Union Strong

Liz Egan is a registered nurse at Albany Medical Center who describes working throughout the height of the COVID pandemic as, "terrifying." 

She is among the nurses who rose to the challenge during COVID, treating patients and saving lives under unimaginable circumstances.

On this podcast, a look behind the scenes at a hospital where nurses are called heroes but treated much differently. 

Nurses at Albany Medical Center chose to belong to a union, the New York State Nurses Association, (NYSNA) three years ago and continue to fight for their first contract. 

The New York State budget for 2021-2022 addresses a health and economic crisis like we have never experienced. Fortunately, the President's American Rescue Plan, which labor supported, was enacted. It provided $350 billion in aid to state and local governments.

On this podcast, the President of the New York State AFL-CIO, Mario Cilento talks about how the solidarity of the Labor Movement led to historic victories for working people, from revenue raisers to new industries and much more. 

Workers in America favor unions and tens of millions of Americans want to join one.

So, what is stopping them? Our labor laws are outdated.

On this podcast we take a deep dive into a generational opportunity that is on our doorstep; passing the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, also known as the PRO Act.

New York State AFL-CIO Chief of Staff Ryan Delgado joins the podcast to explain what the PRO Act is, why it is so important to working people and the opportunity to get it passed.

The longest serving president of the Western New York Area Labor Federation decides it is time to step aside. On this podcast, a conversation with Richard Lipsitz who spent nearly five decades fighting for the working class. Richard reflects on labor’s past and looks ahead to the many challenges and opportunities for the labor movement's future. 

The New York State AFL-CIO recently held a labor revenue forum to discuss the impact of the pandemic and the vital need for new revenue sources.

On this podcast, Ron Deutsch, Executive Director of New Yorkers for Fiscal Fairness lays out the backdrop of what we are facing during this pandemic and explains how New York can raise needed revenue and restore fairness in the tax code.

Then union members and leaders from across the state from all different lines of work share what they have endured during the COVID crisis and why adequate state funding is so important.

In New York City, the music industry supports nearly 60,000 jobs and accounts for roughly $5 billion in wages with an economic impact of $21 billion. 

Today, the industry is in crisis.

The lives of performing artists have been upended by the COVID pandemic. When the arts industry was quickly shut down it led to mass unemployment.

And it is an industry that is expected to be among the last to reopen.

On this podcast  Adam Krauthamer, president of Local 802 of the American Federation of Musicians warns of a great cultural depression, and what the industry needs to survive.

Here’s how you can help:  https://www.savenycmusicians.com/

https://nysaflcio.org/news/lets-all-support-our-entertainment-industry

As we continue to work our way through one of the most challenging health and economic crises in our nation’s history, New York State is facing a multibillion-dollar budget deficit at a time when more and more New Yorkers are relying on vital public services.

The need for adequate state funding could not be more glaring.

One way to address the budget deficit is by legalizing adult-use cannabis. It will not only generate much needed revenue, but it will also create good jobs and address social, racial, and economic equity.

On this podcast our guests are Nikki Kateman, the Political and Communications Director at Local 338 of the RWDSU/UFCW and Tim McNutt, a former prosecutor who is now the Director of Criminal Justice and Employment Initiative at Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations.

Learning from a diverse group of union leaders from all different sectors of the Labor Movement is powerful and rewarding. It is part of what takes place at the New York State AFL-CIO/Cornell Union Leadership Institute (ULI).

On this podcast, DC 37 Director of Field Operations Barbara Terrelonge talks about her own experience going through the ULI program including memorable car rides that made all the difference.

And NYS AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Terry Melvin announces a new union scholarship the state federation is offering for prospective union leaders to ULI.

Scholarship information at nysaflcio.org/lead

It has been described as Norma Rae meets Hamilton - a union movie about a union story with a love story woven throughout. Stand! Is the number one Canadian movie musical that is now available in U. S. theaters, virtually.

On this podcast the film producer, Danny Schur talks about the valuable lessons from the film and how relatable it is to what is happening here in the U.S. today.

On this podcast our guest is Mike Neidl, Legislative Director at the NYS AFL-CIO. Mike will go over labor’s 2021 legislative agenda which was unanimously passed by the New York State AFL-CIO Executive Board earlier this month.

The agenda focuses on lifting up working people by putting in place protections for essential workers and providing support for all workers who continue to suffer as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Labor’s priorities also include revenue raisers to address the budget deficit and a plan to ensure gig economy workers have the same basic rights and protections as all other workers.