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 want to work for SPoT Coffee because they hear we have a union,” Zach says.”
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
Hickey Freeman Looking for Home Sewers to Make Face Masks
“Jeffery Diduch, vice president of technical design at Hickey Freeman in Rochester, put out a call on his social media page to attract home sewers who may be able to help.” Read more at the Democrat and Chronicle: https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2020/03/20/a-call-for-home-sewers-to-make-masks-to-help-coronavirus-pandemic-from-hickey-freeman-vice-president/2885241001/
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.
Lukas Weinstein Fundraiser
Link to GoFundMe for Lukas Weinstein Fundraiser. Lukas Weinstein was the manager at Spot Coffee in Williamsville, NY. In June, workers at Spot met with representatives from Workers United about forming a union. Lukas attended that meeting. Spot’s upper management demanded that he turn over the names of workers who attended the union meeting. Lukas refused. Then they demanded one final time and Lukas told his employees who had been at the meeting that it was either his job or theirs. He again refused and was fired a few days later. The company found out from another source who organized the union meeting and the two workers who hosted the union meeting at their home were also fired. Those two workers have now been reinstated with full back pay after the NLRB investigated and found merit in the union’s charges. Supervisors/managers in the U.S. unfortunately are not protected by the National Labor Relations Act and the regional office of the NLRB, which has grown even more impotent under Trump, has found that Spot Coffee did not commit an unfair labor practice charge in terminating Lukas for refusing to turn in his fellow workers. Lukas is a true working class hero. He made the ultimate sacrifice for his co-workers. Today he says he has no regrets and is proud to have played a major role in getting the union in across Buffalo at Spot Coffee. He also is encouraging former patrons who supported the Spot boycott to now return to Spot since the workers now have a union. Lukas is a class act, as courageous and principled as a person could be. And humble. He isn’t asking for this fundraising campaign. Workers United is. We believe that Lukas’ moral leadership should be rewarded, not penalized. Please help support Lukas, who lost thousands of dollars and his job because he stood by the union and by his co-workers. He is a true working class hero. Thank you for the consideration and the solidarity. To donate, click here to the GoFundMe Page. Richard Bensinger, Union Organizer
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!