10 • March 10, 2022 - March 16, 2022
THE NEW YORK AMSTERDAM NEWS
Union Matters MLB players union starts campaign to fund $1 million for workers affected by lockout By STEPHON JOHNSON Amsterdam News Staff
voted unanimously not to accept MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred dence of bargaining, it did nothing the owners’ new contract by the be- said that there are issues on both to show it.” All for Manfred to walk ginning of this month. It will shorten sides, but he put much of the onus in front of the cameras Thursday The Major League Baseball Play- baseball’s normal 162-game season. on the players. and talk about the pace as a matter ers Association (MLBPA) is looking The league has lost at least two “We hope that the lockout will of “mutual responsibility.” out for the little guy. series in the season and won’t be jumpstart the negotiations and During a recent news conferThe players’ union has launched made up. It could take a few months get us to an agreement that will ence, Manfred said, “In the histoa $1 million fund to assist workry of baseball, the ers who have been affected by the only person who lockout that has left them shut out has made a labor of work. agreement with“There are a lot of people who out a dispute, and make our game great. Many aren’t I did four of them, seen or heard, but they are vital was me.” Manfred to the entertainment experience ignored that MLB of our games,” stated MLBPA Exwas on the brink ecutive Leaders free-agent pitchof a labor work er Andrew Miller and recently stoppage in 2002. acquired New York Mets pitcher In a recent stateMax Scherzer last week. “Unforment, MLBPA tunately, they will also be among leaders called out those affected by the owner-imthe owners stating MLBPA looks out to help workers affected by owners’ lockout. posed lockout and the cancellathat this is simply a (Image courtesy of Major League Baseball) tion of games. Through this fund, negotiating tactic we want to let them know that they designed to break have our support.” before they reach a deal. Players and allow the season to start on time,” the players’ union. On Dec. 2, MLB franchise owners owners could continue work as a he said. “The result of that jump“From the beginning of these neimplemented a players’ lock- new collective bargaining agree- start? The league waited 43 days gotiations, Players’ objectives have out, banning all baseball activi- ment is being worked out, but the to return to the negotiating table been consistent—to promote comties. Opening Day has already been commissioner and owners decid- with a response to the last propos- petition, provide fair compensation canceled from its original date of ed that wasn’t going to be the case. al from the players. If MLB had an for young Players, and to uphold March 31 after MLBPA members In a letter to fans in February, interest in establishing a regular ca- the integrity of our market system,”
the statement read. “Against the backdrop of growing revenues and record profits, we are seeking nothing more than a fair agreement. “What Rob Manfred characterized as a ‘defensive lockout’ is, in fact, the culmination of a decadeslong attempt by owners to break our Player fraternity.” MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark stated that the people who work concessions and hospitality jobs around stadiums need to be thanked not only verbally, but financially. “This fund is intended to support workers who are most affected by the MLB-imposed lockout but whose livelihoods have been disregarded by the owners in their efforts to pressure Players into accepting an unfair deal,” Clark said. The players’ union has a friend in AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “Whether you’re a worker on the baseball field, or a worker behind the scenes, we all deserve respect and dignity on the job,” said Shuler in a statement. “The labor movement will do everything in our power to support these and all workers.”
Local 79 officials attempt to look out for immigrants and Black workers By STEPHON JOHNSON Amsterdam News Staff
force in New York. It will also close “Excluded No More will level ly” fired by demolition company the gap between union and non- the playing field for responsi- Alba (a company with a history of union contractors, enabling un- ble contractors who support exploitative practices according to On Monday, Laborers’ Local 79 documented workers to file for their workers, regardless of im- a judge from the National Labor officials announced their support unemployment benefits, organize migration status, by paying into Relations Board). They also called for Excluded No More, a piece of more freely on the job, and con- workers’ compensation, unem- out ECD NY and New Line Strucstate legislation that sets up a pro- tribute more to our state’s econo- ployment and payroll taxes.” tures, which are places with similar gram to provide unemployment my and recovery after COVID.” With no workers available to histories. Elected officials such as benefits to undocumented immigrant workers. The state needs $3 billion to replenish the fund that made its way through the government last year, according to a study by the Immigrant Research Initiative. New York State Gov. Kathy Hochul is proposing $2 billion in the state budget for lawmakers to allocate where they choose. Some elected officials believe that money should go to the Excluded Workers Fund. Others think it should go to the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (or ERAP). We know what side Mike Prohaska stands for. “We’re proud to offer our support for the Excluded No More Laborers’ Local 79 officials have spent a lot of time fighting on behalf of all workers of color and legislation. Our message to Gov. the undocumented. (Photo courtesy of Laborers’ Local 79) Hochul and the state legislature is: let’s get it done,” said ProhasLaborer’s Local 79 are skilled comment, Prohaska directed the New York State Sen. Jessica Ramos ka, business manager of Laborers’ tradespeople who worked in con- AmNews to a story in amNewYork and Manhattan Borough President Local 79, in an emailed statement. struction around the five bor- about a recent protest regarding Mark Levine attended. “This commonsense bill will not oughs. Prohaska said that policies exploitative working conditions at Local 79 has other things on their only empower immigrant work- like this one will only help the Chelsea Terminal Warehouse (in plate as well. ers who make up the lion’s share of union, the workers and anyone Manhattan’s West Chelsea) after Laborers continued to take their the nonunion construction work- connected to Local 79. demolition workers were “illegal- vision and desires to City Hall. The
union teamed up with the Mason Tenders’ District Council of Greater New York and 100 Black Construction Workers on a campaign named #BuildOne45 to explain why the New York City Council should approve of a rezoning of the One45 development site, a proposed set of 365-foot towers on the corner of Lenox Avenue between West 144th and West 145th streets. “When we #BuildOne45, we will empower Black construction workers, Black businesses, and Black households, while boosting public safety and our economy,” stated Barrie Smith, president of 100 Black Construction Workers, and an executive board member of Laborers’ Local 79. “That’s our message to elected officials and to our brothers and sisters in Harlem about why they should support this project. One45 will create good-paying union construction jobs, more affordable housing options for longtime Harlem residents, more space for Black-owned businesses, the city’s first green energy district, a nationally significant Civil Rights Museum, and new space for the National Action Network (NAN). “Our campaign to #BuildOne45 is a campaign to build a better, fairer, and stronger future for Harlem and for our city.”
