If Not WNYLaborToday, Then Who?
If Not WNYLaborToday.com, Then Who?
No One! Support Your On-Line Labor Newspaper - Today!
Even though there are more Americans now than at any time since 1965 who approve of Labor Unions, getting Organized Labor’s positive message out to Union Membership and the General Public still proves to be a problem, especially with the mainstream media, which seems only interested in Unions when there’s a Strike, picket - or worse yet, an indictment. Then and only then is there a multitude of news coverage that focuses in on Labor.
That’s why it is more than disappointing that so many of the good things Labor Unions and their Members do in the communities where they work, live and raise their families goes - for the most part, unnoticed and subsequently, unreported.
Fortunately, there are still a handful of Labor News Outlets across the United States who specifically focus on the Labor Movement and so much of its news that is - frankly, ignored by much of the mainstream media, including daily newspapers and radio and television stations.
Some of the overall slack is being picked up by Social Media these days with Labor Organizations and Union Members posting news and notes that are viewed - but unfortunately in many cases by only that individual Union’s Members or supporters.
Here in Western New York, the Labor Movement is fortunate to have a media outlet of its own: WNYLaborToday.com, which begins its 16th year in April of offering an array of Labor News Stories from across our region, New York State and the Nation that cannot be found in any one place across the entire Internet.
Because of the more than 100 individual news stories WNYLaborToday.com publishes in its seven individual Labor News Sections each month, it has attracted readership outside Western New York, in fact - some from as far away as Honolulu, Hawaii.
However, many of WNYLaborToday.com Brother and Sister Labor News Outlets have ceased to exist over the years - mostly because they’ve been unable to gain continued and consistent support from Labor Unions and their Members.
That, fortunately, has not been the case here in Western New York.
There are more than 20 individual Unions and Labor Organizations, many of which can be directly viewed on WNYLaborToday.com’s Front Page, who have made the decision to support their own Labor News Media Outlet.
And, there are a number of Union-represented and Union-friendly advertisers who also support WNYLaborToday.com, which has allowed our Labor News Media Outlet to weather a number of lean years as it continues to offer Organized Labor such an important news service.
To underscore the worth of what WNYLaborToday.com offers the Labor Movement, we’ve chosen a number of Labor News examples from the past 12 months that had an interesting story to tell - stories that more than likely would have not drawn the interest of local media and might have never been told at all:
- A ‘True Woman Of Steel’- For Years, Cindy Marlow Has Mentored The USW’s Women Of Steel Group In Western New York, ‘Helping Spearhead Efforts To Aid The Less Fortunate’ - Now She’s Proving She’s ‘Tough As Steel’ In Her Battle Against Cancer
- Union Solidarity ‘During An Historic ‘Snowstorm: A ‘Wonderful Example’ Of A Union Member ‘Helping Another That’s Not Lost On One’ Labor Leader, Who Was Dug Out Of Eight-Foot-High Snowdrifts ‘By A Union Brother He Didn’t Know’
- A WNYLaborToday.com Halloween Tradition: Did You Know That ‘Long Hours & Dangerous Conditions’ On The Frankenstein Sets Led Legendary Actor Boris Karloff To Get Behind The Movement To Unionize Screen Actors?
- Meet New NYSUT Regional Staff Director Joe Cantafio: “It’s A ‘True’ Calling,” High School Teacher/Sports Coach Now Oversees 45,000 Members In 205 School Districts With Focus On ‘Helping Develop The Next Generation Of Union Leaders’
- “‘This Is Like Walking On Mars - It’s Priceless’” - High School Social Worker ‘Raves About’ WNY Construction Career Days, Says: “‘We Can Talk To Them About It, How Cool A Job These Are, But You Can’t Replicate This’” Hands-On Experience
- What Would The Grey Nuns Of The Sacred Heart Think? Labor Turmoil At Buffalo’s D’Youville University Has Some Staff ‘Leaving For Greener Pastures’ As Union & Management ‘Are Locked In Contentious Negotiations’ On A New Contract
- Organized Labor ‘Kicks Off’ The United Way Of Greater Niagara’s 2022 Fundraising Campaign With A $42,400 Donation - Niagara-Orleans Labor Council, Labor Leader Denise Abbott & The USW’s Melissa Mazzarella Honored With Awards At The Event
- In The Aftermath Of A Member’s ‘Horrific’ On-The-Job Vehicle Crash, NALC Branch 3 ‘Stands Out As An Example Of What A Union Does For Its Members - More Than Just A Representative Labor Organization That Negotiates Contracts Or Files Grievances’
- “We’re Shining Our Light, Bright:” Labor ‘Gives Back’ To The Jefferson Avenue Community Where Tragedy Struck On 5/14 – A Job Fair, Free Haircuts For School Kids, Grocery Gift Cards & A Car Wash Highlight Labor’s Community Event
- “We Are Inspired By You” - Four UFCW-Represented Tops Supermarket Employees Who Were Impacted By The 5/14 Mass Shooting At The Jefferson Avenue Grocery Store Are Named Grand Marshals Of The 2022 Buffalo AFL-CIO Council’s Labor Day Parade
- New CWA Local 1133 President Carrie Dilbert: Growing Up In A Union Family Taught Her To ‘Stand Up For The Underdog,’ Now The RN Heads A Union Of 2,000 Caregivers Who Won A High-Profile Contract Battle At South Buffalo’s Mercy Hospital
- It’s A ‘First In The Nation For The U.S. Postal Service & It Happened Right Here In Western New York’ - NALC Branch 3 Letter Carrier & Military Vet Secures OK From the USPS For An Emotional Support Dog On His Daily Delivery Route
- “Pressure Breaks Pipes” - ATU Local 1342 Reps Discuss Their Union’s “Historic & Life Changing” Contract With The NFTA, Local ‘Now Fielding Calls From Interested Unions Across The U.S. That Want To Know How They Did It’
- More Unions ‘Speak Out Against’ Racist Shooting In Buffalo As President Biden Visits The Queen City Today To Offer His Sympathies To The Grieving Families & Pledge To “Do Everything In Our Power To End Hate-Fueled Domestic Terrorism”
- “We’re ‘Here To Put Employers (Who Fail To Provide A Safe Workplace) On Notice, We’re Coming For You’” - Workers’ Memorial Day Observance In Western New York: WNYALF & Buffalo Labor Council Honor Deceased & Injured Workers
- ‘March Madness With A Labor Connection’ - An ‘Extremely Busy’ WNY Area Labor Federation President Peter DeJesus ‘Finds The Time’ To Serve As An Assistant Coach For Buffalo State College’s Women’s Basketball Team
- The Buffalo/Niagara County Building And Construction Trades’ Hockey Tournament Raises $12,000 For Juvenile Diabetes - Brings Total To $40,000 Raised Over the Past Couple Of Years ‘To Help A Variety Of Worthy Community Non-Profits’
- “I ‘Can’t Put Into Words How Proud I Am’” - The 2022 Variety Club Kids Telethon ‘Raises $900,000-Plus,’ With Western New York Labor Unions & Their Members ‘Contributing More Than’ $50,000
- A WNYLaborToday.com Conversation With African-American Actor & Actors’ Equity/SAG-AFTRA Unionist Stephen McKinley Henderson - Once His Father ‘Saw His Union Card, He Changed His Mind’ About His Son’s Acting Career
- ‘On Board To Keep Them Afloat,’ IUPAT District 4 ‘Stepped Up To Help’ The Buffalo Naval Park ‘That’s Been Devastated’ By The COVID Pandemic, Apprentices Donate Labor To Paint Destroyer & Help Improve Hangar Facility
- Niagara-Orleans Labor Council President ‘Calls Out’ Elected Officials At Workers’ Memorial Event, Wants Hearings On Workers’ Comp Reform - Tells Story Of Worker ‘Who Put A Gun In His Mouth Because He Couldn’t Take The Pain Anymore’
Now, here’s what a couple of Western New York’s Labor Leaders have to say about WNYLaborToday.com and its worth to the Labor Movement and the Working Men and Women they represent:
Jim Briggs, United Steelworkers (USW) District 4 Sub-Director and President of the Niagara-Orleans AFL-CIO Central Labor Council: “The media in this country does not see the Labor Movement as important, but WNYLaborToday.com realizes the value of what we do. From Western New York to Washington, you see what’s going on across the Labor Movement. It is also an educational and information tool. Supporting WNYLaborToday.com is a benefit to our Members. Where else would they get this information? It’s been an important tool for us (the USW and the Niagara-Orleans Labor Council) and it’s been a help to us (the USW) in some of our tough (contract) negotiations that puts pressure (on management by getting Labor’s side out). And, it’s not only a benefit to our Members, but the general public.’
Lou Fazzorelli, Business Manager of IBEW Local 2104, which represents more than 200 Members employed at the New York Power Authority: “I think (WNYLaborToday.com) is a vital part of the (Western New York Labor Community). (Labor) doesn’t have a lot of allies in the media and it’s great to see that we do with WNYLaborToday.com. How are we going to reach people? It creates an awareness across the board, no matter if you’re with the IBEW, the USW, the UAW or a Union Plumber. It tells our stories, our struggles and reminds us we have a common thread. I come in early every day and log on because I have the time to read what it offers.”
Just retired Communications Workers of America Local 1122 President John Mudie and former President of the Buffalo AFL-CIO Central Labor Council: “We want to get our side of the story out there and we don’t get this kind of Labor coverage from the Buffalo News - and that’s not fair to their readership. Speaking for myself, I need to have the knowledge of what’s going on (in the Labor Movement) across the country. Where else does that get the news coverage? If we want to educate our Members, for real, it’s really important (to have Labor’s own media outlet telling its stories).”
With that said, it is our honor to be your Union Storyteller.
In fact, much of what WNYLaborToday.com covers and reports on becomes Labor History right here in Western New York.
However, in order to continue to do the job, WNYLaborToday.com needs your support.
A Union can become a Front Page Supportive Advertiser, as can any Union-represented or Union-friendly business.
This support will ensure Organized Labor has its own Labor News Media Outlet not only for the coming year, but for years to come.
And that support is more than greatly appreciated.
If not, we ask: Who will cover the Labor Movement to the extent that WNYLaborToday.com does?
The answer: No One Will!
The time is now - Support Your On-Line Labor Newspaper - Today!
For information on WNYLaborToday.com’s Advertising Rates, contact Editor-Publisher Tom Campbell at either 716-681-2300 (Office) or via E-Mail at campbell@localnet.com.