Labor Vision

Labor Vision host Autumn Guillotte sits down with Climate Jobs RI’s Erica Hammond, Lead Organizer, Mike Roles, Policy Director, and Aislinn Hanley, Energy Fellow to talk about victories in 2022 and upcoming 2023 priorities.

In 2022, Climate Jobs RI’s successes included strengthening labor standards in renewable energy projects, building pathways for trades apprenticeship for those affected most in the climate transition, the Renewable Energy Standard Bill requiring 100% of electricity to be sourced by renewable energy by 2033, and the Offshore Wind Procurement bill paving the way for 600-1000 megawatts of offshore wind in Rhode Island.

In 2023, Climate Jobs RI is revisiting the Green and Health Schools campaign to decarbonize all public K-12 school buildings by 2035 using strong labor and equity standards, and replacing lead pipes throughout the state via good union jobs.

Stay tuned for future Labor Vision segments with Climate Jobs RI diving into the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which directs nearly $400 billion in federal funding to clean energy, the Environmental Justice Act, and the Green and Health Schools campaign.

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This special podcast episode covers the second half of the Rhode Island Labor History Society Panel Discussion “Organizing and Reinventing Unions in the 1970s and 1980s: Stories and Lessons Learned by Those Who Were There” and features panelists Tracy Fitzpatrick, Jim McGetrick, and Reverend Duane Clinker.

Tracy Fitzpatrick organized jewelry employees. She served as Assistant Secretary of Labor in Massachusetts under Governor Dukakis and has been a consultant to many unions. She is currently a Life Coach.

Jim McGetrick was an organizer for the United Steelworkers of America at Electric Boat, Quonset Point. He taught in Providence as a member of the American Federation of Teachers. He has been a lifelong Irish-American activist.

Reverend Duane Clinker served as a Steelworkers’ shop steward at BIF. He headed the Rhode Island Committee on Occupational Safety and Health and was an active participant in the Community Labor Organizing Coalition (CLOC). Presently, he is the Reverend Doctor at the Mathewson Street United Methodist Church.

Visit this link to watch the show: https://buff.ly/3mWUt1z  

This special podcast episode covers the Rhode Island Labor History Society Panel Discussion “Organizing and Reinventing Unions in the 1970s and 1980s: Stories and Lessons Learned by Those Who Were There” and features the first two panelists of the event, George Nee and Scott Molloy, Ph.D. 

Show host Autumn sits down with Matthew Gunnip, President, Service Employees International Union SEIU Local 580 and Rafael Martinez, President, AFSCME Local 2882 to talk about the staffing issues at DHS. 

Due to the understaffing and the pandemic, massive backlogs for vital assistance are keeping Rhode Islanders from accessing the critical services that DHS provides. Food assistance, child care, medical care and income supports are but a few of the necessary programs that are being affected by this lack of urgency to fill these support positions.

The state agency has roughly 150 unfilled positions, and in some cases it has taken over 600 days for them to post vacant positions to be filled. Meanwhile workers are feeling unsupported and overwhelmed as they attempt to help Rhode Islanders access state benefits. 

What can we do to help?

SIGN THIS PETITION: https://buff.ly/3PVFO0o 

Opioid Crisis In The Building & Construction Trades (part lll). Jill Traecy, Independent Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Health Initiatives Manager at Building Futures, and Tim Potter an Electrician with IBEW Local 99 and Certified Peer Recovery Specialist discuss the Peer Recovery Program and why opioid abuse is impacting the construction industry at such alarming rates. We also take a closer look at the Opioid Crisis in RI and the Our Response Our Recovery training developed by Building Futures. This is in partnership with the RI Building and Construction Trades and Associated General Contractors of America, RI Chapter, with support from the RI Dept. of Labor and Training. In this final segment of the series (part lll) the group discusses Peer Support Models and the importance of Peer Recovery Programs throughout the industry. Hosted by Erica Hammond, Institute for Labor Studies and Research

Erica Hammond sits down with Jill Traecy, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker & Health Initiatives Manager at Building Futures, to discuss a new training she’s been working on with partners like the RI Building and Construction Trades Council, the Associated General Contractors of America, RI Chapter, and support from the RI Dept. of Labor and Training. RI Opioid Crisis: Our Response Our Recovery training is to be offered in all trades union halls as well as on as many construction/job sites in the state as possible. In this segment Traecy outlines each of the training’s core components, additional resources, as well as how to schedule a training. 

Nationally, construction workers account for 20-25% of overdose fatalities and in Rhode Island, 1 in 5 individuals who have died of an overdose worked in the construction industry. Over the past few years, the Rhode Island Building and Construction Trades Council, along with several partners, are working to address this issue and educate leaders on ways to combat the problem plaguing the industry.

RI AFL-CIO 2021 Legislative Agenda & Update With George Nee & Patrick Crowley. On the latest episode of Labor Vision, RI AFL-CIO's President George Nee and Secretary-Treasurer Patrick Crowley discuss a handful of the legislation on RI Labor's agenda for next year's legislative session. President Nee discusses the work that will continue to increase the minimum wage with a path to $15/hour over a span of three years. He also highlights the ongoing campaigns to increase the wages and working standards of both Direct Service Providers and individuals working in the nursing home industry. Secretary-Treasurer Crowley highlights labor's concerns with the current continuing contract legislation and the benefits of extending this legislation to all public-sector workers. The group also discusses the Revenue for Rhode Island campaign which will add one new tax bracket for top 1% of earners on adjusted gross income above $475,000. The pair also discuss an exciting new project in Rhode Island involving green infrastructure and green manufacturing. Don't miss this segment and stay up to date on all of Labor Vision's latest episode's by visiting our website: www.laborvisionri.org RI AFL-CIO https://rhodeislandaflcio.org

NEARI Holiday Children's Fund 2020 Erica is joined by National Education Association of Rhode Island (NEARI) President, Lawrence Purtill, and Children's Fund Coordinator, Valerie Staples. They talk about NEARI's Children's Fund and how it came to fruition over thirty years ago. The pair also highlight some of the Fund's incredible work in the community, including the annual Gingerbread Express. The group discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has, for the first time in 30 years, stopped the Gingerbread Express in its tracks and now the Children's Fund is finding alternative was to help children in need this holiday season. And as Val says, the best way to make a difference this year, is to go to www.neari.org/gingerbread and pick the most convenient way to donate.