Raising the Floor for our Workforce
June 18, 2013
By Bill de Blasio
New York is becoming a tale of two cities, and our middle class is in danger of disappearing all together. Last year, CEO pay hit a record high – at an average annual salary of $9.7 million – 354 times what the average worker earns. New York City is suffering from an inequality of opportunity, but part of how we fix it is by raising the floor on wages and benefits for those trying to make it into the middle class. That’s why I’ve laid out a comprehensive plan to lift up working families by focusing on helping people work their way up the economic ladder.
PEF Backs Jackson For Manhattan Borough Prez
June 19, 2013
By Joe Maniscalco
New York, NY - The second largest state-employee union in New York is backing one of its own to become Manhattan’s next borough president - and the organization’s current president can’t imagine other labor group’s not following suit (Watch Video).
Principals Endorse Bill Thompson for Mayor
June 19, 2013
By Marc Bussanich
New York, NY—The Council of School Supervisors and Administrators endorsed Bill Thompson for mayor because they believe he has the right plan for affordable housing, creating jobs and early childhood education.
Child Care Workers Press Bloomberg for Back Pay
June 19, 2013
By Joe Maniscalco
New York, NY - Pay up, Mike.
In the second time in as many weeks, working men and women who help make the city run are imploring outgoing Mayor Michael Bloomberg to pay them for the work that they do. Last week, it was municipal employees who have been working for years without a fair contract, this week it’s some 4,000 veteran child care workers who performed their duties with pride but still have been denied their vacation pay (Watch Video).
"The Meaning of Having a Good Job"
June 19, 2013
By Oren M. Levin-Waldman
For a long time now, we have heard talk about creating “good” jobs, with manufacturing being at the top of the good jobs list. It almost implies that service sector jobs — the primary replacement for disappearing manufacturing jobs in a post-industrial economy — are really bad jobs. Well, if the definition of a good job is one that pays a solid middle class wage that allows one to live in dignity, this is probably true.
New Health Insurance Public Exchanges Will Not Cover Peoples' Cars, Houses, or Their Dog, Fido...
June 19, 2013
By Tom Canty, Vice President and General Manager, Empire BlueCross BlueShield Government, Labor and 
Special Accounts
Insurance for pets, homeowners and cars, and, first and foremost health insurance, were the items consumers thought would be available to them through the public health insurance exchanges coming this fall. Some even thought travel insurance might be offered.
Scaffold Law at Stake
June 18, 2013
By Marc Bussanich
Queens, NY—Marc Proferes was badly injured on the job six years ago when the plank he was standing on gave way and a scaffold collapsed on him. The real estate and building industries have been pushing to repeal New York’s Scaffold Law because they claim it adds millions of dollars to construction costs, and they might get their way before the legislative session ends in Albany. Watch Video
A Contest Between Leadership Versus Pandering
July 18, 2013
By Christine Quinn
Yesterday June 17th I outlined the choice before New Yorkers in the race for Mayor as a contest between results and rhetoric and leadership versus pandering. On issue after issue, from affordable housing to education and economic development to balancing the budget, I've delivered real results for New Yorkers. The greatest indication of what someone will be able to achieve can be found in what they’ve already accomplished.
Zogby Report Card: Snooping scandal has stalled Obama's second term agenda, This week's grade: D
June 18, 2013
Summer is here and it is time for scandals in Washington. And there are some doozies. Despite President Obama's efforts to finesse the issue and tell Americans they have nothing to worry about, the National Security Agency invasion of privacy issue is in the forefront, stalling the president's agenda. Polling shows that Americans are willing to trade off privacy for security, but it also shows that Obama's approval ratings are sliding a bit to the mid-40 percent level. I am willing to admit that my polling still shows the president at 52 percent approval and is the outlier. But he is back up to waist deep in scandal.
After a Year of Tragedy, We Look Ahead with Hope
June 18, 2013
By Ernest A. Logan
Reprint From the April 2013 Issue of the CSA News
Perhaps a New Mayor Will Bring a Refreshing Vision
Once in a while an event of vast consequence dominates a school year and overshadows everything. When Hurricane Sandy came ashore the night of Oct. 29, destroying thousands of homes and transforming many of our schools into sanctuaries, we all bore witness. School leaders worked around the clock to feed and shelter New Yorkers. Some of you lost what you owned. CSA’s new building at 40 Rector St. was damaged and closed for three months. Our union set up a fund to help stricken members and the contributions flowed in.
Public Sector Rallies for New Contracts
June 17, 2013
By Marc Bussanich
New York, NY—Thousands of public sector workers who have been working without wage increases for the past several years rallied outside City Hall last week to pressure Mayor Michael Bloomberg to sign new contracts. Watch Video
From Cook to Carpentry: Outstanding Woman Hammers Out A New Life
June 17, 2013
By Joe Maniscalco
Bronx, NY - Not long ago, Local 157 carpenter Saadia Walters, 43, was working a dead-end job as a line cook in a New York City Olive Garden where the best that she could hope for after years of sweating behind a hot stove was a lousy .35-cent raise. Then 9/11 hit, and the then 35-year-old single mom from the Bronx realized that not only did she want a better life for herself and son Darius John Ortiz, she also wanted to help her hometown recover.
Working Families Supports Todd Dobrin in Council 47th
June 17, 2013
By Bob Smith
New York, NY - Todd Dobrin, candidate for New York City Council in Brooklyn's 47th district, has received the endorsement of the Working Families Party, New York's grassroots progressive party. The Working Families Party endorsement will earn Dobrin the support of the party's formidable activist base, as well as the WFP line on the November ballot.
Actor Esai Morales To Oppose Ken Howard, In SAG-AFTRA Race
June 17, 2013
By Diane Cohen
New York, NY - Actor Esai has publicly announced his intention to run for SAG-AFTRA President against Ken Howard. Morales, is currently appearing in the new Starz series "Magic City," and is a national board member of SAG-AFTRA. The newly-merged union holds its first combined election in July. Ballots for the national elections will go out July 16 and the deadline for their return is August 15. The president, secretary-treasurer and the majority of the board seats will be filled.
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