Labor
Policy
Harlem public defenders threaten strike
The union’s contract with Neighborhood Defender Service – Darializa Avila Chevalier’s unit – expires on Wednesday.
Opinion
Opinion: You can’t solve a mental health crisis without a workforce
Federal student loan policies are creating new barriers to entry for students who want to become social workers, jeopardizing New York’s mental health programs.
Opinion
Opinion: Require all New York employers to offer paid family leave
New York lawmakers can end the carveout that excludes teaching professionals at non-profits from paid family leave, and they must act now.
GOP
Blakeman says unions will back Republicans this year
At the state GOP gala, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman emphasized Gov. Kathy Hochul’s friction with organized labor.
Labor
Actually, the LIRR strike may not be that bad for Hochul politically
Even before the strike, the governor lost on Long Island in her last election, and the state’s largest transit union has already indicated it would abandon her.
Labor
Claire Valdez campaign staff unionizes – the first in NY this year
The socialist Assembly member, who’s been looking to boost her pro-labor credentials, reached a contract with the workers.
Budget
Mamdani’s counting on pension restructuring to balance the budget. Will the unions let that happen?
The city’s five municipal pension funds are partly controlled by union representatives who aren’t jumping for joy at the idea of delaying payments.
New York City Council
Exclusive
Unions urge City Council not to override Mamdani’s ‘buffer zone’ veto
UAW, 1199SEIU and NYSNA are among the signees to a letter reiterating their opposition to the vetoed bill establishing “security perimeters” outside educational facilities.
2026 congressional midterm elections
UFT backs Alex Bores in NY-12
The city teachers union chose Bores over Micah Lasher, who worked for the charter school movement in the past.
Policy
Report: Gig work has become a full-time, closely monitored gig
A new report by the Community Service Society is calling for state-level protections for gig workers from algorithmic management.
Heard Around Town
1199 backs Reynoso, three others running against DSA
Big labor is lining up behind the Brooklyn borough president in his congressional race.
Opinion
Opinion: New York should not force sick workers into poverty
Thanks to a 40-year-old law, workers who receive temporary disability benefits are limited to $170/week, well under minimum wage.
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Technology
Across NY, debate about the inevitability of driverless cars begins
Waymo is crouched at the gates, and labor and worker advocates are hell bent on keeping them out.
Opinion
Opinion: Why New York’s nurses walked out, what we won and why it matters
NYSNA’s winter strike was an example of workers across industries refusing to accept degraded or dangerous working conditions.
Heard Around Town
DC 37 endorses Bores, Reynoso for open House seats
The public sector labor union’s slate doesn’t include Rep. Ritchie Torres, however.
Immigration
Unions back increased funding for immigrant legal services
Advocates have pushed for $175 million as part of the state budget and two new bills to strengthen access to legal representation in immigration court.
Heard Around Town
NYC electeds back NYU faculty union with strike looming
Non-tenure track professors have been negotiating a contract with the downtown college for more than a year.
News & Politics
Labor considers ditching Ramos, sources say
After 1199SEIU endorsed state Senate Labor Committee chair Jessica Ramos’ primary challenger, other major unions are quietly weighing whether to follow suit.
Opinion
Opinion: The Scaffold Law isn’t the problem. Unsafe construction is.
The law imposes a simple and morally obvious rule: if you control the work site, you control the danger.
News & Politics
Council members call for investigation into Brooklyn Defender Services
The union representing public defenders has accused Brooklyn Defender Services of attempted union-busting.
