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Read the Newest Reflections – Our Summer 2017 Newsletter

Our latest “Reflections” is out! You can read it on our website now. Paper copies are mailing out this week . Our updated website allows you to read our latest newsletters in your web browser or to download the PDF file to read later. Here’s a helpful tip: At the top of the newsletter there is a menu bar that allows you to read the newsletter in “Full Screen” view. Other buttons will allow you to print, download, share and search the newsletter. We hope you enjoy the new service! SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave

Area Barbers to Hold “Cut the Violence” Event to Benefit the Pirate Toy Foundation

HELP PROMOTE PEACE!  Please join Willie J. Lightfoot – Founder, Cut the Violence, Ernest Flagler – Monroe County Legislator, and  Andre – Andre’s Barbershop for the 33rd  CUT THE VIOLENCE EVENT Monday, July 17, 2017 4:00 – 8:00 PM Andre’s Barbershop 881 Portland Avenue Rochester, New York 14621 Professional Barbers will provide FREE haircuts to kids ages 10 – 17 and host a FREE toy giveaway by The Pirate Toy Foundation. Children MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian. For more information please call 585-478-4603   SaveSave SaveSave

Gimme! Coffee Baristas Organize Union in Workplace

Gimme! Coffee Baristas Organize Union in Workplace; NLRB Election to Be Held on Thursday, May 31st   (ITHACA) Approximately 22 Gimme! Coffee baristas will have the opportunity to vote in a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election on the question of whether or not to organize a union to negotiate a contract in their workplaces on Thursday, May 31st in Ithaca. The election will be for non-managerial baristas at the W. State/MLK Street location (where the election for all 4 stores will be held); the N. Cayuga Street location; the Gates Hall location at Cornell U.; and the Trumansburg location.   Samantha Mason, a barista at the Cayuga Street Gimme! Coffee location and a member of the Workers United Organizing Committee says: “Democracy doesn’t just happen every four years. At Gimme! Coffee, my co-workers and I hope to set an example by practicing democracy daily in embracing our collective power to organize at the workplace.”   Says Korbin Richards, a barista at the Gates Hall location: “This is important not just for Gimme! Coffee but for the whole working class. We want to prove that you can create a reciprocally transparent and respectful relationship with your employer, which will hopefully redraw what it means to be in the service industry.”   Owner and founder of Gimme! Coffee, Kevin Cuddeback, has this to say about the potential union at Gimme! Coffee: “We respect employees’ right to decide whether to unionize, and we’ll continue working with all our employees to make Gimme the best place it can be for our employees, customers, and coffee suppliers.”   Pete Meyers, Coordinator of the Tompkins County Workers’ Center (TCWC), says: “The excitement the baristas have around the potential unionizing of their workplace is impressive and contagious. It is inspiring how these workers are especially interested in organizing the larger industry of Hospitality Workers throughout our community. The TCWC has, for 15 years, operated a Worker’s Rights Hotline – which the Gimme! Coffee workers engaged with to find resources to start their union effort – through which we’ve received a disproportionate amount of complaints from hospitality workers about their treatment in the workplace. These issues, in the final analysis, will most likely only be resolved collectively by workers organizing together in their joint self-interest.”   Gary Bonadonna, Manager of Workers United/Rochester Regional Joint Board, and the union that is organizing with the Gimme! Coffee baristas had this to say: “We are honored to be working with Gimme! Coffee workers.  They are a dedicated, creative and inspirational group.  Unions, to be relevant in today’s workforce, must assist workers to organize in the growing but low wage service sector economy. Deunionization of our society led by the Walmarts of this world is not a healthy thing. I also want to praise the enlightened management of Gimme! Coffee. Too often employers wage war against their workers who want to organize. Gimme! Coffee management, led by CEO Kevin Cuddeback, brews justice with their great coffee.”   [Photo Credit: Richard Bensinger]

Workers United and Sidney Hillman Staff at the Annual Heart Walk

On April 23, 2017 Workers United and Sidney Hillman staff raised over $ 2700 for the American Heart Association at the annual Heart Walk. We thank our staff and members for donating their time, energy, and money to this cause.

2017 Workers United Convention

Workers United Convention Philadelphia, PA March 8 – 10, 2017 Gary Bonadonna Jr. The Workers United Convention in Philadelphia was a reminder of how far the workers’ movement has come and how far we have yet to go. We were treated to a video of our country’s first union members who came from the most marginalized members in our society during a time when they had little support from the government or their employers. The union was formed to help improve their lives whether it was by negotiating better wages or by forming a bank that would secure their finances and give them home loans. These loans were given to those who were rejected by banks based on race and socio-economic level. At the Rochester Regional Joint Board, we are motivated to continue that spirit for our generation of working people. We brought 20 delegates and staff to Philadelphia this year to represent the Rochester Regional Joint Board. For most of our group, this was their first experience attending a Workers United convention. As we all work in our respective fields and businesses, sometime it is difficult to see beyond our own work and struggles. It can feel like we are fighting our fights alone. What the delegates saw was what I have always seen: that we are not alone. There are workers across this country and across this world who are dealing with the same struggles that we are in our communities. We met nail salon workers, fighting for fair wages and safe working conditions. We met laundry workers, fighting for the right to organize. We met gym workers, fighting for fair wages and job security in case of injury. We heard from a group called the Nabisco 600 who were protesting the 600 jobs that went overseas to Mexico after they closed their plant in Chicago. This happened after they took $90 Million in subsidies from the Illinois taxpayers. This is just one of many examples of the abandoning of workers and communities to take the jobs and investments to a country where workers are more vulnerable to exploitation. The Nabisco employees’ union is fighting right now for their workers’ job security. We met garment workers of Majestic Athletics in Easton, PA who were facing an unsure future when the licensing rights to baseball uniforms manufacturing were awarded to a new company, Under Armour. Would they keep the jobs in the USA or would they take the work oversees where workers would be paid poverty wages and forced to endure unsafe working conditions? I’m proud to tell you that our Workers United voices were heard and since the convention, Under Armour has promised to keep these jobs in the USA. We keep a keen eye to what is happening around us because we know that the fortunes of our fellow workers are tied to us all; we are all interconnected. I am so excited to take this energy from the convention and work together towards improving conditions for all working people. This will include organizing new workers. This will include campaigning and voting for local government officials and representatives who will best represent the interests and needs of our families. We have endorsed James Sheppard for Rochester City Mayor in the coming elections, and he announced his candidacy in our own union hall this January. Let’s keep the energy and momentum going! As we are reminded everyday by our national leaders, we can’t turn a blind eye or a deaf ear to what is happening to our working brothers and sisters. Let’s energize each other and keep each other engaged in our fight to improve our workers’ rights. – Gary Bonnadonna, Jr. Photos from the convention: [FAG id=469] SaveSave

Applications for Chatman Scholarship

Applications are now being taken for the Joint Board’s highly successful Abraham Chatman Scholarship program, manager Gary Bonadonna Jr. announced. He stressed that the scholarship program is open to members’ eligible children throughout the Board’s jurisdiction. The program can offer up to 10 scholarships worth $2,000 each to Joint Board member’s children. The actual number is based on how many applicants there are and decisions of the Rochester Area Community Foundation (RACF), which administers the program, Bonadonna Jr. noted. For Information about the program and access to an application form click on this link. The Chatman program is open to members’ children who: Are graduating from high school and continuing on to college OR who are currently enrolled as a freshman, or sophomore in a 2- or  4-year institution Will be attending a 2- or 4- year institution during the 2016-2017  school year, and seeking a degree there Have a 2.5 college grade point average, or a C+ or higher average if still in high school Financial need will also be taken into consideration. The deadline is April 15

James Sheppard Announces his Mayoral Bid at the Workers United Building

Sheppard Announces Mayoral Decision: “I Will Run. Together, We Can Get Rochester Working Again!” Rochester, New York, 14 January 2017: This morning, surrounded by family, a room full of supporters, and dozens of volunteers in Sheppard for Mayor T-shirts, former Monroe County Legislator and Rochester Police Chief James Sheppard announced his campaign for Mayor of Rochester. In a long anticipated event at the Workers United Union Hall on East Avenue, Mr. Sheppard reminded a cheering crowd, “We need to get Rochester working again, because our current City government is just not working.” Rev. Douglas A. Smith of Grace Community Church served as emcee for the event and introduced several speakers representing a diverse cross section of Rochester, from ministers to teachers, union and business leaders, to community activists. Gary Bonadonna, Manager of the Workers United Joint Board, welcomed the overflowing crowd and reminded everyone that Sheppard announced his 2015 run for Monroe County Legislature in the hall and went on to a smashing victory in that election. “Our Union has a long history of supporting candidates for public office who stand up for working families,” he said. “Today we’re proud to stand with James Sheppard as he begins his campaign for Mayor of the City of Rochester.” Beatriz LeBron, a Community Health Worker and Democratic Leader of the 25th Legislative District in the City’s Southwest side, kicked off the list of speakers by lauding Sheppard for his community leadership. “Today, I want to speak to James Sheppard’s accessibility, collaboration and his willingness to work with the community in a “hands-on” manner,” she said. She went on to call out specific community partnerships with Sheppard at Alternatives for Battered Women and Community Place during his tenure with the Rochester Police Department. Pastor Sammie Drayton, of Hope Divine Church of God on Maple Street spoke next about his personal relationship with Sheppard. “James Sheppard has commitment, integrity and passion for this City,” he said. “I have seen those attributes in him where it is the most important to display them – in the community and with the people.” Vic Saunders, former Director of Pathways to Peace lauded Sheppard for his commitment to his community. “I know the difference between talking the talk and walking the walk,” he said. “When I first met James Sheppard it didn’t take long to realize he wasn’t a cop because it was a job. He was in it because he cared. His concern for young people came right on through.” Laura Delehenty, Teacher at East High School, reminded the crowd of Sheppard’s work with young people at events like the school’s “Cops, Cookies and Conversation” event. “We are in a time of great tension between police and the community,” she said. “Chief Sheppard knows the importance of building bridges between different groups of people, and that bridges are built through talking, listening and understanding.” Christian Lopez, who Sheppard mentored when he was a student at Monroe High School, spoke to Sheppard’s abilty to work with young people. “Every day I recite an affirmation from what he taught me: ‘Give honest and sincere appreciation,” he said. “I give that to my mom – who sacrifices everything for us. And I also give that to Mr. Sheppard for giving me the tools to be successful in life. Thank you Mr. Sheppard – and let’s all not miss the opportunity to support a truly great leader!” Aaron Hilger, President and CEO of the Rochester Builders Exchange spoke on behalf of his 600 member businesses and the 20,000 workers they represent. He told the crowd of his experience in meeting Sheppard. “In our first two meetings he didn’t say much,” said Hilger. “He listened to what I had to say, and asked intelligent questions.  That’s different from a lot of politicians I know. But then, Shep is not your average politician. The meetings were not about him, or about his wants or desires.  Rather they were about learning.  Learning about construction.  Learning about how we invest and train the next generation.”  Community activist James McCauley reminded people of Sheppard’s work to get the TIPS program (Trust, Information, Programs and Services) off the ground at its inception. “In the middle of it all was James Sheppard,” he told the crowd. “He was giving away free book bags, filled with school supplies. He was with the people – with the children – with the community and talking about the sanctity of life – and about accountability, responsibility and civic duties. He wasn’t a cop that day, he was a friend and role model.” The Reverend Marlowe Washington, Pastor of the Historic Parsells Church, introduced Sheppard to a tumult of applause and anticipation. His introduction focused on “What Rochester needs!” and the disappointment the community feels over the current City Administration. “We were told to “believe” in a dream that went deferred,” he said. “We were told to believe that our neighborhoods would be rebuilt.  We were told to believe that city residents would participate in the democratic process and that streets would be cleaned up, jobs would be introduced, and businesses would be coming to our city.  Three and a half years later, the dream to believe has been deferred.” Sheppard’s announcement theme was clear, especially in light of the growing trend of Rochester’s residents who are looking for change. “With your help, I know we can lead this community to greater things,” he said. And he emphasized the need to work together. “It’s not about me, it’s about us. Together, we can do better. We will make Rochester a place of opportunity, of growth, and of hope, for all our citizens. Together we can restore Rochester’s promise.” James Sheppard will seek the designation of the Monroe County Democratic Committee in the coming months and feels confident of his chances to become Rochester’s next Mayor. “Our city deserves a leader who has one mission: to restore Rochester’s promise,” he said.  “We need to get Rochester working again—and that’s why I’m announcing my candidacy