Labor Lines

Unrest in Iraq is heating up and once again we sadly hear about horrifying destruction and increasing brutality among the factions.  Yet, where are the workers? Professor Michael Zweig, the Director of Stony Brook’s Center for the Study of Working Class Life, recently helped develop a film about workers in Iraq. He had rare opportunities to talk to Iraqi workers and shares his insights on our program. Next, we speak with TWU 100’s Charles Jenkins who heads the union’s apprenticeship program and also serves as President of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists NY.  Although decades have passed since the most challenging days of the civil rights movement, unfortunately political and societal trends, at times, seem to be stagnating or even reversing. Jenkins describes difficulties black workers still face and the importance of coalition building in addressing racial, gender and economic disparities.

United States security has been in large part attributable to the hard work and sacrifices of the US Armed services. For Independence Day weekend, we focus on proposals to cut the pay of US Military Reservists in half with US Marine Corps Reserve Major General Andrew Davis.   Next we look at legal challenges veterans face when they return home with US Army Reserve Colonel Gary Port, Esq.   Port has played a role in ongoing legal clinics for veterans along with Steven Lee, a Hofstra University Law Student who also joins us Looming cuts to US Military Reserve salary Efforts to get the budget in order have resulted in severe cuts to many federal and state programs. Now legislators may be putting the US salary of our military reserve forces on the chopping block as well. US Marine Corps Major General Andrew Davis acknowledges that the military needs to tighten its belt, but argues that it is penny wise and dollar foolish to reduce the pay of our military reserves, the bulwark of our national

The Long Island Economy is to a significant degree dependent on the LIRR. The MTA’s disingenuous bargaining tactics are driving the unions towards a LIRR strike. Anthony Simon, General Chair of SMART, the largest LIRR union, is a lead negotiator. He explains the MTA’s ploy to demonize the workers as the parties responsible for the strike, to turn public opinion against them. Listen and find out why we are being pushed into such a precarious situation. LI edition: Nick Lamonte, regional director for Long Island CSEA, tells us about the latest attempts to outsource school cafeteria workers. By the way, the district won’t save any money. Worse yet, it’s happening in the school district where Nick lives. To say he is incensed is an understatement.  NYC edition can be heard on www.laborlines.com: With all of the noise from the Tea Party it would seem that the Republican party is staunchly anti-immigration Not so, at all. Bob Quasius, the  founder of “Café Con Leche GO

After many years of hard work, one hopes to be able to retire comfortably. Unfortunately, the financial crisis and attacks on pensions has caused many to consider stalling their planned retirement to eke out a couple more years of work. Alex Gleason, Policy Analyst for the New York City Central Labor Council, explains the ramifications of this looming crisis and the Labor Movement’s strategies to avert it. Then, Charles Lenchner Executive Director of Organize 2.0 and Liz Mckenna, Assistant to the President of DC 9, describe how Labor is using digital organizing to revamp organizing campaigns. Retirement Challenges for NY For the last 50 years union workers battled to guarantee their right to a retirement. These days they have to battle to maintain those hard won gains. Alex Gleason is a Policy Analyst at the New York City Central Labor Council. He describes “Retire NYC,” a conference arranged by the New York City Central Labor Council to address the retirement challenges. Gleason argues the

When your father laments that he is tapped out, he is not kidding. Your Dad is tapped out, just like your local government and your state government and you, because the banks, according to NYU Professor, Andrew Ross, have a noose around our collective necks. Andy, the author of “Creditocracy,” urges debt resistance. That’s right, he says don’t pay them. Debt resistance is not unprecedented in American history, or world history. The Reuther Brothers were and are one of the most iconic labor families in American History. Our guest John Reuther is the son Victor Reuther, the longest living brother of the three. We learn how the young Reuther brothers had to go to Russia to find work after being closed out of American factories. Sasha, John’s son and Victor’s grandson ultimately became filmmaker and the writer, producer and director of a documentary about the Reuther brothers, entitled “Brothers on the Line.”  John is in the film. They reminisce about Victor R

The debate over better wages and  pay equality pay takes place in the legislature, in the papers and on the picket lines.  However, the battle to protect gains in work standards takes place in the courts. We get an update from Employment Law Attorney. Next, we hear from NYC Council Member Elizabeth Crowley about her ongoing crusade to reform the 9-1-1 emergency call taking system.   Employment Law 101   While the legislative battle for better work standards rages in the public, attorneys and judges are often locked in litigation to define the parameters under  existing employment law for employees as well as employers. Bob Lipman, is a Founding Partner of Lipman and Plesur, a highly regarded employment law firm. He  has litigated all types of employment law cases. He’s helped workers prevail in wage discrimination cases and defended employers from gender discrimination charges. This week’s program is sure to whet your appetite. If you have any questions about employme

Part 1. Professor Lillian Clayman Director of 2014  39th Northeast Regional Summer School for Union Women describes the upcoming course of studies  and additional activities. Part 2: Amy Carroll, Esq. of the Center for Popular Democracy describes how the proposed watering down of the NYS Scaffold Law would disproportionately impact nonunion, immigrant and minority construction workers the most.  Their injury and death rate is already triple that of union workers. All programs can be found at www.laborlines.com and feel free to follow us on facebook and twitter @LaborLines

Joel Shufro, 34 years of Achievment at NYCOSH - How Class Works Joel Shufro has played an integral part in guiding the growth NYCOSH. He recently passed the reins of NYCOSH to a new executive director. We recap the crucial role he has played for the last 34 years in building the organization.  In the second half of the program, Stony Brook’s Professor Michael Zweig tells us about an upcoming June conference: “How Class Works,” that explores the nuances of class, race and other factors through presentations by labor leaders, students and educators from around the world.

Part 1) Rich Steier, the editor of the Chief, recaps some major labor battles in New York as we discuss the challenges and idiosyncrasies of “labor reporting.”  Part 2) New construction projects can be found everywhere throughout New York City. But, is this construction truly benefiting workers and the surrounding neighborhood? “Build-Up NYC” is a union led campaign coordinating workers and local community groups to ensure that all construction lead toresponsible development and good jobs. You can check out past programs on our website at www.laborlines.com and follow us on twitter @LaborLines Labor-Lines airs Saturday at 1:00 pm in NYC on AM-970 “The Answer” WNYM — 6:30 pm in Nassau County on AM -1240 WGBB — Sunday at 7:00 am in Suffolk County on WJVC 96.1 FM “My Country” – and at 8:00 am in Suffolk County on WRCN “LI News Radio” 103.9 FM

For over a hundred years, New York State’s “scaffold law” has protected countless workers from workplace negligence. Now the very same employers who have been cutting corners on workers safety are trying to cut out the Scaffold Law. Tune in to find out why this is dangerous for all working people as we demystify the hyperbole being bandied about to undermine the Scaffold Law. Labor rarely gets a chance for exposure in the media, especially in the movies. The Workers Unite Film Festival is bringing labor's message to the big screen,  highlighting the commonalities in the lives of working people throughout the world.  You can subscribe to Labor-Lines on I-Tunes or follow us on Facebook and Twitter (@LaborLines) Labor-Lines can be heard Saturday at 1:00 pm in NYC on AM-970 “The Answer” — 6:30 pm in Nassau County on AM -1240 WGBB — Sunday at 7:00 am in Suffolk County on WJVC 96.1 FM “My Country” – and at 8:00 am in Suffolk County on WRCN &ldquo

North Shore-LIJ hires top docs and commits resources to help Long Island workers deal with Occupational Diseases. Organizing in Mississippi is not for the faint of heart.  Southern auto workers are fighting stiff resistance to their efforts to organize a union at the Nissan Factory in Canton, Mississippi. You can subscribe to Labor-Lines on I-Tunes or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Labor-Lines can be heard Saturday at 1:00 pm in NYC on AM-970 “The Answer” — 6:30 pm in Nassau County on AM -1240 WGBB — Sunday at 7:00 am in Suffolk County on WJVC 96.1 FM “My Country” – and at 8:00 am in Suffolk County on WRCN “LI News Radio” 103.9 FM

Jerry Laricchiuta, President CSEA Nassau Local 830 on getting NIFA to approve the wage deal reached with the county, how many more hurdles? Part 2 Dan Kovalik, Author and Sr. Attorney with the United Steel Workers: Adjunct Professors at Big Bucks Colleges Pulling down subsistence wages, and the plight of the worker in Columbia. If you like death squads you'll adore being a labor leader in our number one ally in South America. You can subscribe to Labor-Lines on I-Tunes or follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Labor-Lines can be heard Saturday at 1:00 pm in NYC on AM-970 “The Answer” — 6:30 pm in Nassau County on AM -1240 WGBB — Sunday at 7:00 am in Suffolk County on WJVC 96.1 FM “My Country” – and at 8:00 am in Suffolk County on WRCN “LI News Radio” 103.9 FM

Seg 1 Degraded Work: What is Degraded Work? It’s the breaking down of tasks into the most basic components so that the work becomes intrinsically devoid of skill, intellectual challenge, decent pay or loyalty between the employer and the employee. University of Illinois Professor Marc Doussard breaks down the housing construction and retail industries as two, among many such examples in his book Degraded Work. He argues that jobs which were at one time skilled professions have now become little more than part time jobs at the lowest rung of the economic ladder.Seg 2 Retail Action Project: Then Dara Sipe of the Retail Action Project and two young retail saleswomen drive home Doussard’s thesis that the denigration of work is not merely the low paycheck, but more often is the erratic nature of the work.

Income Inequality has grown at a rapid pace and shows no signs of stopping. Mario Cilento, President of New York State AFL-CIO describes the “Making New York Work” campaign approach to  tackling income inequality.  Then, we learn what workers can do to recover from injuries and get back on the job after a debilitating injury. Dr. Attilio Pensavalle, a Long Island based Physical Therapist discusses why physical therapy is so important to speed recovery from major and minor  injuries and describes how the therapy works.

In labor disputes it occasionally becomes necessary for workers take to the streets and strike. But, many federal, state and local rules control how a strike is to be conducted. If it’s not done right, it can actually prove detrimental. Robert Schwartz, Esq., a prominent labor lawyer is the author of several handy booklets that explain the basics of what workers and union leaders need to know before and during a strike. He answers the basic questions about how to strike within the bounds of the law. Then, representatives from coalition of labor and community groups explain why they are fighting to keep a Canadian electrical power transmission cable out of New York.

Open enrollment for Obamacare closes on March 31st and amidst the political battles and technical glitches, many are still confused about what Obamacare means for them. This  program explores what Obamacare means for the average worker and how to ascertain what you should know before applying. We also hear from labor leaders and insurance brokers about what needs to be done to make sure health care is affordable.

Fracking is one those polarizing topics that few can discuss without a fight resulting. This week we tackle the daunting task of finding the middle ground in an increasingly polarized debate. NY State Senator Tony Avella, an opponent of fracking and former Keyspan Chair,  Bob Cattel, a proponent, visit Labor-Lines to discuss the pros and cons of vertical fracking.  Though they disagree as to whether fracking should be permitted in New York State, we were surprised to hear how much they can actually agree to.Then, we learn how the harsh financial restrictions imposed by NIFA have hit hard on Nassau County employees. Jimmy Carver, President of the Nassau County Police Benevolent Association describes how NIFA’s austerity measures have been damaging for everyone who lives in Nassau.

Public employees have lately been targeted by much anti-labor rhetoric.  The NYS Public Employees Federation is pushing back, demonstrating how they, rather than politicians, are truly acting in the public interest. Next, we show how a group called “Represent.US” is shining a spotlight on the ugliness of the corporate politics that has diminished the influence of the “citizen lobbyist”.  They suggest methods to rid corruption from our politics.   NYS Public Employee Federation Defends the Public Interest   All unions are victim to anti-labor spin, yet public employees seem to be the target of particular venom lately. The executive committee of the NYS Public Employee Federation (PEF) meet with members throughout the state regularly, and at the same time reach out to civic and community groups. As part of their outreach, they visit Labor Lines for a lively discussion covering the intricacies of the public employee conflict with our elected officials. Susan Kent, Pres

We reflect on recent major private sector labor battles, from the failed UAW/Volkswagen campaign to NY's supermarket protests. But,  we also hear how some unions have helped save their companies. Next a doctor talks about work related asthma and steps that can be taken to reduce its impact.   Union Leader perspective on Union's Role   Over the past few weeks we have covered labor issues from the UAW’s failed organizing efforts in Tennessee to the struggles car-washeros have had in forming unions. John  R. Durso, President of RWDSU local 338, and of the Long Island Federation of Labor discusses the significance of these recent labor battles to the average worker. In his role as Chair of United Way, Long Island, John discusses how through United Way, labor and businesses work together to address community needs and spur job creation   Preventing Work Related Asthma   Asthma is a major health issue for many Americans, but drawing a connection between the ailment and work expos