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. They should have their first production surgical gown today. Fantastic story. Talked to Jeffrey Diduch about creating them from the leftovers.” Photos and text by Dana Keaton, Sidney Hillman Health Center
Local 221 Working to Make us Safer
Members of Local 221 remain dedicated to their jobs during this pandemic crisis. While many are staying at home, they go to work every day to do what they specialize in; manufacturing life-saving fabrics desperately needed by the government, medical and military communities. The process to create such a unique blend of material is a painstaking one, requiring precision and care. We are proud of our brothers and sisters, and marvel at their skills to manufacture that which protects those who are working hard to protect the rest of us. Photos and Text by Erin Young, RRJB Business Rep
For our Members Needing to File for Unemployment Benefits
Here are the documents our members need to prepare in advance of applying online. Advance collection of this information is helpful because some application sites will time out after a bit. Note some States might differ slightly on what is required, but this is pretty much the standard. Social Security Number. State Driver’s License or State Issued ID (Note: applications may still be completed without these two items). Mailing address, city, state and ZIP code. Know the county within the state where member resides. The names, addresses, and phone numbers of all of member’s employers for the last 18 months. The last day on the job immediately prior to filing this UI claim. If our member received severance, vacation, holiday or payment for unused sick pay: give the amount (before deductions) and the date it was paid to member. The name and local number of our member’s union hall, if applicable. Alien Registration Number, if applicable. Copy # 4 of member’s DD Form 214 if released from the military in the last 18 months* SF 8 or SF 50 if employed in Federal Civilian service in the last 18 months * If member is collecting a pension (other than Social Security), member will need the start date of the pension and the monthly benefit amount. When you are ready to file, go to the New York State website and click on “Unemployment Assistance”https://www.ny.gov/ If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your Business Representative. Contact information here: Business Representatives: https://workersunitedupstate.org/contact/
RRJB Asking Companies to Switch Gears
UPDATE: The Governor is also encouraging any company with the proper equipment or personnel to begin to manufacture PPE products if possible. The state is willing to provide funding to any company to obtain the proper equipment and personnel. Businesses interested in receiving state funding to manufacture PPE products should contact Eric Gertler at 212-803-3100 or COVID19supplies@esd.ny.gov. Rochester Regional Joint Board is working to connect members, companies, and local health care facilities to fight the spread of COVID-19. Dr. Joseph Nicholas, Sidney Hillman Medical Director, asked the union for help reaching out to companies and their workers to ask if they would be able to urgently repurpose their production lines towards making masks, gloves, and other protective gear for health care workers. RRJB Manager, Gary Bonadonna Jr., contacted the union Business Representatives and they in turn have been reaching out to the companies. So far, there has been many positive responses from local employers. This is a developing story and we will report on their progress as we hear back. Any companies interested in producing protective medical gear or supplies can contact: Dr. Joseph Nicholasjnicholas@rrjb.org
WRO Meetings Canceled
The next two WRO meetings are canceled for April and May. A decision will be made to schedule the next meeting when we get closer to June and will be posted to this website. Thank you.
Governor Cuomo Announces Hickey Freeman Tailored Clothings To Add Up To 80 Jobs at Historic Rochester Locations
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the parent company of world-renowned clothier Hickey Freeman, Luxury Men’s Apparel Group, has committed to creating up to 80 new jobs over the next three years. By stabilizing operations and improving efficiencies at the historic factory in the City of Rochester, the company will not only create new jobs, but also retain its current 420 positions to further supporting anti-poverty efforts in Monroe County. Gary Bonadonna Jr., Manager of the Rochester Regional Joint Board, Workers United said, “I applaud ESD for supporting Hickey Freeman. This is not just another factory, and this is not just another job. This is an iconic business with a strong labor union representing its employees. Our Union and Hickey Freeman have 100+ years of history and is the finest example of a true labor-management partnership. This support will help to ensure the job security of 400 union members and adding more in the near future. Hickey Freeman workers have committed their lives to this factory and take tremendous pride in their craft and making the best men’s suits in the country. This is an incredible day for Workers United and Hickey Freeman.” For more information about Hickey Freeman, go to: https://www.governor.ny.gov/…/governor-cuomo-announces-hick…
Radisson Corning Ranked by U.S. News and World Report
U.S. News and World Report just released their annual list of Best Hotels Rankings and one of our own was named among the country’s best! The Radisson Hotel in Corning was awarded a Silver Badge and is only one of three Radisson Hotels to make the list. The award is determined by looking at the opinion of published travel experts and the overall customer satisfaction reviews. More specifically, they looked at awards and recognition, hotel class, and guest ratings. Sue Fowler, president of Local 193 and server in the hotel restaurant says, “This is humbling and overwhelming! We do what we do and always have. It’s an honor to be recognized for our dedication to our customers. We’ve worked hard to build a quality union environment that creates an atmosphere that reflects positively for all!” Business Agent, Erin Young, says, “The members are thrilled to achieve this tremendous award for their hard work. It is not surprising to me, as they truly deserve this recognition! The union and the company have spent many years working collaboratively on a work environment that truly gives back to the members as employees which, in turn, translates to the service that the guests benefit from. So proud of this amazing group of talented and hard-working people!!” Congratulations to all the members of Radisson Corning for their well-deserved recognition!
Flu Shots Scheduled for October 2018
The Sidney Hillman Health Center has scheduled flu shots for the coming season. Members of the health center can receive free shots. Please remember to bring any health insurance cards with you. The dates are: Wed 10/17 Fri 10/19 Wed 10/24 Fri 10/26 Hours are 9:00-4:00.
Sidney Hillman Health Center, RRJB, and Members Raise over $8,407
On Saturday, April 14 the Sidney Hillman Health Center, Rochester Regional Joint Board, and our members raised over $3,407 for the American Heart Association Heart Walk and Run, crushing last years total! With our corporate donation, the total raised was over $8,407. Even with the cold, wet, and windy weather, many of our members came out to participate and support the drive. Congrats everyone! Here’s video of some of the day’s activities:
Gimme! Coffee Baristas Unanimously Ratify Their First Union Contract
Gimme! Coffee Baristas Unanimously Ratify Their First Union Contract ROCHESTER – February 7, 2018 – Baristas at the Ithaca, NY based coffee chain, Gimme! Coffee, unanimously voted to ratify their first union contract with their employer with the help of Workers United – Rochester Regional Joint Board and the Tompkins County Workers Center. The contract follows a successful union organizing campaign that culminated with an overwhelming union victory this past summer in an election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board. The workers at Gimme! Coffee are one of the first coffee chain baristas in the country to organize for union representation. Says Gimme! Coffee Barista Samantha Mason: ” Having a contract that protects me and my co-workers is only one of the benefits to having a union. For me, the most integral part of this has been to see how far my co-workers and I have come in building solidarity, in rebalancing power and having the courage to take action and create a better workplace. It’s important to me that all workers understand that they can change their workplace.” Gary Bonadonna Jr., Manager of Rochester Regional Joint Board, stated: “I would like to salute the Gimme! Coffee baristas for the dedication and hard work they put in to organize their union and negotiate an initial union contract. They are an inspirational group. If as a society we truly want to address the issue of economic inequality, then the Gimme! workers offer part of the solution: work together and organize a union. Too often workers in this country who want to organize a union to make improvements on their job have to walk through a minefield of threats and intimidation by their employer. I want to recognize Gimme! Coffee management for not going down that road. My hope is that other employers will follow this more ethical path.” Kevin Cuddeback, Owner and CEO of Gimme! Coffee said: “I’m a proponent of people coming together to build a better world, and I look forward to working with the union toward the advancement of the company mission.” A few highlights of the contract are: A union “just cause” clause that protects workers from unfair discipline or discharge A union grievance and arbitration procedure to resolve any workplace problems Wage increases Establishment of a paid sick day program Monthly joint labor/management meetings Pete Meyers, Coordinator of the Tompkins County Workers Center, issued the following statement: “We’re very happy for the Gimme! Coffee baristas of Workers’ United local 2833 for having the wherewithal to stand together and form a union within their workplaces throughout Tompkins County, and congratulate them on negotiating their first contract. We praise the management of Gimme! Coffee and its owner, Kevin Cuddeback, for responsibly being neutral towards the baristas’ desire to organize a union in their workplace, and for their good faith efforts in the negotiation process.” Restaurant and hospitality workers, in general, interested in organizing a union should contact Gary Bonadonna Jr., Rochester Regional Joint Board at (585) 473-3280. ### For Additional Information: Julie Black Communications Consultant Rochester Regional Joint Board jblack@rrjb.org (585) 730-3915