Workers’ Safety

Union Mourns CTA Billy Wright; Passed at 239th Street

The Local 100 workforce at the 239th Street train yard in the Bronx is in mourning the tragic death of CED Cleaner Billy Wright. He was only 40 years old and was found unresponsive on the tracks at the yard by a coworker. He appeared to have fallen and hit his head on the running rail, but the cause of death will be determined by the Medical Examiner. The accident happened at about 5:00 a.m. Brother Wright worked the midnight shift at the yard. He had nearly four years on the job. Co-worker and fellow Billy Wright. Photo courtesy Local 100 Cleaner, Marjorie Stewart, worked with Brother Wright punch for every transit worker. We are for the past three years and working closely with the authorities to detersaid that everyone at the shop mine what happened today." "is in shock." CED Vice President Shirley Martin said: "Billy was such a nice person, "This is a very sad day for the entire workhard-working, respectful and force at 239th Street. We are reaching out to quiet. He was well-liked by Brother Wright's family and will assure them everyone. I cried when I found that the union will help them through this out what happened. This is difficult time. Our hearts go out to his family, devastating for everyone at the friends and co-workers. This has been a very shop." difficult time for all transit workers. To lose Local 100 President Tony another Brother member in this manner is Utano said of Brother Wright's truly heartbreaking." p death: "This is another gut —TWU Local 100

Teachers at Hunter College Campus Schools Have ‘No Confidence’ in Administrators or their COVID-19 Reopening Plan

Teachers at Hunter College Campus Schools have voted resoundingly! Ninety-six percent have ‘No Confidence’ in Hunter College President Raab and 73% have ‘No Confidence’ in Hunter Schools Director Lisa Siegmann because they have refused smaller classroom pods, proper air filtration and other protections afforded to students and staff at other NYC public schools. Raab and Siegmann have refused to allow an independent HVAC inspector access to the Upper East Side building on 94th Street.

Photo courtesy NYC Central Labor Council Hold Hunter College President Raab & Director Siegmann accountable to their legal and moral obligation to provide a safe workplace and learning environment at the Hunter College Campus Schools.p —NYC Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO Unions Are Good for Workers/continued from page 1

cording to recent research published by the Economic Policy Institute. Nine of 10 union workers are able to take paid time off when sick, compared to 73% of nonunion workers. And workers represented by organized labor are also more likely to have a financial cushion in weathering economic downturn, as they make 11.2% more on average than non-union workers in the same occupations with similar experience and education. In reporting on the findings, CBS Moneywatch spoke with social worker Ilana Engleberg, one of the workers who has been fighting for Housing Works here in NYC to recognize their decision to be represented by RWDSU. "We're hoping for a lot of things, but having a say in our workplace, that feels especially important during COVID," said Engelberg. A labor agreement would make legally binding what are now merely unenforced guidelines to wear face masks and practice social distancing in the office, she added. Housing Works as an organization applauds its employees as essential workers, but that appreciation doesn't translate into increased wages, said Engelberg.p

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Take Action: NYU Shame on You... Round Two

Hundreds of 1199ers at NYU Winthrop and their sisters and brothers across the NYU Langone system took to the streets on Wednesday so management could see for themselves that with no contract at NYU Winthrop, there will be No Peace! NYU is legally obligated under the existing master contract, known as the League Agreement, to bring any 1199 members at new or additional institutions acquired by NYU New York State Senator Brian Benjamin donated grocery packages to 2,000 families in addition to care packages, hot meals and essential items at its Hope for Harlem Event. The proceeds at the event provided thousands of Harlem families with essential items and services including mental health resources and job recruitment

information. The organizations also registered individuals to vote and complete the census. “District Council 9 is grateful to have the opportunity to give back to Harlem as our communities continue to struggle with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Joseph Azzopardi, BM/ST of District Council 9. “Harlem is home to a number of essential workers who themselves provide crucial services for their neighborhood. The Hope for Harlem event, in partnership with First Corinthian Baptist Church and NYS Senator Brian Benjamin, has allowed us to show our appreciation for their hard work and help them as much as possible during these unprecedented times.”p into the same contract. Despite an overwhelming vote by Photo courtesy NYC Central Labor Council members at NYU Winthrop to join the union a year ago, NYU management has consistently refused to honor this legal mandate. Talks have broken down and the dispute has gone to binding arbitration. This is just a few years after NYU tried to leave the League altogether and was forced back in by the strength and unity demonstrated by 1199 members across the system. NYU has been calling 1199 members #HealthcareHeroes as they have been making huge personal sacrifices in order to save the lives of New Yorkers throughout the pandemic. And yet there are still members across the system awaiting Crisis Pay, as well as NYU Winthrop members working without a contract. Gratitude is great….but a fair contract is better!p

Groceries, Care Packages and Hot Meals at Hope for Harlem Event The Loss of the Arts Hurts All of New York

Anew piece in The New York Times explores how the closure of Broadway, off-Broadway and other New York arts institutions is hurting workers, the economy at large and the very spirit of the city. Before the pandemic, the piece reports, New York's arts and cultural sector contributed $120 billion to New York’s economy and employed nearly half a million people, to say nothing of the other businesses tied to the incommuter rail lines, transit riders who fail to comply with the state's mask requirement are now subject to a $50 fine as of Sept. 14. The penalty for noncompliance covers the city bus and subways systems as well as Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road. The mask mandate was instituted by Mr. Cuomo back in April; enforcement will be the responsibility of the NYPD, the MTA Police Department, and MTA Bridge and Tunnel officers. "Labor Day has come and gone. The volume is up," Mr. Cuomo told reporters. "And I've asked the MTA to come up with an enforcement regimen so people know that not only are dustry, from hotels to taxis. “There is only so long that people can live without income," the article quotes Mary McColl, the executive director of Actors’ Equity Association. "I think it’s possible that the industry will lose really talented people out of necessity because they need to support their fam-

Transport Unions Prevail on Mask Requirements

Photo courtesy NYC Central Labor Council

District Council 9 along with First Corinthian Baptist Church and In a big win for the unions that represent city subway and bus workers and those employed by the ilies."p the cars clean and the stations clean, but riders will be acting appropriately." "This is an important step towards making the bus and subway system safer, and we are grateful that the Governor heard us on this issue," Local 100 President Tony Utano said in a statement. "This is good news for both transit workers and riders. Anyone who doesn't wear a mask, or some other face-covering, puts everyone at risk. We recognize that a fine could be a hardship for some. You know what's harder? Going to a funeral because someone didn't wear a mask on a bus or train." p