WNYLaborToday.com Editor’s Note: Area Union Leaders, Representatives, Elected Officials and Friends of Labor gathered at United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 774’s Headquarters just outside Tonawanda’s General Motors Powertrain Plant over the weekend to attend the Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation’s (WNYALF) annual meeting.  While the overall discussion was dire as the Trump Administration ramps up its attacks on Organized Labor, all in attendance pledged to come together in solidarity to take real action to fight Trump and his multi-billionaire DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) toady Elon Musk, as well as those in the Republican Party who are standing silent while all is happening, in order to ensure the future survival of Labor Unions in the U.S.  (WNYLaborToday.com Photos)

(TONAWANDA, NEW YORK) – While the overall discussion at the Western New York AFL-CIO Area Labor Federation’s (WNYALF) annual meeting addressed the dark and dire consequences of the country electing Donald Trump as its President and his Administration’s increasing attacks on Organized Labor, the many Labor Leaders, Representatives, Elected Officials and Friends of Labor gathered in attendance were in agreeance that this is a moment that “requires all of us to fight together to win.”

An array of Public and Private Unions were in the house at the 2025 WNYALF event that was held at United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 774’s Union Hall located outside Tonawanda’s General Motors Powertrain Plant in Tonawanda, just outside Buffalo. 

And it did not take long for WNYALF President Peter DeJesus - who heads a Labor Federation that represents 145,000 Union Members across six Western New York Counties, as well as five Central Labor Councils, to set the tone for what was coming.

“This is a ‘time of crisis’ (for Organized Labor),” DeJesus (pictured above) said. “We are ‘under siege from a government that does not serve us because they fear our (Labor’s) collective power.’  They are ‘waging war on Working People.’  They are ‘rolling back our rights as everyday people are struggling.’  They ‘want us divided, pitted against each other until no one is left standing.’  But we are here today to say: ‘No!’ ‘We will not be divided.’ ‘We will fight.’ ‘We have been here before.’ ‘This calls for real collective power.’  ‘It calls for more than words.’  We ‘must organize because while we wait, they are organizing.’  ‘If we don’t, we will lose our future.’  ‘We must stand for every Worker, Union or not.’  Our struggles ‘are one.’  We ‘must take real action, more than’ voting.  We ‘have to stay militant for change and we must use (what Labor has) without hesitation.’ ‘Our survival depends on it.’ ‘So, we have a choice - do we conduct business as usual or step into our power?’  ‘To act in the moment that demands of us.’ ‘We are - We the People.’ ‘Our enemies are not afraid.’  So, ‘are we willing to fight just as hard to protect our future?’ ‘This is what this moment requires of us.’  ‘We must hit back with greater force.’ ‘If we fight, we will win.’ ‘Are you ready to fight?’ ‘To organize?’ ‘Let’s stop talking about it and go to work!’”

From Trump’s billionaire toady Elon Musk and his DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) to attacks on Federal Workers, the National Labor Relations Board and the U.S. Occupational Health & Safety Administration to dissolving collective bargaining for TSA Workers, the heightened attacks on Organized Labor are coming fast and furious while Republicans in the House of Republicans remain silent and allow Trump to carry out his agenda.

Those in attendance listened to the passionate words of Democratic U.S. Congressman Tim Kennedy, a former New York State Senator who grew up in a Labor Family in South Buffalo and fights daily for the rights of Working People, and Juanita Rough - Northeast Regional Coordinator the National AFL-CIO, who told all that it is Organized Labor “who ‘comes together for the good (of Working People) in moments of crisis.’”

Discussing a host of strategic plans Labor must execute to battle the Trump Administration, Rough said: “They are ‘coming for all of us, making long-lasting changes.’ ‘It reminds us of why we are here to fight the billionaire class.’ ‘We must partner with others in our community because it gives us more credibility.’ Our message ‘does not change - we fight, every day, for benefits.’ We care, actually.’ We ‘must remind our Members’ that ‘they’ are ‘not on our side.’ ‘We are just a ‘line item for them. And ‘we must explain to the community how Labor can be a part of the dialogue.’ It’s ‘our’ Membership ‘that always beats them on flat numbers.’ We, the Working Class, ‘has sacrificed something to be here.’ Generation Z ‘identifies’ with Unions. ‘They truly believe in equity and they know how to fight.’  It’s ‘us versus the ruling class.’ It’s ‘about safety in the workplace.’ ‘It’s about people dying of heat stroke’ (while on the job). The earth ‘is’ changing. ‘Our job is to tell those stories.’  The Labor Movement, with its community partners and allies, ‘will be a part of saving this country.’”

Congressman Kennedy, his voice cracking at times as he recounted growing up in a Working Family where his parents worked three jobs to make ends meet and pay bills until his father landed a Union-represented City position, told those in attendance: “I will ‘always have your back in everything we do’ as this Administration runs roughshod over Working People. ‘I get choked up (recalling his past) about my parents working three jobs to keep our lights on.’ ‘(Now) reminds me of my parents’ struggle as I was growing up.’ And this conversation ‘is still happening across America - everyday.’  Organized Labor ‘has given us the opportunity to live the American Dream.’ ‘You are the backbone’ of the Democratic Party. ‘I’m in a room full of fighters.’ ‘We know what to do, we just need to do it.’ Republicans ‘are rolling over and playing dead and have let this tyrannical man run roughshod over America.’ ‘We are the only ones standing up for the future’ of Democracy. ‘We are not going to take what they are feeding up sitting down.’ We are ‘agitated and frustrated, but we have to be strategic.’ Like John Lewis said, ‘We have to keep our eyes on the prize.’ ‘We have got to get serious because they are hurting’ America. ‘They want to take away’ Social Security and Medicaid.  ‘Now, we must create our own Project 2026 - and it starts right now.’ ‘We need to remind each other where we’ve come from.’ ‘We need to organize, mobilize and litigate and take back the House’ (of Representatives).”

With a round of thunderous applause, WNYALF President DeJesus returned to podium to announce the Labor Federation would be holding a major rally in Buffalo Niagara Square on Tuesday, May 6th to get Labor’s message out and continue to reenergize its Membership.

“This is ‘bigger than us.’” he said, “‘It’s for our kids.’”