This Saturday, May 12: Leave a bag of nonperishable food items at your mailbox to help local churches and food banks provide food assistance for families.

For more information click here.

Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka
on Marriage Equality
May 9, 2012

 
Working people believe in equality and fairness and that’s why we are happy to stand with millions of Americans and with President Obama in supporting marriage equality.
 
LGBT working people face numerous inequities in the workplace and in society as they struggle to care for their families. Civil unions do not guarantee the 1,138 rights, benefits and responsibilities that are triggered by the word "marriage” under federal law.
 
Most important, we should respect and honor our friends, neighbors, and family members who want to take care of their families and their loved ones – whatever their sexual orientation. We are proud to come together for a more just America.
 

Workers Vow to Mourn for the Dead, Fight for the Living

Union workers, community members, faith leaders and families of those lost to workplace accidents remember the fallen at Walkway Over the Hudson on April 28, Workers Memorial Day.

Community members, labor leaders, faith leaders, and local officials gathered at the Walkway Over the Hudson today, April 28 for Workers Memorial Day to remember those who have been killed and injured while working. Friends and family of those who died will gathered to remember those lost and called for greater awareness of workplace safety and stronger regulations and protections for all working people.  Read More.

TOMORROW: WE ARE THE 99% SOLIDARITY RALLY

Tomorrow At Noon  |  West Capital Park, Albany NY

COORDINATED BY NYSUT

Hundreds of NYSUT members and their supporters will rally at the state Capitol Tuesday to demand adequate state resources be provided for public education and health care.

Demonstrators also will stand united to voice their opposition to a Tier 6 pension plan that will cut future retirement benefits for public workers.

Click here or on the image above to download the flier.

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Tier 6 political deal has serious consequences
Statement from CSEA President Danny Donohue

ALBANY - "CSEA will immediately suspend all state political endorsements and contributions. This unprecedented action is a direct result of the political deal between Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state legislative leadership, Senate Republicans and Assembly Democrats, trading the future retirement security of working New Yorkers for legislative redistricting lines.

This action is necessary to give our union the opportunity to re-evaluate our political relationships and make judgments about the criteria we use in determining who has earned and deserves our support. It is also important to consider how our support is valued.

CSEA will also use this time to consult with our brother and sister unions and other allied community organizations about how we can collectively address the disrespect and disenfranchisement of working people by our state's elected officials.

New Yorkers should understand that lawmakers' actions did not result from meaningful debate and good judgment - it resulted from political expediency - and it will have harmful consequences to people and communities now and for a long time to come.

CSEA will seek better ways to hold elected officials accountable and ensure that the voices of working people will be heard and addressed in New York state."

Once again, middle class New Yorkers will pay the price for Wall. St.'s misdeeds. Apparently, layoffs, furloughs, wage freezes, and previous pension cuts were not enough. Make no mistake, Tier 6 is not reform; it is an assault on the long?term economic security of nurses, teachers, firefighters, and other workers.

When we reduce pension benefits for hard working men and women, as New Yorkers we diminish our standard of living, we diminish our quality of life and we diminish our expectations for the future. Unfortunately, future retirees will have less economic security as a result of Tier 6.

Union leader criticizes Cuomo's scorched earth tactics, legislators' self-interest

CSEA President Danny Donohue slammed Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state legislative leadership, Senate Republicans and Assembly Democrats for a politically expedient deal that trades the future retirement security of working New Yorkers for legislative redistricting lines.

"Tier 6 shoved down the throat of state legislators fixated on their own self-preservation, will be devastating to 99 percent of New Yorkers," Donohue said. "This deal is about politicians standing with the 1 percent - the wealthiest New Yorkers - to give them a better break while telling nurses, bus drivers, teachers, secretaries, and laborers to put up and shut up."

Last December, Cuomo pushed for a tax break for the wealthiest New Yorkers that exceeds the pensions of most working people.

There are no immediate savings from the Cuomo Tier 6 plan. Potential savings over decades will only come at the expense of working people. While hard-pressed localities will see no relief in the short term from Tier 6, they will be affected by loss of state services, downsizing and consolidation of vital facilities, along with other aid reductions and a further erosion of their middle class as workers get squeezed or have their jobs eliminated. CSEA pointed out that facts had little bearing on the governor's agenda.

Donohue criticized the governor's scorched earth pursuit of his political ambition for giving new meaning to the term "bully pulpit."

"Regardless of the governor's glib talking points, New Yorkers should understand that this deal did not result from meaningful debate and good judgment - it resulted from political expediency - and it will have harmful consequences to people and communities now and for a long time to come," Donohue said. "No good will come from this."

State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli just released a statement on the Tier VI pension legislation adopted by the Assembly and Senate overnight, saying it would not significantly reduce pension costs for local governments in the short term.

“The agreement reached between the Governor and the Legislature on Tier VI will reduce pension costs for new employees. But this new tier will not significantly lower costs for local governments in the short run. I am pleased that it does not include the inadequate 401k-style plan originally proposed. My office will be reviewing the specifics of Tier VI in the coming days and provide guidance to municipalities on implementation.

“There is no quick fix to addressing rising pension contribution rates driven by the financial market meltdown in 2008-09. Despite strong investment returns and two new pension tiers in less than three years, these rates will likely continue to increase in the near future.

“New York has one of the strongest, most sustainable pension funds in the country because it has been managed and funded responsibly over the years.As State Comptroller, it is my job to ensure that this continues.”

We stand with those who stand with us!

In the dead of the night, both the GOP Senate and entire Assembly passed a bill for redistricting, below is just one example of a gerrymandered assembly district in New York State. Here is the vote count for the bill for the Senate. The Senate Dems walked out on this vote.

“They eliminated our right to debate,” said Senate Minority Leader John Sampson (D-Brooklyn). “We’re going back to pre-civil rights eras when individuals were denied the fundamental right to speak their mind.”

When the Assembly decides to show some transparency in their vote we will be able to post their vote count.

More of the Gerrymandered maps can viewed here.