WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Phoenix Cerny (on the left) and Cory Johnson (on the right) have something in common that both involve the SPoT Coffee Chain. Johnson was involved in the successful Union Organizing Drive at SPoT Coffee in Rochester, while Cerny was allegedly fired from his job at SPoT Coffee in Buffalo for being part of the effort to more»

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Georgetown (University) Law is launching a new Workers’ Rights Institute and has hired the former Buffalo Attorney and Chairman of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), Mark Gaston Pearce, to lead it, it has been announced. The new institute will focus on innovative legal and policy initiatives to support Workers’ more»

(WILLIAMSVILLE, NEW YORK) – Workers United for Upstate New York Manager Gary Bonadonna, Jr. minced no words when asked by WNYLaborToday.com why the management of SPoT Coffee - which allowed their Workers in Rochester to Unionize, but is trying to stop a Unionization Drive here in Buffalo, would take such opposite stances - and, in the process, fire more»

NYSUT Editor’s Note: Thanks to a Union-backed partnership, several Members of Buffalo Educational Support Team (BEST) recently graduated from Erie Community College's (ECC) Teaching Assistant Level III Certification Program. From the left are: Janet Roberson; Buffalo Teacher Center Director Melinda MacPherson-Sullivan; Serma Nezha; Robin Capasso of more»

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – With an informational picket now scheduled for July 10th by the three Unions that combine to represent 7,200 Workers who are employed across the Kaleida Health Care System in Buffalo, negotiations are scheduled to resume Monday (July 1st) after a short break asked for by management that followed more than 50 bargaining sessions more»

(RANSOMVILLE, NEW YORK) – For the past 36 years, the Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council (NOLC) has awarded three annual $500 scholarships to two graduating High School Seniors whose parents are Union Members and another to a Union Member who is moving forward with their educational dreams. And while there have been many a memorable story more»

NYSUT Editor’s Note: Pictured above with his children, Webster Teachers Association (WTA) Members joined with Union President Christopher Wojtas to hand out free books at the community's Summer kickoff bash. (NYSUT Provided Photo) (ROCHESTER, NEW YORK) - This is the kind of community outreach that will have a long shelf life: giving books to more»

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – The contract covering 8,000 Union-Represented Kaleida Health System Workers in Buffalo has expired without a resolution as bargaining broke down Friday (June 21st) with more than 30 open issues still remaining to be resolved. Representatives from Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1168, 1199 Service Employees more»

(GREECE, NEW YORK) – Simply put, after years of watching and dealing with what he describes as “cronyism, nepotism, ‘pay-to-play’ politics and Anti-Union” business dealings - as well as having encouraged so many others in the local Labor Movement to get involved and run for public office, Rochester & Genesee Valley AFL-CIO more»

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – What a week last week was for the organizers of the second annual United Steelworkers (USW) District 4 Black Labor Week, who tell WNYLaborToday.com they were “amazed” by the fact that their 2019 effort doubled in the amount of support and number of volunteers who made it happen. From serving a free breakfast and more»

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – The Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) is supporting a Buffalo School Board resolution that suspends and bars a Buffalo City Council Member - Ulysees O. Wingo, Sr. - from the City’s Public Schools after he carried a loaded weapon into a school building. The BTF’s Executive Committee and Council of Delegates from all more»

(ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK) – During a beautiful June evening as the day’s sunlight bathed the impressive Buffalo AFL-CIO Central Labor Council’s monument that honors those area Workers who have died on the job over the years, the late Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Western Region President Flo Tripi was both remembered and more»

(KENMORE, NEW YORK) – Kenmore Mercy Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU), a member of the Catholic Health System, has earned the 2019 Silver Beacon Award for Excellence, presented by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) to recognize the Nation’s highest performing Hospital ICUs. The Beacon Award for Excellence - which more»

(LOCKPORT, NEW YORK) – For the most part, when Labor Unions and their Members do something good for the communities where they work, live and raise their families, it goes unnoticed. It seems the general public and the mainstream media is more interested in Organized Labor when it comes to either a picket line or a Strike. But in Niagara County over more»

Organizing.Work Editor’s Note: Robin J. Cartwright explores the historical origins of “Workplace Contractualism” in the United States - the predominant model of Unionism, whereby Workers and employers negotiate a contract. He notes employers themselves pushed for the contract system in order to tame Unions and to engage Union Officers and more»

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) - The New York Foundation for Fair Contracting (NYFFC) is applauding Erie County for enforcing its Lowest Responsible Bidder Law by deciding not to award the reconstruction of Lake Avenue project to Zoladz Construction. The NYFFC appreciates the swift action taken by Erie County Leaders to address serious allegations that Zoladz falsely more»

(ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK) - Did you know Tree Workers are in hot demand this season? The jobs provide a strong starting wage and Union Benefits as well. 'Wanted - Tree Care Industry Workers' - that's the shout out from Tree Service Companies who participated in an open house and career fair in Orchard Park, just south of Buffalo. Tree Workers clear trees more»

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) - I recently had cause to remember Ed Bastian, who - as I did - attended St. Bonaventure University in Western New York back in the 70s. In fact, and unbelievably, I found a photo that I’d personally taken of the now-CEO of Delta Airlines during a Senior gathering just days before we received our diplomas back in 1979. While it more»

As most of you are probably aware, May is Labor History Month. Our roots, as America’s Workers, are explored from the birth of Mother Jones in 1830 to that first May Day march of 1886, followed by the tragic Haymarket bombing. Miners, Teachers, Machinists and Railway Workers all celebrate significant anniversaries in the month of May, and if you more»

Just as single-income families began to vanish in the last century, many of America’s elderly are now forgoing retirement for the same reason: They don’t have enough money. Rickety social safety nets, inadequate retirement savings plans and sky high health-care costs are all conspiring to make the concept of leaving the workforce something to more»

For many of us, meaningful work is an essential component of a fulfilling life - but what, exactly, gives meaning to one's work? A sense of vocation - an intuition that you were born to do this - can often do the trick, but what if you're not lucky enough to find a "calling"? What else can make you feel fulfilled at your job? New research provides an more»

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) - Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) President Phil Rumore is criticizing Buffalo Councilman Ulysees Wingo, Sr. for his decision to bring a gun into a Public School, calling his excuse for the need for more robust security program in schools “far worse and unacceptable.” “It is a ‘matter of grave concern’ more»

(NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK) – After 18 months of bargaining, a new five-year contract has been ratified by a 3-to-1 margin by Niagara Falls Teachers Association (NFTA) Local 801’s Membership, Union Officials tell WNYLaborToday.com. The agreement, which expires in June 2024, was negotiated with the Niagara Falls School Board and the NFTA’s more»

(ERIE & NIAGARA COUNTIES, NEW YORK) – The Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation and the Buffalo AFL-CIO Labor Council has announced its full list of endorsed candidates for the upcoming June Primary, while the Niagara-Orleans Labor Council has announced its list of endorsements of several candidates who are running for school board seats more»

(NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK) – Labor Unions are more than just organizations that represent Workers in their workplaces and act in their best interest when it’s time to negotiate a contract or stand up for them in a grievance situation. Sometimes it means picking up the ball when management won’t and taking action to recognize the hard work more»

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – No matter if it’s a Union or a Non-Union company in the construction industry, finding and attracting young people into the profession has been identified as the number one challenge as more older Workers head towards retirement. Here in Western New York, the Construction Exchange of Buffalo and Western New York (CONEX) more»

(NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK) – An impressive and stunning three-foot-high, 600-pound bronze eagle was formally unveiled during the Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Labor Council’s Annual Workers’ Memorial Commemoration that was held over the weekend in Reservoir State Park in Niagara Falls, during what was an extremely memorable event for a group of more»

(NIAGARA FALLS, ONTARIO/CANADA) - The Rainforest Café is sometimes branded as being “as ethical as it is appealing,” but some workers tell a different story. After Ontario’s minimum wage rose, in January 2018, The Standard reported, the owners of the Clifton Hill restaurant, responded by raising tip-outs from 3.5-to-4.5% of sales more»

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – Statewide and Regional Leadership of the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Representatives praised the efforts of the Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) as its Union-endorsed Buffalo School Board candidates registered a clean sweep in Tuesday’s citywide elections. It was a rare opportunity in the City of Buffalo where more»

(ALBANY, NEW YORK) – New York State Legislation sponsored by Senator Tim Kennedy (Democrat-Buffalo) to protect striking Workers from unfair negotiating tactics has passed the New York State Senate, which is drawing the praise of the Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation (WNYALF). Senate Bill S4573 relates to decreasing the length of the more»

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) - The New York Foundation for Fair Contracting (NYFFC) is applauding a decision made by the Erie County Legislature to table a vote last week before its Economic Development Committee on awarding a local reconstruction project contract to Zoladz Construction of Alden, New York. The NYFFC - a Non-Profit Fair Contracting Organization more»

(NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK) – Amid the fanfare of an event that was held in Niagara Falls earlier this week by the Bank of Buffalo to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new $2 million branch, several International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 237 Members gathered nearby, holding up a very large sign that read: Bank on Buffalo - Eroding more»

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – Those Western New York Labor Leaders who will attend next week’s 2019 BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York’s Annual Health Care Seminar will be brought up to speed on a number of current New York State and Federal Legislative Proposals, as well as being presented with an array of Health Care resources and more»

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Pictured above, Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation President Richard Lipsitz announced his Labor Federation’s endorsement of Mark Poloncarz (in the blue shirt behind Lipsitz at the podium), who is seeking re-election to the office of Erie County Executive. (WNYLaborToday.com Photos) (BUFFALO, NEW more»

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: In what was believed to be a record number of participants, more than 600 Union Leaders, Representatives, Elected Officials and Friends of Labor packed the Buffalo Convention Center in Downtown Buffalo late last week to take part in the 2019 Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation’s (WNYALF) Awards Dinner. more»

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) - While millions around the world watched the World Trade Center Towers fall on 9/11, thousands of Western New Yorkers left their families and their lives to travel to New York City in response to the worst terrorist attack in the Nation’s History. From across the Nation, from 434 out of 435 Congressional Districts, Americans - more»

(WESTERN NEW YORK) – Cancer affects everyone, including those in the Labor Movement. For some it is more than just a physical battle. It can become an economic battle when a person fighting the disease must also contend with coming up with the money to pay for rides to get to treatment, hotel stays and wigs and head coverings. And for some, it can more»

Before César Chávez and Dolores Huerta, there was Maria Moreno, a Union Organizer whose story all but disappeared from history until the discovery of lost photographs taken more than 50 years ago by George Ballis, one of the leading photographers of the Farmworker Movement. It was a discovery that sparked the search for a woman that time had more»

The fastest growing jobs in nearly a quarter of U.S. States are International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)-represented jobs, according to projections from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The fastest growing job in the most States – eight – is Solar Panel Installer. But that doesn’t mean that there will be more more»

NYSUT Editor’s Note: Jocelyn Goldberg-Schaible (pictured on the right) went out of her way to thank New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Secretary Treasurer Philippe Abraham for all the Statewide Teachers Union had provided her late mother, a retired New York City Educator. (Photo by Liza Frenette/NYSUT) (ROCHESTER, NEW YORK) - It was a very more»

Organizing Work Editor’s Note: Marianne Garneau spoke to Workers in more than a dozen Grocery Cooperatives across the United States and Canada to produce this report on Co-Ops’ exploitation of Workers and history of Union-Busting. We like to think of Grocery Cooperatives (Co-Ops) as islands of progressivism in an otherwise ruthless more»

Across the U.S., many Doctors, Nurses and other Health Care Workers have remained silent about what is being called an epidemic of violence against them. The violent outbursts come from patients and patients' families - and for years it has been considered part of the job. When you visit the Cleveland Clinic Emergency Department these days - whether as a more»

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) - Buffalo School Administrators are using false statements, making intimidating calls to parents, holding intimidating meetings with students, and excluding students who have opted out of taking State Testing from such events as socials and drawings, the Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) alleges. Last year, in response to alarmed more»

Five years ago, my mother was rushed to the hospital for an aneurysm. For the next two weeks, my family and I sat huddled around her bed in the intensive-care unit, oscillating between panic, fear, uncertainty and exhaustion. But it was the Nurses that got us through that time with our sanity intact. Nurses checked on my mother - and us - multiple times more»

(ONTARIO, CANADA) - Ontario employers' duty to pay workers overtime just got a little lighter, following passage of a law that quietly reduces some protections around excess hours of work in the province. Bill 66 lightens regulations around a practice called "Overtime Averaging" in a way that has significant implications for how much overtime pay Workers more»

(LAKEVIEW, NEW YORK) – International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 17 and Local 463 are merging in Western New York, which will strengthen the Union across the Niagara Frontier with a combined 2,000 Members, IUOE Officials say. Merger of the two Locals was slated to be formally addressed Friday (April 5th) evening at Local 17’s more»

(BUFFALO, NEW YORK) – In Fall of 2016, the Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) ended a 12-year fight to gain a new contract with the Buffalo School District. Now, three years later as Union Negotiators start negotiations on a new deal, talks got off to more than a rocky start when BTF Officials walked out of the first session after the School District more»

(ALBANY, NEW YORK) - Despite the valiant efforts of the New York State Building Trades, with help from the New York State AFL-CIO and a major rally of Tradespeople at the State Capitol, State Leaders reached a budget agreement for fiscal year 2019 that failed to include the proper definition of Public Works. Properly defining Public Works had been touted more»

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: This is the second of two Western New York Labor News Stories this week that focus a spotlight on area Union Members running for Public Office. Today, Your On-Line Labor Newspaper takes a look at United Steelworkers (USW) 2001 Member Amanda Irons-Rindfleisch and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) more»

WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: This is the first of two Western New York Labor News Stories this week that will focus a spotlight on area Union Members running for Public Office. Today, Your On-Line Labor Newspaper takes a look at Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) Member Nicole Herkey and New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Member Joe Cantafio, more»