WNYLaborToday News - New York State Labor News

NYSNA-Represented UVM-Alice Hyde Medical Center Nurses In Malone 'Overwhelmingly Ratify' New Contract Agreement

Mon, 29 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(MALONE, NEW YORK) - New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA)-represented Nurses employed at the University of Vermont (UVM)-Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new four-year contract.

This victory comes after months at the bargaining table and a late-night bargaining session on June 17th when Nurses reached a tentative contract agreement.

Highlights of the contract include: Maintained health benefits; Fair wages to help recruit and retain Nurses for safe staffing, including yearly wage increases of 3%; Additional pay incentives to maintain safe staffing and encourage Nurse retention and education; Improved protections against workplace violence; New protections against Artificial Intelligence (AI); and Increased notification in the event of a layoff.

UVM-Alice Hyde Registered Nurse Kim Bouvier-Barnes said: “NYSNA Nurses at UVM-Alice Hyde work hard to care for our community and ensure they receive the best care possible. This contract will help us deliver on that commitment. We’re proud of our Members for staying united and advocating for a contract that will help us protect patient care and retain experienced Nurses.”

NYSNA Nurses are united across the North Country and are fighting to improve care for their communities.

NYSNA Nurses at UVM-Elizabethtown Community Hospital settled a new contract on March 31st that included entrance into the NYSNA Benefit Fund, which will deliver better and more affordable health benefits to Nurses and their families.

Now that UVM-Alice Hyde Nurses have settled their contract, UVM-Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) is the only New York Hospital in the UVM Health System that has yet to settle a fair contract with its Nurses and Health Care Workers.

UVM-CVPH Nurses and Health Care Professionals recently spoken out for safe staffing and held an informational picket in front of the Hospital to demand a fair contract with safe staffing, good health benefits, and protections against workplace violence, AI and layoffs.

UVM recently announced system-wide layoffs that impact five NYSNA Members at CVPH, including Registered Nurses at the Adirondack Blood Donor Center, which UVM is threatening to close, further eroding health care services in the North Country.

NYSNA Members at CVPH and community and patient advocates in the Plattsburgh area are planning a speak-out to ensure the Center, which provides 95% of the blood supply to North Country hospitals, stays open.

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans said: “North Country Nurses are leading the way in winning great contracts that protect quality patient care and deliver good Union jobs and good family-sustaining health benefits. NYSNA is proud of our Members’ fierce patient advocacy and will continue to support the fight to preserve access to quality care in every corner of the State.”

NYSNA, which represents 45,000 Members in the State, is New York’s largest Union and Professional Association for Registered Nurses.

NYSNA is an Affiliate of National Nurses United, the country's largest and fastest-growing Union and Professional Association of Registered Nurses, with more than 225,000 Members nationwide.

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: UVM-Alice Hyde Medical Center Nurses Overwhelmingly Ratify New Contract Agreement | New York State Nurses Association

In New York City, Unionized Caregivers 'Demand A Fair Contract That Covers 86,000 Workers Before September 30th Expiration'

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(NEW YORK CITY) - Thousands of Health Care Workers rallied near City Hall in Foley Square, urging the League of Voluntary Hospitals and Homes of New York to reach a new contract covering 86,000 Service Employees International (SEIU) Union Local 1199 members who are employed at Hospitals and Nursing Homes across New York.

The Workers - Registered Nurses, Emergency Medical Technicians, Certified Nursing Assistants, Social Workers, Housekeepers, Technicians, Dietary Staff and other Front-Line Caregivers - filled the plaza in a sea of purple shirts and signs that read: "Care Lives Here, But We Can't Afford To," as negotiations continue ahead of the current contract's September 30th expiration.

"There is no health care without workers," Local 1199 President Yvonne Armstrong told the crowd. "We will not be taken for granted or disrespected. Every Health Care Worker should be able to afford to live in the communities we serve."

Armstrong said Health Care Workers kept New York's Hospitals and Nursing Homes operating through the COVID-19 Pandemic and continue to provide essential care every day, arguing employers must invest in the workforce that makes patient care possible.

"We are united, we are organized and we are ready to fight to win health care justice," she said.

The contract covers 86,000 Workers employed at 90 Hospitals and Nursing Homes across New York City, Long Island and the Hudson Valley, including facilities operated by Montefiore, Mount Sinai, Northwell Health, NewYork-Presbyterian and NYU Langone.

According to the Union, negotiations began on May 28th and management has rejected the Bargaining Committee's economic proposals.

Union Leaders say their "floor" for wage increases is 5% annually, while also seeking to preserve employer-paid health insurance and pensions, strengthen safe staffing enforcement, establish job security protections related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and expand workplace violence safeguards.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Healthcare workers demand fair contract before Sept. 30 expiration - The Chief

With An 'Expired' Contract & Hospital Management 'Proposing Outrageous and Unsafe' Staffing Standards, NYSNA-Represented Putnam Hospital Nurses 'Speak Out For Safe Staffing And A Fair Agreement'

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(CARMEL, NEW YORK) - Approximately 200 New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA)-represented Nurses employed at Northwell/ Putnam Hospital are fighting for a fair contract that delivers safe staffing for quality patient care.

Safe staffing is a priority for Putnam Nurses who often work short-staffed, NYSNA said.

For example, in December 2025, Nurses working in the Hospital’s two Medical Surgical Units started their shift understaffed nearly half the time, the Union said.

The Hospital is fighting against having enforceable Safe Staffing Standards in the contract and proposing to make standards even less safe in State Law.

During a Staffing Committee meeting that took place on June 11th, Hospital Executives proposed making Nurse Staffing in their State Staffing Plan, enforceable by the New York State Department of Health, less safe, Union Officials said - proposing an outrageous and unsafe 1-Nurse-to-8-patients standard in Medical/Surgical Units.

The widely recognized Safe Staffing Standard in Med/Surg Units is 1:5.

Putnam’s current standard is 1:6.

Most Hospitals in New York state set their standards at 1:5 or 1:6.

Meanwhile, the Nurses’ contract expired on December 31st, 2025.

Registered Nurse Nicole Cadella, who serves as President of the NYSNA Local Bargaining Unit at Northwell/ Putnam Hospital, said: “I live in this community, and my parents and I have been patients at Putnam. I want this Hospital to be the best it can be, but it can’t be the best if it is understaffed. On our main Hospital floors - the Medical/Surgical Units, Nurses sometimes have eight patients each, when the safe standard is five or six. I just imagine my father in that Hospital bed.”

Nurses believe Northwell Health, the largest private employer in the State and one of the wealthiest Health Care Systems, can well afford to safely staff Putnam Hospital - and put it in writing.

Northwell’s resistance to basic safety standards is raising concerns among Nurses about what other changes Northwell may make now that they have taken over the small Community Hospital, NYSNA said.

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans said: “Northwell should be ashamed that after acquiring a small Community Hospital - and the only Hospital in Putnam Country - they are now trying to lower Safety Standards for Nurses and patients. We know they have the resources to staff safely and deliver the quality care this community deserves.”

NYSNA, which represents 45,000 Members across New York, is the State’s largest Union and Professional Association for Registered Nurses.

NYSNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United, the country's largest and fastest-growing Union and Professional Association of Registered Nurses, with more than 225,000 Members nationwide.

To Read This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: Putnam Hospital Nurses Speak Out for Safe Staffing and a Fair Contract | New York State Nurses Association

Photo Courtesy Of NYSNA’s Facebook Page.

"New York's Students And Public Schools Deserve Better Than This Kind Of Maneuvering, (We) Will Not Stand By While Bad Actors Try To Rewrite The Rules To Suit Themselves" - NYSUT & The UFT 'Charge SUNY With Violating The State Charter Cap'

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(ALBANY, NEW YORK) – The New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) have filed a legal challenge to stop a scheme by Success Academy Charter Schools and the State University of New York’s Charter School Committee that attempts to circumvent the State’s Charter Cap.

The petition, filed in New York County Supreme Court, charges the State University of New York’s (SUNY) Charter School Committee illegally approved the "transfer" of a Success Academy Charter in the Bronx to a brand-new entity called Strive Charter School - even though New York City has already reached its statutory cap on Charter Schools and State law does not allow for the transfer of an existing Charter to a new entity.

Strive's founder, Eric Grannis, is the husband of Success Academy CEO Eva Moskowitz.

SUNY approved the transfer over the explicit objections of the New York State Board of Regents, which found the action was likely illegal and recommended it be abandoned.

While Strive received approval from SUNY, there is no evidence that it completed any of the competitive application requirements that State law mandates for each new Charter School, including community outreach, public hearings and demonstration of demand.

The petition seeks to void the transfer and prevent Strive from opening.

NYSUT President Melinda Person said: "New York's students and Public Schools deserve better than this kind of maneuvering and NYSUT will not stand by while bad actors try to rewrite the rules to suit themselves. This is yet another example of SUNY’s Charter approval process being used to sidestep State law - something NYSUT has already challenged in State Court and will continue to confront as long as we must.”

UFT President Michael Mulgrew said: "Success Academy has to follow the law. Clearly, they are trying to go around the Charter cap, but that's not how this works. Charter Schools drain resources from District Public Schools - and the cap was created to minimize harm."

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: NYSUT, UFT charge the State University of New York violated state charter cap

Dairy Workers 'Rally Behind Bill To Fight Exploitation At New York Farms' - The State 'Has The Fifth Largest Dairy Industry In The Country And Its Farm Workers Say They Face Fear, Exploitation Lost & Wages'

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Austyn Gaffney and Anna Watts at Documented report: Lazaro, a 67-year-old Dairy Worker in New York, has hopped between 20 different farms in the 12 years he’s been in the United States. But his work on a Dairy Farm in Western New York this Fall was the worst he’s experienced, he said. Eighteen people shared one house. He was paid the legal minimum wage of $15.50 an hour, but he worked about 70 hours a week and wasn’t given overtime pay. In the Winter, he switched farms - and now works 52 hours a week at $16 an hour - the State’s current minimum wage. He also shares a home with 12 other people. He said the lower hours are better because working too much negatively impacts his health. Like many of the Dairy Workers in New York who spoke with Documented for this article, Lazaro does not have legal status. They are part of the labor force powering the State’s $3.9 billion dairy industry, the fifth largest in the country. For years, this workforce has been trying to Unionize to address what they see as rampant mistreatment in the industry, but under the second Trump Administration, fear and suspicion have become more constant in the lives of Immigrant Dairy Workers, hampering local efforts. Now, Lazaro and other Farm Workers have pivoted to rally around the New York For All Act, proposed State legislation meant to protect Immigrants without permanent legal status, including Farm and Food Workers, from Immigration Enforcement, which detained dozens since January 2025, including raids at a Confectionery and a large-scale Vegetable Farm. The Bill hasn’t moved out of Committee. “I have that fear that follows you everywhere of not knowing whether Immigration is going to come,” said Lazaro, who was one of about 10 Farm Workers who traveled to Albany in March to rally in support of the Bill, holding up a sign and demonstrating near the Capital. He asked to only use his first name only for fear of Immigration Enforcement.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Immigrant Dairy Workers Rally to Fight Mistreatment at N.Y. Farms

New York Immigration Coalition Staff 'Launch' NYIC United, 'Forming First-Ever Union In Organization's History'

Sun, 14 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(NEW YORK CITY) - With 80% of eligible Members on cards and 70% signing a voluntary recognition letter, a super-majority of New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) Employees have announced the launch of their effort to form a Union - NYIC United with Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153.

For the first time in the organization’s almost 40-year history, Workers are launching their Union to secure a formal collective voice in the workplace, marking a historic milestone for Staff.

NYIC is a New York City-based non-profit with offices throughout New York State - including in Albany, Buffalo and Rochester, that brings together more than 200 diverse member organizations to advance justice and opportunity for all.

Many Workers are Immigrants themselves and their Union represents Workers from all of the NYIC’s Offices Statewide and from every department, including Advocacy, Programs, Policy, Development, Operations, Membership and Capacity Building, Communications and Legal.

NYIC also relies on Government funding coming from contracts at the State and City levels.

NYIC United has presented a voluntary recognition letter to management and is calling on executive leadership to recognize the Union swiftly and without any interference.

Workers are organizing for increased protections for Immigrant Workers, support for their immigration cases, financial transparency and pay equity.

The Union reflects a shared commitment to both Labor Rights and Immigrant Rights, rooted in the belief that the values the organization champions externally must also be upheld in the workplace.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Story, Go To: New York Immigration Coalition Staff Launch NYIC United, Forming First-Ever Union in Organization’s History — OPEIU Local 153

The New York State United Teachers & The Illinois Federation Of Teachers 'Lead A More Than 30 Educator Union Coalition That's Urging Democratic Governors To Reject Trump's Federal Voucher Scheme'

Thu, 11 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(ALBANY, NEW YORK) – The New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) and the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) have mobilized Educator Union Leaders from across the U.S. in urging Democratic Governors to reject participation in President Donald Trump’s Private School Voucher Tax Credit Program and publicly reaffirm their commitment to Public Education.

In an open letter to all 24 Democratic Governors, more than 30 Educator Union Leaders representing millions of Teachers, School Staff and Public Employees are urging the Governors to opt out of the program, which would provide Federal tax credits for donations to organizations that fund private school tuition.

The educators warn participation would legitimize a Federally-subsidized voucher scheme that diverts resources away from Public Schools and accelerates the privatization of education.

The President of the Illinois Federation of Teachers - Stacy Davis Gates, and the President of New York State United Teachers - Melinda Person, spearheaded the multi-State effort.

“Public education is one of the Democratic Party’s defining commitments,” the national letter states. “At this moment, Educators, parents and communities across the country are asking a simple question: Will Democratic Governors stand up for Public Schools?”

The Federal Voucher Program was established as part of the Republican education agenda and is a cornerstone of Project 2025.

Evidence from States that have implemented similar Voucher Programs shows that while they’re billed as “school choice,” they overwhelmingly subsidize families already enrolled in private schools while creating significant fiscal pressures on Public Education Systems.

"Let's be honest about what's happening here: This could completely change how Public Schools are funded and the biggest winners will be the people trying to privatize Public Education,” NYSUT President Melinda Person said. “This is a choice about whether we're willing to normalize vouchers and move further down a path that has already hurt Public Schools in State after State. Democratic Governors should not help legitimize a scheme that benefits private interests while undermining the public schools that serve ninety-percent of our children."

In the letter, Union Presidents note that the 2024 Democratic National Committee platform explicitly opposed “private-school vouchers, tuition tax credits, opportunity scholarships, and other schemes that divert taxpayer-funded resources away from Public Education.”

“Democratic Governors are being handed a test right now: Will you stand up for Public School students or will you help Donald Trump normalize a voucher scheme that Illinois has already rejected?,” IFT President Stacy Davis Gates said. “The Democratic Party platform opposes vouchers, our Governors should too.”

The Illinois General Assembly already rejected vouchers because they funded discrimination and diverted $315 million from the State’s General Revenue Fund to private schools.

“Now Trump is repackaging the same failed experiment as a Federal tax credit and Democratic Governors across the country are being asked to give it a stamp of approval,” Davis Gates said. “Every Governor who opts in colludes with Donald Trump at the expense of their own public schools. Illinois should not be one of them.”

The letter concludes with a call for strength: “Democratic Governors have long served as a firewall against efforts to dismantle public institutions. We urge you to continue that leadership now.”

To Directly Access This Labor News Story, Go To: NYSUT, IFT lead educator coalition urging Democratic governors to reject Trump's federal voucher scheme

The New York State United Teachers Union 'Calls For Limits On Screen Time, Student-Facing Artificial Intelligence In Schools'

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(ALBANY, NEW YORK) – The New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) has announced it is committed to advancing developmentally appropriate limits on educational technology in New York Schools.

NYSUT’s 82-Member Board of Directors has passed a resolution that calls for developmentally appropriate limits on screen time and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in New York Schools - especially for the youngest learners - while affirming Educators, parents and families, not technology companies, should drive decisions about how technology is used in the classroom.

Specifically, the resolution calls for: No one-to-one screen/device use for students (including on-line assessments) in Pre-Kindergarten through second grade except to support students with documented needs such as translation or special education services; Requiring paper-and-pencil assessment/testing options be provided for all students as called for by NYSUT’s More Teaching, Less Testing report; No student-facing AI for Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade students; No non-educationally based AI for students in grades three through eight; Requiring the use of AI in any grade must be supervised, Educator-led and designed to promote critical thinking, digital literacy and civic readiness, rather than replace human instruction, creativity or judgment; and No so-called “social companion” chatbots - computer programs that simulate human relationships, for children under 16.

NYSUT will work with parents, experts, community partners, and other organizations to lead New York State and national conversation on the appropriate role of technology in learning, especially for younger children.

"Educators are not anti-technology. We are pro-child," NYSUT President Melinda Person said. "Every decision made in the name of innovation must actually serve the students in our classrooms and NYSUT will lead that fight.”

American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten recently laid out a bold 10-point framework for Public Education calling for a "devices-down, eyes-up, hands-on" strategy for the AI era.

The Surgeon General has also recently raised alarms about the effects of excessive screen exposure on children's health, development and mental well-being.

"What President Weingarten outlined is a vision we are proud to stand behind and New York has both the opportunity and the obligation to make it real," Person said. "This isn't a debate about whether technology belongs in schools. The question is who decides how it's used: Educators and families or EdTech companies with billions of dollars at stake? The answer has to be us."

At least a dozen States have introduced or enacted legislation to limit unnecessary classroom screen time, and the Los Angeles Unified School District recently moved to ban screens through First Grade.

New York created momentum last year with a bell-to-bell cellphone ban, a foundation NYSUT intends to build on.

To Directly Access This Labor News Story, Go To: NYSUT calls for limits on screen time, student-facing AI in schools

"It's An Affront To Workers' Rights And Catholic Values On Every Level" - St. John's University 'Raises The Stakes In Its Fight Against Its Faculty Union'

Sun, 07 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(NEW YORK CITY) - St. John’s University (SJU) has escalated an on-going fight against its Faculty Union by going into Federal Court to sue the New York State Labor Board in order to evade the basic tenets of State Labor Law on religious grounds. The two SJU Chapters of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) have been fighting for survival for the past four months after University leadership abruptly revoked recognition of the Unions that represent more than 1,100 Faculty Members - and broke off negotiations for a new contract in February. The Union responded by filing charges with the State Public Employees Relations Board (PERB) in April that allege the University violated State Labor Law when it unilaterally ceased recognizing the Union and engaged in a pattern of illegal surveillance and intimidation of Union Members. The Union called the lawsuit another form of Union Busting. “We remain steadfast and this is just one more instance where now our employer wants to sue the State Labor Board to bust the Union,” SJU/AAUP President Sophie Bell said. “We think it’s dangerous behavior. It’s an affront to Workers’ Rights and Catholic values on every level.”

To Read This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: St. John’s University raises the stakes in fight against faculty union with federal lawsuit | amNewYork

United University Professions & New York State Reach Agreement On A Five-Year Tentative Contract That Includes Annual Wage Increases & Makes 'Common Sense Changes' To Health Insurance To Help Control Premiums, And More

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(ALBANY, NEW YORK) – New York State Governor Kathy Hochul has announced her administration has reached a contract agreement with the United University Professions (UUP) for a five-year term running until July 1st, 2031.

The agreement is subject to ratification by Union Membership, which includes 42,000 State University of New York (SUNY) System Faculty and Professional Employees.

The contract includes annual increases in basic annual salary for Employees throughout the agreement. It also includes other increases in compensation, such as location pay - and provides for additional leave for prenatal care. It also makes common sense changes to health insurance to help control premiums, eliminate co-pays and reduce the use of out-of-network providers.

“This agreement with United University Professions is good for both the hard-working Faculty and Professionals of SUNY and for the taxpayers of New York State,” Governor Hochul said. “I thank the leadership of UUP for working toward this fair deal and I thank their talented Members for their dedication and commitment to New York’s college students, ensuring a bright future for those pursuing a SUNY education.”

UUP President Fred Kowal said: “I am very pleased to announce UUP has reached a tentative agreement with the State on a new contract. All our efforts to get to the table early and conclude an agreement before our present one expired have succeeded. Thanks to so many of you, and especially to Bret Benjamin, Jeremy Ginsburg and our entire Negotiations Team. This historic agreement addresses many of the priorities Members shared with us throughout the negotiations process and reflects our Union’s commitment to securing the strongest possible contract for our Members. We got some very big wins and that testifies to the importance of our collective efforts. And it's vitally important that I emphasize how much I personally appreciate Governor Hochul’s continued support for UUP Members and the important work we do every day.”

SUNY Chancellor John King, Jr. said: “SUNY’s extraordinary Faculty and Staff are the heart of our ability to deliver affordable excellence and serve as New York State’s engine of upward mobility. New Yorkers rely on SUNY for a world-class education, ground-breaking research and scholarship, medical support and expertise, and other essential needs and services. I applaud Governor Hochul for achieving a fair contract that respects and recognizes the Faculty and Staff who make SUNY such an extraordinary place for our students.”

To Directly Access This Labor News Story, Go To: Governor Hochul Announces Five-Year Labor Agreement With United University Professions | Governor Kathy Hochul | New York State

And For More, Go To: UUP, state reach tentative agreement on new contract

Amazon Lawsuit 'Details Federal Labor Board's Dysfunction' In New York

Tue, 02 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Max Parrott at amNewYork reports the New York Attorney General’s Office and the Teamsters have turned a lawsuit over a State Labor Law into an appraisal of the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) failures. Recent filings by the Union and the State Attorney General in Amazon’s Federal case against New York’s recent attempt to expand Labor Relations enforcement capture a damning level of dysfunction in the local NLRB Offices’ ability to respond to alleged Labor Rights violations. A complaint that one Unionized Amazon Employee filed with the NLRB 29 months ago has not advanced past the first step of enforcement, and other Employees’ charges remain at that stage after 24 and 16 months, according to Court papers. In its lawsuit against New York, Amazon has successfully gotten a Federal Judge to pause the enforcement of the State Employment Relations Act (SERA) during litigation. That law would allow the State-level Employee Relations Board to have jurisdiction over Private-Sector labor disputes through the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) - the Federal Law governing Union formation and collective bargaining. State and Union Lawyers argue the Federal Court should dismiss the challenge to SERA, which they say takes a step to mitigate what they describe as a “labor enforcement no man’s land” due to the atrophy and political capture of the NLRB.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Story, Go To: Amazon lawsuit details federal labor board’s dysfunction in New York | amNewYork

New York State United Teachers On New York State's 2026-27 Enacted Budget: 'This Budget Proves What's Possible When Educators, Public School Allies & Communities Stand Together & Fight For What Students And Working Families Deserve'

Sun, 31 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(ALBANY, NEW YORK) – New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) President Melinda Person released the following statement on the 2026-27 enacted New York State Budget:

New Yorkers made their voices heard and this budget proves what’s possible when Educators, public school allies and communities stand together and fight for what students and Working Families deserve.

From important fixes to Tier 6 that strengthen retirement dignity for Public Workers, to investments in public education - Pre-K through Post-Grad - this budget reflects a commitment to supporting the people who make our communities work every day.

We are especially proud of our Members and New York's Labor Movement.

We secured the biggest pension reform victory since Tier 6 was enacted in 2012 - including reducing the retirement age for most teachers and Teaching Assistants by five years, lower contribution rates for Members and, for SUNY (State University of New York) and CUNY (City University of New York) Optional Retirement Program Members, and an additional 1% State contribution to their accounts.

We are not done fighting, but we are pleased to see historic progress being made toward a fairer future for all Public Workers.

This budget also doubles down on the promise of public education.

The 3.9% increase in Foundation Aid - with a minimum 2% increase to all Districts - and important updates to the funding formula will better recognize and support students experiencing homelessness, children in foster care and English language learners.

A major 40% expansion in universal pre-kindergarten and increased support for our public colleges and universities, including increased access to higher education for adult learners through an expanded SUNY and CUNY Reconnect program, reinforces what we know to be true: When we invest in public education, we invest in opportunity and in New York’s future.

This budget moves New York forward.

It reflects years of advocacy and organizing by NYSUT Members and our partners who never stopped pushing for policies that strengthen public education, protect Working People and create brighter futures for our children.

We look forward to building on this momentum in the years ahead.

Budgets are statements of values - and we thank the Elected Leaders who stood up and made clear that New York’s students, Educators and public schools remain worth investing in.

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: NYSUT President Melinda Person releases statement on 2026-27 enacted state budget

After Nearly Three Months Since Their Last Contract Expired, Unionized New York Times Staff 'Rallies To Demand A New Contract"

Fri, 29 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(NEW YORK CITY) - More than 100 Union-represented New York Times Employees walked out of the newspaper's Midtown Headquarters this week to rally for a new contract, almost three months after their last one expired.

The Staff are members of the Times Guild, the largest Bargaining Unit of the NewsGuild of New York, that represents more than 1,500 Editorial, Advertising and Support Staff at The Gray Lady.

The Guild has been bargaining for a new contract since January with five core priorities: Raises to keep up with rising cost of living; Affordable health care; Guaranteed hybrid work; Artificial Intelligence (AI) guardrails; and Expansion of the Guild across the newspaper.

Near-weekly bargaining has yielded little progress, Raoul Anchondo - a Times Staff Editor and Member of the Guild’s Bargaining Committee, told The Chief: “This was an attempt to send a clear message to management that their current approach to bargaining is unacceptable and that we need to see real movement around all of our core priorities and expect a fair contract.”

This was the third action taken by the Guild this week, following a mass e-mail to the administration by more than 500 Staff Members and a silent protest at the recent all-hands meeting while CEO Meredith Kopit Levien spoke.

The Guild is also seeking pay increases that both keep up with inflation and reflect Staff contributions to a company that saw more than $431 million in profits last year, according to public filings.

The company’s proposed 3% annual salary increase doesn’t meet the Union's needs, Anchondo said, pointing to factors like housing inflation, which rose 4.4% last year.

“Essentially, if we accepted the current proposal we’d be taking a pay cut,” he said.

To Read This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: New York Times staff rally to demand contract - The Chief

The NYS Labor Movement's Fight To Fix Tier 6 'Results In Victory:' Deal 'Will Increase Pensions For More Than 830,000 Public Employees Statewide, Among Other Gains'

Thu, 28 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(ALBANY, NEW YORK) – A deal has been reached to increase Tier 6 pensions for more than 830,000 New York State Public Employees, as well as allow Teachers with 30 years on-the-job to retire at age 58 rather than 63 - and increase the amount of overtime that can be counted towards every Municipal Tier 6 Member’s pension throughout the State.

New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento released the following statement: The Union Movement’s fight to fix Tier 6 has always been about dignity, self-respect and financial independence in retirement. Whether it's a reduction in pension contribution rates, lifting the cap on pensionable overtime or reducing the retirement age, these changes are a clear victory for Public Sector Workers across this State. I am extremely proud of the unity and solidarity displayed by all our affiliated Unions in the Public and Private Sectors, as well as in the Building Trades Unions, throughout this campaign. We were able to build upon previous pension improvements over the past five years, including improvements to vesting and final average salary. This demonstrates what the Union Movement can achieve when we stand together and raise our voices to improve the quality of life for all Working People. I want to thank Governor (Kathy) Hochul and acknowledge the collaborative efforts of (State) Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and the Democratic Majorities in both Houses of the Legislature for recognizing the importance of these changes, which will address the recruitment and retention challenges of Public Employees and thereby improve the services we all rely on.

United Federation of Teachers (UFT) Teachers Michael Mulgrew also released a statement: Albany heard us and took a major step in correcting the injustice of Tier 6. Lowering the retirement age for educators from 63 to 58 after 30 years of service will make the pensions better and fairer for current and future Employees. It shows that progress is possible when we stand together.

When the original Tier 6 reforms were first put in place, the retirement age of Public Workers hired after April 2012 was pushed from 55 to 62 to earn a full pension.

The cost-cutting measures also raised the Employee contribution and slimmed down benefits for recent hires.

The lowered retirement age only applies to Teachers and Teaching Assistants, not other Government Workers in different retirement systems.

The plan is estimated to cost the State $118 million year and $440 million to local Governments and School Districts.

The agreement is different depending on job title.

Only Educators are expected to have a reduced retirement age.

All other Workers currently eligible to retire at 63 without penalty will remain at that age.

However, pensions for all Public Employees will increase under the revised Tier 6 Program.

The deal included in the Fiscal Year 2027 State Budget features reductions in pension contributions for hundreds of thousands of Workers within Tier 6 and an increase in the amount of overtime pay that can count towards the final calculation for Workers’ Pension Benefits.

The finalized agreement is a fraction of the $1.5 billion in changes Labor Leaders pushed that would have lowered the retirement age to 55 for all Workers within Tier 6 - but the agreement is a substantial pension increase for all Municipal Workers in New York State.

“This victory is the result of diligent lobbying efforts and Member support” Transit Workers Union (TWU) Local 100 President John Chiarello said. “These changes do not happen overnight, but together we will keep fighting for the equity we deserve.”

Starting January 1st, 2027, 25% of overtime earnings for Police and Firefighters will count towards their final calculated retirement benefit, up from 15%.

For all other Employees, the amount of overtime included in the retirement benefit calculation will increase from $22,000 to $30,000.

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: NYS and Unions Change Tier 6 – LaborPress

NYSUT Film 'Honors' UUP Member's 'Advocacy Against ICE'

Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(ALBANY, NEW YORK) - Nearly 2,000 Unionists at the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Representative Assembly stood in sustained applause for United University Professions (UUP) Upstate Chapter President Mindy Health, who was honored for her tireless advocacy for two Unionists arrested by ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

Created by Emmy-nominated Filmmaker Matt Reynolds - the short, but powerful, documentary-style film includes footage and photos shot and supplied by UUP and NYSUT, which featured Heath’s efforts.

Upstate UUP Member Alcibiades “Alex” Lazaro Ramirez González, and his husband, Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Member Yannier “Yan” Vázquez Hildago, were arrested by Federal Agents in October 2025 in Syracuse as they waited to attend an immigration hearing on their asylum cases.

The men, who are from Cuba, had valid work permits and asylum status, but ICE nonetheless them and sent them to a Federal Detention Center in Batavia, near Buffalo.

Ramirez and Vázquez, who were ordered deported to Ecuador by different Federal Judges - even though they’ve never been to the country - were held for more than three months before they were released on bond in February pending their appeals of the rulings.

Heath wasted no time getting involved.

Working closely with UUP President Fred Kowal and Labor Leaders in Syracuse and Albany, Heath hastily organized a November 10th rally for Ramirez and Vázquez that drew hundreds of supporters and was widely covered by Syracuse media.

Heath did numerous news interviews with Syracuse media and UUP quickly became a clearing house of information to Salt City Reporters about the status of the two men.

She also designed T-shirts with the silhouettes of the men on the front and the words: “We Stand with Alex and Yan.”

She also visited the men at the detention center.

Heath was there when they were released on bond.

“I grew up in a Union Family and to me, that meant you were part of something bigger than yourself,” Heath says in the opening scene of the seven-minute film. “When things got difficult you had others at your side.”

In one scene, Heath described meeting with Ramirez through a glass wall in the detention center and feeling helpless but also fired up with determination as she watched him try to make sense of his plight: “That image is burned in my head of Alex sobbing with his hand on the glass.”

“We don’t have words to say ‘thank you’ to everybody that brought support for us,” a teary-eyed Ramirez says in the film. “When I saw Mindy, I saw in her eye the power of the UUP Union.”

UUP will continue to follow the case of these two fellow Union Members.

To Directly Access This Labor News Story, Go To: NYSUT film honors UUP member’s advocacy against ICE

NYSUT's President On The Tier 6 Changes Coming In The 2026 State Budget: "This Tier Six Agreement Is Proof That When Workers Organize And Stay United, Change Is Possible. This Is A Victory For Public Workers Across New York"

Sat, 23 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(ALBANY, NEW YORK) – New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) President Melinda Person has released the following statement in response to reported fixes to Tier 6 in the State Budget:

This Tier 6 agreement is proof that when Workers organize and stay united, change is possible. This is a victory for Public Workers across New York. Because Members across New York refused to give up, we secured meaningful progress for Public Workers - including lowering the retirement age from 63 to 58 after 30 years of service for Members in the New York State and New York City Teachers’ Retirement Systems - and reducing contribution rates for many other Public Employees. This victory belongs to every Member who spoke out, rallied, lobbied and kept the pressure on. We are taking an important step toward building a fairer future for the next generation of Public Workers. And we’re going to keep fighting.

While final language and details will be included in the enacted State Budget, several Tier 6 changes are expected to be included based on reporting from several media outlets and confirmed by the Governor's Office.

Tier 6 pension reforms vary by Member group:

For Tier 6 Members in NYSTRS and NYCTRS - a group that includes most teachers and Teaching Assistants - the retirement age will be reduced by five years, from 63 to 58, for Members with 30 years of service (without penalties).

For Tier 6 Members in NYSERS, NYCERS and NYCBERS - many School-related Professionals, Support Staff and other Workers - contribution rates will be reduced across most salary bands.

New NYSERS/NYCERS/NYCBERS Contribution Bands: $75k or less: 3%; $75k - $100k: 4%; $100k - $125k: 5.25%; and $125k or more: 5.75%.

For Tier 6 Members in the SUNY (State University of New York) and CUNY (City University of New York) Optional Retirement Program (ORP), contribution bands will be adjusted to align with changes in the other retirement systems, and Members will receive an additional 1% State contribution to their ORP accounts.

And For Tier 6 Members eligible for overtime, the overtime cap used in final average salary calculations will increase from $22,500 plus CPI to $30,000 - plus CPI.

NYSUT Editor’s Note: Tier 5 TRS Members' retirement age is currently 57 and Tier 5 ERS Members have fixed contribution rates at 3%. We are awaiting final information to assess how Tier 5 Members eligible for overtime may be affected by current changes and we will continue to advocate for full fixes to Tier 5 along with further improvements for our Tier 6 Members.

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: NYSUT President Melinda Person's statement on Tier 6 changes coming in 2026 state budget

United University Professions Honors New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky With The Statewide Union's 'Friend of UUP Award'

Thu, 21 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(ALBANY, NEW YORK) - United University Professions (UUP), the Nation’s largest Higher Education Union, has honored New York State Senator Toby Ann Stavisky with its Friend of UUP Award.

Senator Stavisky, the first Woman from Queens County elected to the State Senate and the first Woman to chair the Senate Higher Ed Committee, was elected in 1999 and has served ever since.

As Senate Higher Ed Committee Chair, Senator Stavisky has been a strong supporter of Public Higher Education and the State University of New York (SUNY) - and she’s been a long-time friend of UUP.

Under her leadership, she’s worked to increase State funding to SUNY, providing the University System with resources necessary to offer a word-class educational experience to students. She has also increased student access through reforms to the State’s Tuition Assistance Program and by keeping tuition reasonable for Working Families.

UUP President Fred Kowal (Pictured Above With Senator Stavisky/UUP-Provided Photo) said: “Senator Stavisky really deserves this Friend of UUP Award. She’s been there for UUP and her hard work has benefitted SUNY, our Members, students and communities across our State. UUP’s relationship with State Lawmakers matters to this Union the whole year round and not just during budget season. We cultivate good friendships with Lawmakers whose ideals and goals match our own, on both sides of the aisle. It’s a bonus for us when these friendships are based on years of trust and mutual respect. We are fortunate indeed to have such a friendship with Senator Toby Ann Stavisky of the Eleventh Senate District.”

Senator Stavisky said: “Together we have made great strides and I'm optimistic about the future, the Faculty and Support Staff are the reason. They teach the students, they conduct the research and they care for the patients in our Public Teaching Hospitals. The strength of New York's future is a result of our Public Colleges and Universities, and I will keep doing my part in Albany to make sure New York lives up to that responsibility.”

UUP’s non-partisan award recognizes distinguished service rendered to SUNY by those who strengthen and enlarge the political community devoted to the progressive development of Public Higher Education in New York State.

Past winners include State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

UUP represents more than 42,000 Academic and Professional Faculty and Retirees.

UUP Members work at 29 New York State-operated Campuses, including SUNY’s Public Teaching Hospitals and Health Science Centers in Brooklyn, Long Island and Syracuse.

UUP is an affiliate of New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the National Education Association (NEA) and the AFL-CIO.

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: Press Release | UUP honors Stavisky with Friend of UUP award

St. John's Faculty Rallies At Board Of Trustees Meeting To 'Demand University Return To The Bargaining Table' After 'De-Recognizing' The Unions In February

Tue, 19 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(NEW YORK CITY) – More than 100 Faculty Members of the St. John’s University Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and the Faculty Association (FA) - along with students, community members and Labor allies from PSC-CUNY (Professional Staff Congress-City University of New York) and Fordham Faculty United, gathered at the main entrance to the St. John’s University Queens Campus during the final Board of Trustees meeting of the 2025-2026 academic year, demanding the University come back to the bargaining table after de-recognizing the Unions in a February e-mail. Scabby the Rat stood tall at the entrance to the campus while passing cars honked in support. The rally also featured support from a number of Elected Officials. John Waters, a Clinical Associate Professor of English at New York University, was one of the featured speakers. Waters’ Father was a Catholic Social Justice Lawyer at St. John’s and was among the founders of the AAUP Chapter at St. John’s that is currently under attack. He told the crowd that St. John’s University is betraying its principles – and: “We have to speak clearly to the administration that this will not stand. The Faculty is the University!”

Photo Courtesy Of The AAUP.

Kickstarter United 'Rallies Against Retaliatory' Firings

Sun, 17 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(NEW YORK CITY) - Kickstarter United (Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 153) Members and supporters gathered on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall to demand the immediate reinstatement of Union Leaders fired by Kickstarter in what the Union characterizes as illegal retaliation. The terminations came just months after Kickstarter United secured a landmark contract following a 42-day Strike in November 2025. The contract, ratified by an overwhelming majority of Members, included a codified four-day work-week, strong protections against the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to displace Workers, and an escalating salary floor tied to cost of living. It is widely considered to be one of the strongest labor agreements in the Tech Industry. On February 11th (2026), Kickstarter management announced the termination of four Union Members and the reassignment of several others out of the Bargaining Unit, offering no business-need justification for the decisions. The Union has filed Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and multiple grievances related to the company's use of Non-Union contractors and AI to undermine Bargaining Unit work. At the rally, Kickstarter United Members and other speakers - including Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso and New York City AFL-CIO Central Labor Council President Brendan Griffith, called for the immediate reinstatement of all terminated Union Members and for Kickstarter to cease-and-desist the retaliation - immediately.

For More On This Organizing Labor News Story, Go To: Kickstarter Fired Employees as a Retaliation to Organizing, Union Says - BKReader

Unions 'Demand' Apollo Global Management 'Respect Workers' Rights'

Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(NEW YORK CITY) - A group of Workers and Unions - including LiUNA Local 79, City University of New York’s Professional Staff Congress (PSC-CUNY), St. John’s University’s Chapter of the American Association of University Professors (SJU-AAUP), and the New York City AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, rallied against Worker mistreatment outside of Apollo Global’s Manhattan Headquarters. Apollo Global is partnering with RXR on the office-to-residential conversion project at Five Times Square, which will transform the 39-story office tower to 1,290 housing units. Twenty-five-percent of the new units are slated to be earmarked as affordable housing, but many of the Workers constructing the project are paid sub-standard wages too low to afford to live in the building once the conversion is completed. “I worked as a Construction Laborer for a Non-Union body shop at Five Times Square and jobsites around New York City, I was making close to minimum wage,” Construction Worker William White said. “It was difficult to survive and support my kids. I asked the company for a raise multiple times, but I never received one. I had to rely on Medicaid even though I was working full-time. I was afraid to lose my job because of my incarceration history. Construction Laborers at Five Times Square should be treated with the dignity they deserve and should be paid just wages with benefits.”

For More On This Labor News Story, Go To: Construction Workers Demand Apollo Global Respect Worker Rights – LaborPress

Photo Courtesy Of Laborers Local 79’s Instagram Page.

U.S. Senator Gillibrand 'Stands With Organized Labor Across New York State To Urge The Passage Of The Federal Faster Labor Contracts Act'

Tue, 12 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(ACROSS NEW YORK STATE) - Standing with Labor Leaders and Advocates at Teamsters Local 118 in Rochester, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 43 in Syracuse and the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) in Albany. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand urged the swift passage of the Faster Labor Contracts Act, which would require employers to come to the negotiating table quickly and ensure that they engage in good faith negotiations with Unions.

“Everything from groceries to gas costs more now than it did before President Trump took office, and American Workers are feeling the pinch,” Senator Gillibrand (Pictured Above, Speaking In Rochester) said. “Instead of focusing on lowering costs and helping people get ahead, President Trump has spent his time launching a full-frontal assault on Organized Labor. In the face of these attacks, we must not back down, which is why the passage of the Faster Labor Contracts Act is so critical. Every step forward for the American Worker - from every weekend off to every safe workplace and every living wage - came because Workers showed up, fought back, and refused to be silent.”

IBEW Local 43 Business Manager and Financial Secretary Alan Marzullo said: “On behalf of IBEW Local (43), I thank Senator Kirsten Gillibrand for visiting and for her strong support of the Faster Labor Contracts Act. This common-sense legislation protects Workers’ right to not only organize, but to secure a first contract in a timely manner. We appreciate Senator Gillibrand’s leadership and remain committed to working together to strengthen the Middle Class across our region.”

Senator Gillibrand has had a long-standing partnership with Organized Labor.

As a champion of Bills such as the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act and Never Forget the Heroes: James Zadroga, Ray Pfeifer, and Luis Alvarez Permanent Authorization of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund Act, Gillibrand has been a leader in the U.S. Senate, urging her colleagues to pass bipartisan legislation that would bolster and protect New York State Workers.

Meanwhile, Senator Gillibrand said she has sent a letter to the Department of Defense condemning the termination of Collective Bargaining Agreements for American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Members at Fort Drum and the Defense Finance Accounting Services (DFAS) in Rome.

To Read This Labor News Report In Its Entirety, Go To: On May Day: Senator Gillibrand Stands With Labor Across New York State - Kirsten Gillibrand | U.S. Senator for New York

Photo Courtesy Of New York State Assembly Member Harry Bronson’s Facebook Page.

WGAE, SAG-AFTRA, DGA & The NewsGuild 'Rally In Albany To Pass' The New York Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Requirements In News Act

Sun, 10 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(ALBANY, NEW YORK) - Journalists and leadership from the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and the NewsGuild of New York joined New York State Senator Patricia Fahy (Democrat-Albany) and Assembly Member Nily Rozic (Democrat-New York City) to urge the State Legislature to pass the New York Fundamental Artificial Intelligence Requirements in News Act (The NY FAIR News Act) - bipartisan legislation that establishes critical protections for Journalists, Media Professionals and the broader public to ensure that the integrity of the news and its Workforce are safeguarded against Artificial Intelligence. During a press conference held on The Million Dollar Staircase inside the State Capitol, Fahy and Rozi were joined by Slate’s What Next podcast Host and Managing Editor Mary Harris, Ziff David Senior Editor and Union Chair Jason Cohen, CBS News Associate Director Scott Berger, Berlin Station Writer and the Co-Chair of the WGAE AI Task Force Larry Cohen, WGAE Executive Director Sam Wheeler and SAG-AFTRA Chief Labor Policy Officer and Executive Director and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher. Said Fahy: “Perhaps one of the industries at most risk from the use of Artificial Intelligence is Journalism - and as a result, the public’s trust and confidence in accurate news reporting. According to the National Broadcasters Association, more than (76%) of Americans report being concerned about AI stealing or reproducing Journalism and local news stories, as AI continues to reshape our daily lives and careers across industries. To protect the public’s trust in reporting and the news they read every day and the Journalists who do the work, I’m proud to sponsor the NY FAIR News Act with Assembly Member Rozic and I look forward to working with my Colleagues in the State Senate to enact common sense guidelines that protect New Yorkers from the unintended consequences of AI.”

For More On This Labor News Story, Go To: Statement on The NY FAIR News Act And WGAE, SAG-AFTRA, DGA & NewsGuild Rally Albany to Pass the NY FAIR News Act | Press Room

40 Unifi Customer Service Workers Employed At The Westchester County Airport 'Go Union,' Vote To Join The International Association Of Machinists

Wed, 06 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NEW YORK) - The International Association of Machinists (IAM) Air Transport Territory is welcoming 40 new Members at Unifi - North America’s largest Aviation Service Provider, who are employed at the Westchester County Airport (HPN), marking another strong IAM organizing win for Working People in the Airline Industry.

The Customer Service Workers perform critical work supporting Airline operations, including at Delta Air Lines and Breeze Airways.

The Unifi Workers won their Union Drive despite a brutal Anti-Union campaign by the company - one so aggressive the IAM was forced to file an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) Charge to hold the employer accountable and protect the Workers’ rights.

This victory was led by the Workers themselves, with strong support from the IAM Air Transport Territory and District 142.

IAM Air Transport Territory Associate Rachel Arnold said: “Unifi Workers fought hard for this and we did it together. This is about having respect on-the-job and a ‘real voice’ in our workplace. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished with Unifi Workers and excited for what comes next.”

The victory comes on the heels of several other IAM organizing wins with Unifi Workers, including in Fresno and San Jose, California and in Cleveland.

“Every organizing win strengthens the IAM Union and raises standards for all Workers in this industry,” IAM Air Transport Territory Chief of Staff Edison Fraser said. “We’re proud to welcome these new Members and stand with them as they move forward.”

To Read this Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: Workers Win at Westchester County Airport: Unifi Customer Service Votes to Join the IAM Union - IAM Union

NYSNA-Represented North Country Health Care Workers Employed at UVM-Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital In Plattsburgh 'Speak Out for Safe Staffing & A Fair Contract'

Mon, 04 May 2026 14:00:00 -0400

(PLATTSBURGH, NEW YORK) - New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA)-represented Health Care Workers employed at UVM (University of Vermont Health)-Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital (CVPH) recently held a speak-out to demand safe staffing and a fair contract. NYSNA Nurses, Health Care Professionals and IT Professionals have been fighting for a fair deal that protects patient care and ensures access to care for North Country patients since earlier this year. Northeast Center AFL-CIO Central Labor Council Secretary Kim Hartshorn joined NYSNA Members in solidarity at the speak-out. Last year, CVPH unilaterally changed staffing ratios in four Medical-Surgical Units over the objections of NYSNA, which the Union said violated their contract and in the process made the Hospital less safe. Nearly a year later, understaffing remains a widespread problem at the Hospital and puts safe, quality patient care at risk. At the bargaining table, CVPH management refuses to be held accountable for safety standards at all and has proposed changes to the contract that only stand to make staffing worse, Union Officials added. NYSNA Members at CVPH care deeply for their community and say they will not allow Hospital management to put patient care at risk. Nurses are calling attention to the current understaffing problem and to CVPH’s refusal to work with Nurses on a solution that prioritizes Nurse and patient safety over profits. NYSNA Members are continuing to push back against management’s proposed staffing changes until they reach a solution that ensures access to care and safe, quality patient care for the communities CVPH serves. Like NYSNA Members at CVPH, NYSNA Nurses at the Adirondack Medical Center and at UVM-Alice Hyde Medical Center continue to bargain for fair contracts that protect patient care in the North Country.

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: North Country Healthcare Workers Speak Out for Safe Staffing and a Fair Contract | New York State Nurses Association

Speak-Out Photo Courtesy Of NYSNA.

Kowal 'Unanimously Re-Elected' United University Professions President - Statewide Officers Also Elected At 2026 Spring Delegate Assembly In Albany

Sun, 03 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(ALBANY, NEW YORK) - United University Professions (UUP) President Frederick E. Kowal has been re-elected by a unanimous vote of Delegates April 25 at UUP’s 2026 Spring Delegate Assembly in Albany.

Delegates of UUP, America’s largest Higher Education Union, elected Kowal by acclamation, with UUP Statewide Secretary-Treasurer Jeri O’Bryan-Losee casting one symbolic vote for the body.

Kowal, who ran unopposed, was elected to his fourth three-year term as UUP President.

Kowal was first elected in 2013.

Said Kowal: “I am grateful for the support and the trust that our Delegates have placed in me by re-electing me as UUP’s President. I look forward to continuing the vitally important work of this Union for our Members, our students, our patients and our communities. We will continue to fight for necessary funding for our cash-strapped campuses and for a strong, multi-year contract that provides job security and protections, superior affordable health care and well-deserved salary increases for our Members. Now, let’s get to work.”

O’Bryan-Losee and another Statewide Officer, Membership Development Officer Patrick Romain, were also elected by unanimous votes.

Both candidates ran unopposed and were elected to three-year terms by acclamation.

UUP Delegates also elected two new Members to the Union’s Statewide Executive Board, for three-year terms that start June 1st. They are: Brendan McGovern of Binghamton University, the President of UUP’s Binghamton Chapter; Matthew Smith of the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF). Smith serves as President of UUP’s ESF Chapter.

Six other Executive Board Members were re-elected to three-year terms. They are: Redetha Abrahams-Nichols, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. She is President of UUP’s Downstate Chapter; Bret Benjamin, University at Albany. He is UUP’s Chief Negotiator for a new contract with the state; Rebecca Bryan, SUNY Cortland; Mindy Heath, Upstate Medical University. She is President of UUP’s Upstate Chapter; Pamela Malone, SUNY Empire State University; and Samuel Marquez, SUNY Downstate

UUP represents more than 42,000 Academic and Professional Faculty and Retirees who work at 29 New York State-operated Campuses, including SUNY’s Public Teaching Hospitals and Health Science Centers in Brooklyn, Long Island and Syracuse.

UUP is an affiliate of New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the National Education Association (NEA) and the AFL-CIO.

To Directly Access This Labor News Report, Go To: Press Release | Kowal unanimously reelected UUP president

UUP File Photo.

'Fallen Workers Honored' At Workers' Memorial Day Event In New York City

Fri, 01 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(NEW YORK CITY) - Workers, Labor Leaders and Government Officials gathered for a Workers’ Memorial Day event in Midtown Manhattan to honor New Yorkers who have died or suffered injury or illness on the job, and to renew the fight for strong workplace safety protections.

The event was organized by the New York City AFL-CIO Central Labor Council and the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH).

The program included remarks by New York City Deputy Mayor for Economic Justice Julie Su and 32BJ Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Executive Vice President Israel Melendez.

Held in front of 345 Park Avenue, the site of a workplace shooting last Summer that claimed the lives of four Workers, the event honored New Yorkers who have died on the job over the past year.

The names of more than 40 Workers were read aloud, including 32BJ SEIU Member Aland Etienne and PBA Member Detective Didarul Islam (promoted posthumously), who were among those killed at this site and whose Unions were in attendance.

Once again, construction was the most dangerous industry, with at least 10 known fatalities.

At least 11 Workers that were honored were from a variety of industries died as a result of workplace violence.

Workers’ Memorial Day comes at a time of growing concern over weakened workplace safety enforcement.

More than 380 Workers are killed every day in the U.S. due to preventable workplace hazards, and Federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) resources and staffing have declined to historic lows, leaving too many employers unaccountable.

Speakers called for stronger enforcement, stronger standards and the protection of Workers’ right to organize – noting Black, Latino and Immigrant Workers face disproportionate risks on the job.

New York City AFL-CIO Labor Council President Brendan Griffith said: “Workers’ Memorial Day is about remembering the workers we’ve lost and recommitting ourselves to the fight for the living. But we’re also at a moment when the systems meant to keep workers safe are being weakened. OSHA was created to guarantee every Worker the right to a safe job and that promise only matters if it’s enforced. Right now, we’re seeing fewer Inspectors, fewer inspections and fewer consequences for employers who break the law. A safe job is a fundamental right and the best way to keep jobs safe is through membership in a Union. The New York City Labor Movement will keep organizing and fighting until every Worker can return home safely at the end of the day.”

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Fallen Workers Honored at Workers’ Memorial Day Event in New York City | New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO

Photos Courtesy Of The New York City AFL-CIO Central Labor Council.

A Memorial Day 'Call To Action' From CSEA President Mary Sullivan: "When CSEA Members Raise Our Voices Together, We Make Workplaces Safer For Everyone"

Wed, 29 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(ALBANY, NEW YORK) – Mary Sullivan, who serves as President of the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) - which represents 250,000 Public Workers across New York State, released the following on Workers Memorial Day 2026:

April 28th is Workers Memorial Day, when we remember Workers who were killed, injured or made ill on the job.

But it must be more than a day of remembrance.

It must also be a call to action.

For CSEA Members, workplace safety is not an abstract issue.

Every day, our Members serve their communities in demanding and sometimes dangerous jobs.

Every one of those Workers deserves the right to go home safely at the end of their shift.

Yet far too often, that doesn’t happen.

This past year alone, 10 CSEA Members tragically died while on the job and hundreds more were injured while doing the work our communities rely on every day.

Too often, these incidents are preventable.

They happen because of unsafe conditions, reckless behavior or protections that simply aren’t strong enough.

That should make every one of us angry.

It should make every one of us determined to do something about it.

CSEA is pushing for stronger Worker Safety Laws, including expanding workplace violence protections, increasing penalties for assaults on Public Employees and holding reckless drivers accountable when they endanger Workers in work zones.

Members can help by calling on Elected Officials to support stronger Workplace Safety Laws and by refusing to stay silent when something isn’t right.

But laws alone won’t keep Workers safe.

Real safety also depends on Members speaking up - reporting hazards, raising concerns about unsafe conditions and standing together to demand better protections.

The best way to honor the Workers we have lost is to keep fighting until every Worker can do their job safely and return home to their family.

When CSEA Members raise our voices together, we make workplaces safer for everyone.

To Directly Access This CSEA Statement, Go To: Mary E. Sullivan: Workers Memorial Day: A call to action - CSEA NY

Organized Labor 'Celebrates' New York City Mayor Mamdani's 'Veto Of A Buffer Zone Bill That Was Opposed' By Unions

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(NEW YORK CITY) - Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced he would veto a City Council Bill criticized by Unions representing Academic Workers that would have tasked the NYPD to erect “security perimeters” around Educational Facilities across New York City.

Intro 175-B's critics warned the Bill would stifle free speech and possibly affect the ability of Unions to picket and organize.

In a statement announcing his veto, Mamdani said the “problem” with the Bill is that it defines Educational Institutions too broadly as well as the “Constitutional concerns it raises regarding New Yorkers’ fundamental right to protest.”

“This could impact Workers protesting ICE or college students demanding their school divest from fossil fuels or demonstrating in support of Palestinian rights,” Mamdani said. “(Int. 175-B) is not a narrow public safety measure, it is a piece of legislation that has alarmed much of the Labor Movement, Reproductive Rights Groups and Immigration Advocates, among others, across this City. Nearly a dozen Unions have raised the alarm about its impact on their ability to organize.”

The Mayor added he would allow a similar law that applies to Houses of Worship, and that passed the Council by a much larger margin than the Bill on Educational Institutions, to come into effect.

Professional Staff Congress (PSC) of City of New York (CUNY) President James Davis, who was one of several outspoken Union Leaders opposing the Bill, praised Mamdani for vetoing the legislation: “Mayor Mamdani proved himself a champion of students, Faculty and Staff once again when he vetoed (Intro 175-B). This ‘Buffer Zone” Legislation would jeopardize First Amendment Rights to free expression for all New Yorkers irrespective of religion, race or nationality, imposing new restrictions near any vaguely defined ‘educational facilities.’ That includes CUNY Campuses, which are worksites and sites of political expression”

The PSC was one of more than 200 local groups to send a letter to Mamdani urging him to veto the legislation.

The City reported Labor Leaders from more than a half-dozen Unions and the New York City AFL-CIO Central Labor Council had met with City Hall Officials via video call to urge Mamdani to veto the Bill.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Mamdani vetoes buffer zone bill opposed by unions - The Chief

'Inside The Long Retreat' Of Workers' Compensation In New York State: 160,000 Injured New Yorkers 'Seek Workers' Compensation Each Year - But In Recent Years, Regulators Have Tilted The Scales Towards Employers & Insurers'

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Brook D’Angelo was driving to a distressed property in Niagara Falls, where she worked as a Neighborhood Inspector, when her City-owned car slammed downward into a deep sinkhole in an unpaved alley. The impact broke her lower back and ripped her abdominal wall. So, like some 160,000 injured New Yorkers each year, D’Angelo filed a claim in 2018 for New York State’s oldest guaranteed labor benefit: Workers’ Compensation. Every day counts with an injury like hers, but it took D’Angelo six months to find a doctor in the area willing to take on the hassle of getting paid through the State’s Workers’ Comp System. She had serious doubts about the surgeon she finally found but went ahead with treatment because she couldn’t find anyone else who accepted the benefit. The first surgery “butchered” D’Angelo, she said. It required three more surgeries and resulted in a 14-inch incision and the use of porcine dermal collagen - pig skin - to hold her abdomen together. Each attempt left her body with irreversible scar-like adhesions and left her unable to bear children. New York became the first State in the Nation to set up a Workers’ Compensation System in the wake of the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire. In the century since, the Social Insurance Program has covered medical bills and cash for recovery time for countless injured Construction Workers, Prison Guards, Nurses and other Workers. Yet - in recent years, the program’s benefits have quietly shrunk by over a third. From 2014 to 2023, the dollar amount of benefits insurers pay to Workers fell by $1.4 billion per year - a 37% drop, according to the latest available insurance data compiled by Economist James Parrott and shared with New York Focus. In that same period, Parrott calculated, insurers pocketed nearly $11 billion in profits. (Parrott is not related to this Reporter.)

To Continue Reading This Labor News Story, Go To: Inside The Long Retreat of Workers’ Compensation in New York

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli: 'Despite Third Straight Year Of State Workforce Expansion, OT Costs Increased By $1.6 Billion' In 2025 - Department Of Corrections 'Accounted For Over 87% Of Total Increase' In OT Earnings

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(ALBANY, NEW YORK) - New York State Agency overtime costs increased 22.7% in 2025 for a total of $1.6 billion, while the number of overtime hours increased by 5.9%, or 1.4 million hours, higher than the previous year, according to the annual report issued by State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli examining State agencies’ overtime and workforce trends. The size of the state workforce - not including the State University of New York and City University of New York, grew for a third straight year in 2025 increasing by 2.7%, or 4,139 positions, from 2024, to an average annual total of 155,448. “The use of overtime by State Agencies continued to climb with overtime as a share of payroll at its second highest rate since at least (2007),” DiNapoli said. “Agencies need to ensure usage is justified while continuing to safely and effectively provide the services New Yorkers expect and deserve.” Overtime hours and earnings have continued to surge at the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (Corrections), growing by 1.3 million hours and $264 million in 2025, the most of any Agency. The Agency experienced a 29.8% decrease in workforce since 2020 when there were 8,544 more Employees than in 2025. Between 2024 and 2025, the Corrections Workforce decreased by over 2,700 while overtime hours per Employee grew 32.7% to reach an average of 432 hours - nearly triple what it was in 2020. These figures were influenced by the Strike by some Corrections employees that took place between February 17th, 2025 and March 10th, 2025.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: DiNapoli: Despite Third Straight Year of State Workforce Expansion, OT Costs Increased by $1.6 Billion in 2025 | Office of the New York State Comptroller

From NYSUT: Schools 'Work To Meet New Drinking Water Standards'

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(ALBANY, NEW YORK) - Schools across New York State are working diligently to comply with new, more stringent lead standards that will make school drinking water even safer for students, educators and others who spend time in school buildings.

New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Health and Safety has created: A fact sheet to help schools familiarize themselves with required sampling, remediation, reporting and record-keeping requirements; review State Department of Health’s (DOH) resources on the topic; and Recommit to ensuring their drinking water meets the State’s new, safer standards.

The fact sheet includes definitions of key terms, links to related DOH resources, and frequently asked questions on the topic.

Lead is a known toxin that has the potential to affect multiple organ systems in the body.

It can be especially harmful to children, whose neurological systems are still developing.

Elevated lead levels in children often stem from exposure to chipped or peeling lead paint, especially in older homes, but can also happen due to consumption of lead-contaminated water.

Lead gets into drinking water as lead pipes, fixtures, and the solder used to connect pipes corrode over time.

This is of greatest concern in older buildings - including schools - built before 1986, when the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act was amended to prohibit the use of materials in plumbing that were not “lead free.”

That amendment significantly decreased the risk of lead contamination in drinking water for new buildings, but it did not address the risk in existing buildings.

For that reason, schools across New York have long been required to test their drinking water regularly for lead.

Until recently, New York’s “action level” for lead in drinking water - the level at which a school is required to undertake remediation, including repair of pipes and fixtures - was 15 parts per billion (ppb), which aligned with Federal regulations for school drinking water.

In December 2022, New York revised the Public Health Law governing School Potable Water Standards and Testing to reduce the action level for lead from 15 ppb to 5 ppb.

Schools were required to test using the new threshold during a three-year compliance period that ended on December 22nd, 2025.

The updated law also removed previous exemptions for some buildings previously considered “lead free,” and instituted new requirements for reporting test results to the public and providing alternative water sources free of charge when drinking water outlets are taken out of service.

“Schools around the State are adjusting to these new regulations and the procedures and requirements that come along with them,” NYSUT Second Vice President Ron Gross, said. “Our Members are taking action to ensure their drinking water is safe for students and all who pass through their buildings. It’s beneficial for the whole school community.”

NYSUT’s Program Services Department is available to provide support to Members and answer questions that come up as they work through this important process, he added.

To Directly Access This Labor News Story, Go To: Schools work to meet new drinking water standards

NYSUT-Provided Graphic.

LanguageLine Interpreters Unionization Push Backed By New York City Lawmakers - Interpreters 'Cite Low Pay, High Stress & Deteriorating Service Conditions'

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(NEW YORK CITY) – Carter Myers-Brown at The Chief reports on New York City LanguageLine Interpreters: When a patient walks into a New York City Hospital and doesn't speak English, or when a resident calls 911 in a language other than English, it falls to a LanguageLine Solutions Interpreter to bridge the gap. Now, many of these Interpreters are calling for their company to respect their right to Unionize - and they have found empathetic ears inside the New York City Council. The Communications Workers of America (CWA), which is supporting the organizing effort, and City Lawmakers are escalating pressure on LanguageLine Solutions and its parent company, Teleperformance, as the Interpreters point to new data revealing low pay, high stress and deteriorating service conditions. At a press conference held on the steps of City Hall earlier this month, Council Members joined Comptroller Mark Levine and LanguageLine Interpreters to call on the company to recognize Workers’ Organizing Rights and address workplace concerns. Officials also highlighted the formation of a Worker-led Health and Safety Committee, which Interpreters say is intended to formalize discussions with management over conditions affecting their work. LanguageLine Solutions provides telephonic interpretation for more than 30,000 clients worldwide, including New York City Agencies with more than $19 million in active contracts. Its Interpreters help ensure language access for roughly 1.79 million New Yorkers with limited English proficiency, facilitating communication in hospitals, courts and across City services.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Story, Go To: LanguageLine interpreters unionization push backed by lawmakers - The Chief

New York City 'Touts Nation-Leading' Hotel Worker & Consumer Protections

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(NEW YORK CITY) – The New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) is focusing a spotlight on the suite of laws it enforces to protect consumers and Workers across City hotels as New York looks ahead to another busy year for tourism and hospitality. In a new Op-Ed in The Nation, DCWP Commissioner Sam Levine joined Hotel and Gaming Trades Council (HTC) President Rich Maroko to remind hotel operators of the City laws and rules that guarantee critical protections for Hotel Workers and consumers. The DCWP also issued compliance warnings to more than 760 licensed hotels citywide, notifying them of their obligations. With tens of millions of visitors to New York City each year, the DCWP is committed to strong enforcement of these standards to ensure the industry’s continued recovery from COVID-19 benefits Working People and businesses across the City. The DCWP also pledges to continue to enforce safety and transparency in the Hospitality Sector for Workers and consumers.

For More On This Labor News Story, Go To: DCWP Touts Nation-Leading Hotel Consumer and Worker Protections | City of New York

And To Learn More About Your Rights As Consumers And Workers At nyc.gov/dcwp.

Photo Courtesy Of The New York City AFL-CIO Central Labor Council.

The Amherst Compact: United University Professions 'Joins A Coalition Of More Than 50 Higher Ed Unions To Back First-Ever Higher Ed Union Contract Bargaining Priorities Pact'

Fri, 17 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(ALBANY, NEW YORK) - United University Professions (UUP) - America’s largest higher Education Union, is strongly supporting the Amherst Compact, a first-ever agreement by leaders of more than 50 Unions to coordinate bargaining priorities that raise the floor for Workers of all job categories across the most-densely Unionized Region of the country for Higher Education.

Higher Ed Unions from Maine to Pennsylvania are part of the Amherst Compact, which comes as UUP and three Rutgers University Unions are negotiating new contracts.

UUP’s Negotiations Team and New York State Representatives have been working on a new agreement since February.

The contract runs through July 1st.

The timing for the initiative is good - dozens of Higher Education Unions across nine Northeast States - Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania - will be negotiating new contracts over the next year.

“By standing together, Higher Education Unions can use their collective power to push for gains that wouldn’t have been possible otherwise,” UUP President Fred Kowal said. “A regional bargaining strategy can help raise the standards of employment for Unions out there negotiating new agreements. As a founding member of Higher Education Labor United, UUP believes in working together with our Union colleagues to help each other realize the best possible agreements we can negotiate for our Members.”

UUP Chief Negotiator Bret Benjamin said: “As UUP is at the bargaining table right now, it’s great to know that Higher Ed Unions across the Northeast are working in collaboration to set new standards for bargaining demands.”

The Amherst Compact was drafted in January at the Northeast Regional Bargaining Summit in Amherst, Massachusetts.

The summit was organized by Higher Education Labor United (HELU), a National Higher Ed Union Organization formed in 2021 to create and pursue a unified vision for Higher Education.

More than 225,000 Higher Ed and Allied Workers are affiliated with HELU through their Unions and organizations.

More than 50 Unions - representing Higher Ed Workers in jobs ranging from Food Service and Custodial Work to Doctors, Researchers, Academics and Professional Staff - attended the summit and voted to approve the Compact.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Press Release | UUP backs higher ed union contract bargaining priorities pact

Syracuse University Professors & Researchers 'Aim To Make' SU 'A Union Campus' - 'If' They Vote To Unionize, 'They Could Add Another 350 Union-Represented Workers To 4,000 Others Who Have Already Unionized'

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Eddie Velazquez at Central Current reports hundreds of Educators and Researchers that make up almost 20% of Syracuse University’s (SU) Faculty want to form a Union. The Union would include around 350 Postdoctoral Researchers, Teaching Professors, Professors of Practice and Research Professors, if a majority of those Workers vote to Unionize at an election on April 22nd and 23rd. They’re seeking transparency and fairness around contract renewals, more lenient contracts for International Faculty, more equitable pay and a say in how decisions in their workplace are made. Their Union drive comes at a time when University Administrators plan to cut or pause almost 100 academic programs in a move administrators have said is a re-alignment to accommodate student demand. If successful, Non-Tenure Track, Full-Time Workers would join the close to 4,000 Unionized Workers at SU. Some Workers say they see wall-to-wall Union Representation at SU as a way to collectively cope with uncertainty around research funding, a difficult job market, volatile changes to labor and Immigration Laws.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: Another 350 workers at Syracuse University could unionize

Nation's 'First Deliverista Hub' Opens At New York City Hall

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(NEW YORK CITY) – The Workers’ Justice Project-Los Deliveristas Unidos is celebrating a historic milestone for Delivery Worker Organizing in New York City with the launch of the City Hall Park Deliverista Hub - the first Worker-designed Hub of its kind in the Nation. Developed through organizing by App Delivery Workers and in partnership with City and Federal Leaders, the Hub provides critical infrastructure for New York City’s 80,000 App Delivery Workers, including safe e-bike battery charging, rest space, bike repair and access to Worker support services. The launch featured remarks from a number of Elected Leaders, including U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer and Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, City partner agencies and Organizers with Los Deliveristas Unidos. The opening marks an important step toward improving safety, supporting Worker-led innovation and advancing sustainable last-mile delivery across the City.

For More On This Labor News Story, Go To: Schumer Thanks Mamdani as Deliverista Hub Finally Opens

Photo Collage Courtesy Of The New York City AFL-CIO Central Labor Council.

Union-Represented Long Island Rail Road Workers Warn Of 'Disaster' If They Go On Strike Next Month - Meanwhile, Unionized Subway & Bus Operators In New York City 'Kick Off' Negotiations On A New Contract

Sun, 12 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Workers could go on Strike as early as May 16th if they cannot reach a deal. During a press conference held last week - Kevin Sexton, who serves as the National Vice President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET), said Workers would walk off the job on May 16th if they don’t reach a new contract with the Transit Agency. Sexton said a Strike would halt service on the country’s busiest commuter railroad, which “would be a disaster for Long Island.” “No one wants a Strike,” he said. “Our friends, our families, our neighbors, our communities rely on this system.” Workers want a retroactive 9.5% wage increase that covers the past three years. They also want an additional 5% raise - starting this year. LIRR Workers last went on Strike in 1994. The Federal Government can prevent a work stoppage, but Congress did not intervene last year when New Jersey Transit Workers went on Strike. Meanwhile, contract talks with Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100, which represents Subway and Bus Operators, are getting underway. Negotiations officially began late last week with an exchange of demands at the Union's Brooklyn headquarters. Union Leaders say rising costs and workplace conditions will be the center of discussions.

For More On This Labor News Story, Go To: LIRR workers, TWU 100 could go on strike next month if they cannot reach a deal - ABC7 New York

And

LIRR workers warn of 'disaster for Long Island' as they prepare to strike in May - Gothamist

NYSNA Nurses At Elizabethtown 'Overwhelmingly Ratify' Contract Agreement 'That Delivers Good Health Benefits For Nurses'

Thu, 09 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(ELIZABETHTOWN, NEW YORK) – New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA)-represented Nurses employed at the University of Vermont (UVM)-Elizabethtown Community Hospital have voted to overwhelmingly ratify a new contract after bargaining for months.

UVM-Elizabethtown Nurses fought for a fair contract that maintains Safe Staffing Standards and secures respectful wages and benefits to recruit and retain Nurses, Union Officials said.

NYSNA Nurses also secured access to the NYSNA Benefit Fund, which will deliver better and more affordable health benefits to Nurses.

NYSNA Nurses at Adirondack Medical Center, the last North Country Hospital represented by NYSNA without the Benefit Fund, continue to fight for strong Union benefits.

Highlights of the contract include: Safe Staffing Standards maintained; Entrance into the NYSNA Benefit Fund starting January 1st, 2027; Wage increases of $3 an hour as an immediate market adjustment, plus yearly wage increases of 3%; and Additional pay incentives to maintain safe staffing and encourage Nurse retention.

NYSNA President Nancy Hagans said, “We are so proud of our North Country Nurses who continue to improve health care in their communities while raising standards for Nurses. Over the last few months, Nurses have held speak-outs and raised their voices to bring attention to the crisis of care in the region. Improving care for our communities also requires ensuring Nurses receive wages and benefits that respect their work and ensure that Nurses can continue to do the work they do best. This contract shows that when NYSNA Nurses fight, we win!”

NYSNA represents more than 42,000 Members across the State and is New York’s largest Union and Professional Association for Registered Nurses.

NYSNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU), the country's largest and fastest-growing Union and Professional Association of Registered Nurses, with more than 225,000 Members nationwide.

To Read This Labor News Story In Its Entirety, Go To: NYSNA Nurses at Elizabethtown Overwhelmingly Ratify Contract Agreement that Delivers Good Health Benefits for Nurses | New York State Nurses Association

New York City District Council Of Carpenters Rally At Vanderbilt University Construction Site In Manhattan 'To Put Pressure On' Project Developer 'To Ensure Workers Are Paid Standard Wages'

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(NEW YORK CITY) – The New York City District Council of Carpenters rallied at a high-profile construction site tied to Vanderbilt University in Manhattan’s Chelsea Neighborhood, calling on the project’s developer to ensure workers are paid standard wages.

The Carpenters gathered at the site to protest what they described as sub-standard pay and benefits provided by General Contractor Gotham Drywall, warning such practices could undermine wage standards across the City’s Construction Industry.

The demonstration drew support from several local Elected Officials - including Manhattan Borough President Brad Hoylman-Sigal, Assembly Member Alex Bores and City Council Member Erik Bottcher, along with Labor Advocates and representatives from the New York City AFL-CIO Central Labor Council.

At the center of the dispute is Gotham Drywall, which Union Leaders allege is compensating Workers below established area standards.

Union Officials argue such practices not only impact Workers on the project - but also creates downward pressure on wages industry-wide.

Union Members emphasized that maintaining area standard wages is critical to preserving fair compensation, benefits and working conditions in one of the Nation’s largest construction markets.

To Continue Reading This Labor News Report, Go To: NYC Carpenters Rally at Vanderbilt Site Over Pay Dispute

Photo Collage Courtesy Of The New York City AFL-CIO Central Labor Council.

Faculty 'Fight Anti-Union Tactics' At St. John's University - University Administrators 'Abruptly Cancel' Labor Negotiations, 'Pushing Faculty To Scale Up' Actions

Tue, 07 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

(JAMAICA, QUEENS) - Sixty-two years ago, St. John’s University (SJU) in New York City became the site of the first major Faculty Strike in U.S. History - a year-long conflict that followed the firing of 33 Teachers, including three Priests, without due process.

Now, the struggle over labor conditions has forced the Faculty to once again mobilize, a move precipitated by the current College Administration’s abrupt announcement that it will no longer recognize two Faculty Unions or continue negotiations to hash out a new contract.

St. John’s President, the Reverend Brian J. Shanley, and Provost and Senior Vice President Simon Geir Møller, told the National Catholic Reporter the move was necessary to give the college “the flexibility required to innovate and deliver on our promise to our students.”

But Faculty Members, who had been demanding improved wages and greater transparency in how their share of health insurance premiums are calculated, call it Union Busting.

Sophie Bell, acting President of the Campus American Association of University Professors (AAUP) Chapter, says the Union was surprised by the February suspension of bargaining and the decision to end Union Recognition, telling Truthout: “This was my second time bargaining for a contract and in the earlier negotiation I felt like management was a real partner at the bargaining table. This time it felt different and I got the impression that Shanley does not want a Union.”

To Continue Reading This Labor News Story, Go To: Faculty Fight Anti-Union Tactics at St. John’s University in New York | Truthout