Union Strong

The New York State Department of Labor is about to launch a major upgrade to unemployment services that will affect everyone currently collecting unemployment and new filers. It’s the largest unemployment insurance system overhaul in US history, and it’s happening in just a few days. Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon is our guest to explain what is happening, why it’s happening, and what it means for those dependent on unemployment insurance benefits.

Visit the NYS Department of Labor website: https://dol.ny.gov/

Get NYS Department of Labor newsletters: https://dol.ny.gov/connect

As Primary Election Day approaches, the stakes for working people have never been higher. Every endorsement made by the New York State AFL-CIO carries significant weight, and candidates seeking that endorsement must earn it by meeting a high threshold.

On the latest Union Strong podcast, we sit down with our Political Director Kevin Eitzmann to take you inside our endorsement process, explore what’s at stake in this year’s election, and discuss how union members are making their voices heard at the ballot box.

Resources:
Volunteer for a labor walk or phone bank: https://nysaflcio.org/politics
NYS AFL-CIO endorsements: https://nysaflcio.org/endorsements
Voter information: https://nysaflcio.org/vote

For 17 years, the journalists and media workers of the Albany Newspaper Guild have been working without a contract at the Times Union.

They haven’t spoken about their fight publicly until now.

On the latest Union Strong Podcast, we’re diving into their story: what it means to report the news that so many rely on while facing your own uncertainty, why this contract fight has stretched on for nearly two decades, and what’s at stake, not just for these journalists, but for the future of local news.

In an interview with Wendy Liberatore, the president of the Albany Newspaper Guild, we gain insight into the ongoing contract dispute and its broader implications.

TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT THE TIMES UNION WORKERS:

Ask the Times Union and Hearst to give the Albany Newspaper Guild a fair contract now.

Publisher George Hearst: ghearst@timesunion.com, 518-454-5694

CEO Steve Swartz: sswartz@hearst.com, 212-649-2000

President of Newspaper Group Jeff Johnson: jeff.johnson@hearst.com, 212-649-2000

Visit the Albany Newspaper Guild website for more information: https://albanyguild.org/

On March 8, thousands of union members packed the MVP Arena in Albany in an incredible show of solidarity, calling on the Governor and State Legislature to Fix Tier 6 in this year’s budget. In this episode of the Union Strong podcast, we break down how we got here, take you inside the arena for a firsthand look at the rally, and hear from New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento about what comes next in the fight to Fix Tier 6.

Ask your State legislators and the Governor to Fix Tier 6: https://nysaflcio.info/4rgACWn

NYS AFL-CIO Tier 6 Pension Reform web page: https://nysaflcio.org/tier-6

New York State Assemblyman Harry Bronson’s journey from a childhood of hardship to becoming a champion for workers is inspiring. As one of 12 siblings growing up without indoor plumbing, and at times, no running water, he saw firsthand the struggles his parents faced working low-wage jobs for companies that did not offer collective bargaining. It was those early experiences that shaped his dedication to fighting for equity and opportunity. Now, as the powerful chair of the NYS Assembly Labor Committee, he is in a prime position to influence the future of labor policy, and he is our guest on the Union Strong podcast.

Unemployment benefits just got a significant boost in New York State. This long-awaited increase, championed by the union movement, raises important questions: How much did the benefit go up? Who qualifies? How long can you collect?

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon joins us to break down what’s changed, why it matters, and what workers need to know.

Resources:

Visit https://dol.ny.gov/

Women’s professional basketball has been on a roll, enjoying record growth, and it keeps getting better.

The WNBA recently signed a massive television contract, merchandise sales have increased, and attendance has reached historic levels, including right here in New York at the New York Liberty games.

Yet the players responsible for that growth don’t get a single share of all that revenue – and that’s at the center of a contract fight that has the attention of the entire union movement in New York.

On the latest Union Strong podcast, Terri Carmichael Jackson, the Executive Director of the Women's National Basketball Players Association, discusses what is at the center of this fight.

Resources:

Follow @TheWNBPA on Instagram, Twitter and Threads

WNBPA Letter Campaign: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/wnba-players-deserve-a-higher-salary-and-better-working-conditions?source=union-hall&referrer=group-new-york-state-afl-cio

See the NYS AFL-CIO letter to Commissioner Engelbert: https://nysaflcio.org/press-releases/20251025-wnbpa

Watch “Shattered Glass: A WNBPA Story”: https://tubitv.com/movies/100014374/shattered-glass-a-wnbpa-story

We are now in the second week of a government shutdown, one that has been described as calculated, cruel, and chaotic, and, unfortunately, there’s still no end in sight. On the latest episode of the Union Strong podcast, we are joined by the President of the New York State AFL-CIO, who sheds light on how this shutdown will affect working people, the services we rely on, and what we can do moving forward.

Resources:

Make a Call: Stop the Shutdown and the Cuts to Working Families

Statement from NYS AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento on the shutdown

The Better in a Union Bus Tour has been making its way across the country from the East Coast to the Midwest and the South, and now it's rolled into New York State! On the latest episode of the Union Strong podcast, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler invites us aboard the bus for a candid conversation about what’s top of mind for working people right now, and what the union movement is calling for this Labor Day.

Find a Labor Day event: https://www.mobilize.us/aflcio/?tag_ids=26595

NYS AFL-CIO on Mobilize: https://www.mobilize.us/nysaflcio/

On the latest episode of the Union Strong Podcast, we’re diving into a game-changing new resource that reveals just how much New York depends on federal funding—and what the recently passed federal budget bill will mean for New Yorkers. Our guest is New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, who breaks down his newly released guide to federal funding. If you care about healthcare, education, food programs, renewable energy projects, or jobs, this conversation is for you. Plus, the Comptroller shares new information on how to access unclaimed funds.

Resources:

https://www.osc.ny.gov/reports/budget/fed-funding-ny/introduction

https://www.osc.ny.gov/press/releases/2025/05/dinapoli-releases-guide-federal-funding-new-york

https://www.osc.ny.gov/unclaimed-funds

Follow @nysaflcio on Facebook, Instagram, X, Threads, Bluesky and TikTok

The Federal Budget Bill currently before the Senate is being called One Big, Beautiful Bill by its supporters, but U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand calls it a Big, Beautiful Betrayal of working people.

On the latest episode of the Union Strong Podcast, Sen. Gillibrand discusses what is included in the bill, the impact the cuts would have on New Yorkers, and what you can do about it. She also discusses her efforts to support seniors and an initiative that would make childbirth free for families with private insurance.

Senator Gillibrand's Aging Committee Newsletter: https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/help/senate-aging-committee-newsletter/

Bipartisan Legislation on Childbirth Coverage: https://www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/gillibrand-announces-bipartisan-legislation-that-would-make-childbirth-free-for-families-with-private-insurance/

Get involved: https://www.mobilize.us/nysaflcio/

Fighting on behalf of working people can take many forms, from organizing a union so workers have a voice on the job to getting involved in political campaigns to elect leaders who will fight for working people or participating in a rally or march to draw attention to an issue impacting workers. It can also take the form of lobbying—meeting with legislative representatives to discuss the issues that matter to workers.

In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the Union Movement’s State Legislative Lobby Day. New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento kicks off the discussion on why it's so important and the difference it makes.

NYS AFL-CIO Legislative Agenda, support/oppose memos and more: https://nysaflcio.org/legislation

The executive orders from President Trump are hitting workers hard and fast, leaving them in a constant state of uncertainty about their job security. These drastic changes are not just shaking up the workforce but also endangering vital public services that millions of Americans rely on.

In this episode of the Union Strong Podcast, we will hear the personal story of a disabled Army Veteran who lost her job at the VA and a union president fighting to protect workers and their rights.

Resources:

SavePublicServices.com

https://www.federalunionists.net/

https://deptofpeoplewhowork.org/

https://www.mobilize.us/

On the latest episode of the Union Strong podcast, we sit down with New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon to discuss the key workforce elements in the Governor's budget proposal, including worker protections, investments in childcare, workforce training initiatives, and more. Tune in for insights that could help shape the future of work.

Website: https://dol.ny.gov/

Newsletter: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/NYDOL/signup/44950

NYS AFL-CIO Legislative Priorities: https://nysaflcio.org/legislation

In this episode, we are diving into the legislative priorities of the Union Movement for 2025.

Join us as we unpack the critical issues impacting workers today—from the rise of AI and its effect on jobs to the ongoing battle for pro-worker policies in the face of swift changes at the federal level.

Our guest is New York State AFL-CIO Legislative Director Mike Neidl, who shares insights on the challenges ahead and how our legislative priorities will address them.

See the NYS AFL-CIO 2025 Legislative Agenda: https://nysaflcio.org/legislation

Sign up for email or text updates from the NYS AFL-CIO: https://nysaflcio.info/updates

NYSNA nurses at Albany Medical Center have sounded the alarm about the staffing crisis at the hospital, bravely sharing stories of patients being cared for on emergency room stretchers instead of hospital beds, nurses stretched too thin, and patient care suffering.

On this episode of the Union Strong podcast, we will hear from nurses firsthand about the need for a fair contract that finally addresses safe staffing.

Support the nurses: www.albanymedqualitycare.org

Kate Mullany, the pioneer who established the first female union in the United States in Troy, NY, is a figure of immense significance. However, there is a growing concern that many kids are not learning about her role in the union movement or the broader history of unions. The American Labor Studies Center is working to change that. Join us on this episode of the Union Strong podcast to learn about their essential efforts.

Visit the American Labor Studies Center website

Visit the Kate Mullany House website

Every year, thousands of workers are injured or become ill on the job. In New York State there is a unique network of occupational health clinics available to workers to prevent injuries and illnesses.

In this podcast, we talk to the medical director at one of the clinics to learn about the services available and how workers can access them.

Resources:

Occupational Health Clinic Network website: https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/workplace/clinic_network.htm

List of Occupational Health Clinic Network clinics: https://www.health.ny.gov/environmental/workplace/clinic.htm

Mount Sinai Selikoff website: https://www.mountsinai.org/care/occupational-health

List of Mount Sinai Selikoff locations: https://www.mountsinai.org/care/occupational-health/locations

The 2024 Legislative Session is underway.

On the latest Union Strong podcast we break down some of the priorities for the Union Movement with New York State AFL-CIO Legislative Director Mike Neidl.

Stay up to date on NYS AFL-CIO legislative initiatives.

The New York State Nurses Association is celebrating groundbreaking contract victories and they are building on their solidarity for more fights ahead.

On the latest Union Strong podcast, we hear from Nancy Hagans, president of NYSNA and National Nurses United on their fight to prioritize patient care.

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Sign this petition to demand that Ellis Medicine invest in safe patient care, invest in nurses, and negotiate a fair contract now.