Photos from Perks Cafe Press Conference

Workers from Perks Cafe in Buffalo and union supporters came together in front of their Elmwood location in Buffalo today. They are demanding that Perks owner, Bob Newman, stop his union-busting practices and work with them. Recently, the NLRB found merit in the workers’ grievances.

Perks Cafe Workers Say Owner Refuses to Bargain With Union

News Story from BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) “We tried to cooperate with him and we have tried to create a space that was hospitable and that was respectful to cooperate with and to bargain with and he refused to respect that,” said Sid Roberts, a former Perks Cafe employee. “Many of the workers at Perks are […]

Workers United Upstate NY: Black Lives Matter

Workers United in Upstate New York stands with Black Lives Matter. We mourn for Rayshard Brooks, Michael Thomas, George Floyd, Dion Johnson, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and all other Black people murdered by police. We commit to fighting white supremacy and fascism in all their forms. As Angela Davis said, “In a racist […]

Members of Local 1947 Strike

Union members of Local 1947 on strike and picketing in front of Babbitt Bearings today. Rochester Regional Joint Board Business Agent, Eduaro Jofre, says that this strike is the result of years of deception and unfair treatment by management. “The workers gave-in to concessions to help the company when they were asked. The company is […]

Optical Department Now Taking Limited Appointments

In a small step to having members enter the building, the Optical Dept will be taking a very limited number of appointments starting today.   The appropriate safety protocals have been addressed to each member, and they have been instructed, and will be guided, to only proceed to Optical.  I will be escorting them out as well. […]

Deadline for the Chatman Scholarship Extended

The Abraham D. Chatman Scholarship for 2020 has been extended to May 31 from the original date of April 15. The Chatman scholarship is open to dependent children of currently employed union members (including those who are temporarily laid off) who: Are graduating high school seniors entering a two or four-year institution or Are currently […]

Union Workers Make Masks for Hospitals and Essential Workers

Recently, Xerox published a story (McCue, Matt, “How Xerox Turned Filters into Face Masks) describing how they worked together with another Rochester company to manufacture face masks aiming to protect health care workers during the COVID-19 outbreak. The story details the whole process from initial inspiration to the final product. What is especially significant is […]

Barista Magazine Spotlights SPoT Coffee Workers

“Under the new contract, SPoT employees have significant wage increases, paid sick time, fair staffing levels, and protections from unfair discipline and firings. “People are excited to go to work today. Their attitude and outlook towards working has improved dramatically. People are proud to work for SPoT now. We’ve had a lot of people that […]

Hickey Freeman Now Making Masks

“They’re doing an awesome job over there. From prototype to final product. From surgical leftovers to end pieces. Working with black button on antiseptic for the employees. Michael’s for nose pieces. It’s crazy. There are able to sew 3000+ surgical masks a day (12 workers) and the cutters are able to cut 20,000 a day. […]