Union Strong

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...

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 o...

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 f...

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...

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.

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.

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 h...

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.  

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.​

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.

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 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 extraordi...

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 o...

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. 

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

Today marks the 109th 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-lim...

On this episode we hear from NYS AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento and learn about COVID-19 relief available to workers both at the state and federal level. More info at unionstrongny.com

SAG-AFTRA is the union representing members who are the faces and voices that entertain and inform us. New technology and new attitudes are changing their workspace. Our guest is Rebecca Damon, the national Executive VP of SAG-AFTRA and President of SAG-AFTRA’s New York Local.   

Join the celebration! It has already been one year since the New York State AFL-CIO launched the Union Strong podcast. President Mario Cilento stops in the studio to help us mark our one-year anniversary. But first; employees at the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter are making history. They are the first employees at a major technology company in the U.S. to unionize. A Kickstarter employee and sp...

On the latest episode of the Union Strong podcast, we talk to the executive director and chief economist of the Fiscal Policy Institute about New York State's financial plan and our revenue system which is proving to be unfair and unreliable. Ron Deutsch and Jonas Shaende run down some revenue options, discuss the states spending cap, income inequality and the results of a recent poll on how New Y...

New York State has had a call center outsourcing problem that has resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of call center jobs over the past several years. Companies packed up and moved either out-of-state or out of the country and often after receiving state grants, guaranteed loans and tax benefits. On this podcast the statewide legislative and political director for CWA District 1 explains how...

Elevators and escalators - we all use them throughout our daily lives. You may be surprised to learn that no license is required for those who oversee or maintain them. That’s about to change with the signing of the Elevator Safety Act. We talk to a representative of the International Union of Elevator Constructors Local One to learn more about the new law.  Learn more about IUEC Local 1 at https:...

The Television Diversity Tax Credit Bill has been signed into law. We talk to Lowell Peterson, Executive Director of the Writers Guild of America, East to find out how it will change what we watch on television and the new opportunities it will create for writers and directors, who until now were overlooked.

A married couple, a teacher with breast cancer and a paraprofessional expecting a baby have all received layoff notices from the Rochester City School District. The district announced plans to cut more than 150 positions just days before the holidays. “It’s really heartbreaking what is happening. Children are crying for their teachers. Teachers are crying because they are being severed from their...

Ep. 25 –The Western New York Area Labor Federation has one of the highest union membership rates in the country. Listen in on a conversation with the president from that region about its rich labor history, what the future holds and the youth factor.