April. The oil terminal workers are fighting for their first union contract after joining Teamsters Local 553 in 2019. On the latest Union Strong podcast Andre Soleyn, a terminal worker and leader of the strike, talks about their fight to get what they deserve and their determination to prevail.  http://teamsters.nyc/locals/local-553/ 212-929-6828 call in number for teamsters 553  

Episode 72: Fighting for Fairness on a picket line in Brooklyn

One year ago, the New York State AFL-CIO created a Social Justice Task Force to serve as a forum for frank and honest dialogue, and more importantly a vehicle for real and meaningful change to make our society and our movement more equitable and just for New Yorkers of color. On the latest episode of the Union Strong podcast, CSEA Executive Vice President Denise Berkley is our guest. As a member of the Social Justice Task Force, Denise shares some insights on the work being done and talks about what it takes to build a more perfect union.  

Episode 71:  Labor’s role in the fight for social, racial, and economic justice

The campaign to unionize workers at the Amazon Warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama has been referred to as the most important labor struggle in more than half a century. We know the outcome as announced three months ago by the National Labor Relations Board, which determined workers voted against joining a union. That outcome is being challenged by The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). On the latest Union Strong podcast, RWDSU NYC Director and Vice President David Mertz is our guest to discuss the lessons learned from the campaign, including how the PRO Act would have changed the landscape of the union election.

Episode 70: Forming a union should not be this hard

The labor movement had a lengthy agenda going into the 2021 legislative session, particularly because of the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. On the latest episode of the Union Strong podcast, we look back at what was an incredibly successful year for labor. New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento is our special guest.  Detailed breakdown can be found at https://online.flippingbook.com/view/134090400/

Episode 69: 2021 Legislative Wrap Up

The labor movement has a long history of feeding the hungry. During the height of the COVID -19 pandemic meals were provided to more than 125,000 families across an 11-county region around Albany, New York. But now, even with continued signs of recovery, food insecurity remains high, and volunteers are already closing in on serving even more families in 2021. On this podcast we visit a food bank in the Albany area and talk to Capital District Area Labor Federation Director Mark Emanatian and Sister Betsy Van Deusen of Catholic Charities about what it takes to meet the demand, who is on the receiving end, and what continues to drive the need.  ccrcda.org

Episode 68: Food Insecurity Post Pandemic - How Labor is Helping to Feed Those in Need

After more than a year of COVID-19, Stories of Hope might be exactly what we need.  On the latest Union Strong podcast, we learn about the Donate Life program in New York State.  We will bring you the story of a 5th generation Local 3 IBEW member who is a living donor and a separate story from a retired GMP member whose life was saved through organ donation.   https://donatelifenys.org/

Episode 67: Stories of Hope: Union Members and Organ Donations

The latest episode of the Union Strong podcast discusses violence in New York City’s subways.  TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano spoke to us in a pre-recorded interview on Friday, May 14th. The following Monday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio finally answered the unions demands for more police on the subway.  While this is a big win for TWU, President Utano says there is more to be done. Listen to the podcast to learn about the unions' fight to keep our subways safe for workers and riders.

Episode 66: Workplace Violence in the Subways

Liz Egan is a registered nurse at Albany Medical Center who describes working throughout the height of the COVID pandemic as, "terrifying."  She is among the nurses who rose to the challenge during COVID, treating patients and saving lives under unimaginable circumstances. On this podcast, a look behind the scenes at a hospital where nurses are called heroes but treated much differently.  Nurses at Albany Medical Center chose to belong to a union, the New York State Nurses Association, (NYSNA) three years ago and continue to fight for their first contract. 

Episode 65: "It was terrifying." - NYSNA Nurse at Albany Med

The New York State budget for 2021-2022 addresses a health and economic crisis like we have never experienced. Fortunately, the President's American Rescue Plan, which labor supported, was enacted. It provided $350 billion in aid to state and local governments. On this podcast, the President of the New York State AFL-CIO, Mario Cilento talks about how the solidarity of the Labor Movement led to historic victories for working people, from revenue raisers to new industries and much more. 

Episode 64: State Budget; a Win for Working People

Workers in America favor unions and tens of millions of Americans want to join one. So, what is stopping them? Our labor laws are outdated. On this podcast we take a deep dive into a generational opportunity that is on our doorstep; passing the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, also known as the PRO Act. New York State AFL-CIO Chief of Staff Ryan Delgado joins the podcast to explain what the PRO Act is, why it is so important to working people and the opportunity to get it passed.

Episode 63: Passing the PRO Act

The longest serving president of the Western New York Area Labor Federation decides it is time to step aside. On this podcast, a conversation with Richard Lipsitz who spent nearly five decades fighting for the working class. Richard reflects on labor’s past and looks ahead to the many challenges and opportunities for the labor movement's future. 

Episode 62: Labor of Love

The New York State AFL-CIO recently held a labor revenue forum to discuss the impact of the pandemic and the vital need for new revenue sources. On this podcast, Ron Deutsch, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness lays out the backdrop of what we are facing during this pandemic and explains how New York can raise needed revenue and restore fairness in the tax code. Then union members and leaders from across the state from all different lines of work share what they have endured during the COVID crisis and why adequate state funding is so important.

Episode 61: We cannot cut our way out of this crisis

Union Strong is the official podcast of the New York State AFL-CIO. We share stories of working men and women who benefit from belonging to a union and having a voice in the workplace.

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Union Strong - New York State AFL-CIO

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