Workers won big in the 2022 legislative session. The list of victories includes workplace health and safety protections, improvements to labor rights and pensions, and the creation of good-paying jobs as we address climate change.

On the latest Union Strong podcast, New York State AFL-CIO Legislative Director Mike Neidl breaks it all down for us to explain what these changes will mean for working people and their families.

See the 2022 End of Session Report

Get tickets for Union Strong Night at The New York Yankees (July 29th)

Get tickets for Union Strong Night at The New York Mets (September 3rd)

When nurses were forced to work mandatory overtime during the COVID pandemic, it was understood that we were dealing with an emergency.

The emergency has passed, yet mandatory overtime is back with a vengeance and it’s reached a crisis level in many of our hospitals.

Overworked nurses are pleading with lawmakers to do something about it.

On the latest Union Strong podcast, we will hear from nurses and their unions on why they are so passionate about strengthening mandatory overtime laws.

Here are the bills we discuss in the episode, which will improve the prohibition on mandatory nurse overtime law:

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The concept of Buy American is simple: Our tax dollars should be used to create jobs and advance production here at home.

On the latest episode of the Union Strong podcast, we discuss the importance of prioritizing Buy American legislation and in particular, Buy American Rock Salt.

Our guest, Dave Wasiura, Assistant to the Director for the United Steelworkers, District 4 explains what the legislation would do and its impact on the New York State economy.

The state of New York has lost thousands of public sector workers over the past decade. Recruiting and retaining public employees is reaching a crisis level.

In addition, dedicated public sector workers who risked their lives during the pandemic could be inadvertently penalized for the overtime they worked throughout the crisis.

On the latest Union Strong podcast, we talk about reforming the state’s pension system, to address these issues.

New York State AFL-CIO Legislative Director Mike Neidl is our guest.

Learn more about tier 6 here >>>

Call or write your state legislators about tier 6 >>> 

Nursing home workers at Our Lady of Peace in Lewiston, New York held a one-day strike to draw attention to their contract fight over fair wages. Tomorrow, that fight moves to St. Louis Missouri.

The nursing home workers are represented by 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East and have been without a contract since December 31, 2021. Already hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, these caregivers are now working critically short-staffed while their employer, Ascension Living shuts down units and threatens layoffs.

On the latest Union Strong Podcast, a worker describes the conditions inside the nursing home, a union representative gives details on the contract fight, and we hear from our partners at the Missouri AFL-CIO.

Click here to sign the petition for the Our Lady of Peace workers.

Click here for the details about the March 15th event in St. Louis.

Working New Yorkers have put themselves at risk throughout this entire pandemic. Many workers died after being exposed to the virus on the job and countless others became ill. 

And now, as we reach the 2-year mark since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are learning more about long-haul symptoms.

That’s why the New York State AFL-CIO wants to help get the word out on how critical it is for every worker who believes they were exposed to COVID-19 at work, to file a claim with the Workers’ Compensation Board. 

On this podcast, we will talk to the Chair of the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board and we will hear from an advocate for injured workers to educate workers on their rights and explain the process for filing a claim.

Get info or file a claim on the NYS Workers Compensation Board website >>>

Webinar Series for Workers on Workers' Compensation and COVID-19 >>>

Call 877-632-4996 or email [email protected] for assistance from the NYS Workers Compensation Board.

Follow the NYS Workers Compensation Board on social media:

Facebook: @NYSWCB 

Instagram: @NYSWorkersCompBoard

Twitter: @NYSWorkersComp

Workers at Starbucks stores across the country are banding together and filing for union recognition at a pace not seen in recent memory, and it all started in Buffalo, New York.

On the latest Union Strong podcast, one of the workers leading the campaign gives us an inside look into what it’s like taking on a corporate giant determined to stand in the way. And Workers United Secretary-Treasurer Edgar Romney joins us to discuss the unique way the campaign started and what’s next.

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for teachers and support staff, students, and their parents.

Now the 600,000 member New York State United Teachers has turned those challenges into an opportunity.

NYSUT brought together a group of education professionals from across the state to come up with ideas on how to support public schools to build a brighter future for students.

On the latest Union Strong podcast, we talk to three teachers who were a part of the Future Forward Task Force and get their insight on what their classrooms are like today and what the future of public education should look like.  

Link to report  https://futureforwardny.org/