New York, NY – IBEW Local 3 leafleting outside NY1’s Chelsea Market studios has been suspended “for now,” Business Manager Chris Erikson told LaborPress on Thursday.
“We are maintaining a hold on the leafletting,” Erikson said. “We’ve got a lot of options.”
Governor Andrew Cuomo reportedly requested a 72-hour moratorium on leafleting NY1’s Chelsea Market studios “as a matter of good faith,” while Local 3 and Charter/Spectrum engaged in negotiations.
“We’re negotiating,” Erikson said. “It’s going. I’m not ever confident, but I’m happy that it didn’t go badly to the point of where it’s over.”
When asked about the last time the two sides engaged in discussions, Charter/Spectrum spokesperson John Bonomo declined to specify, saying the company does not discuss the status of negotiations.
Local 3 kicked off the week, leafleting outside of NY1’s Chelsea Market studios. City and state electeds began boycotting appearances on Charter/Spectrum’s NY1 cable news outlet earlier this month — after Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Cuomo both refused to do the show while the strike endured.
Thursday night’s NY State Senate debate on NY1 pits incumbent Republican Marty Golden against Democratic challenger Andrew Gounardes for the District 22 seat. Democrats think Golden — in the State Senate since 2002 — might be vulnerable to defeat and help them regain control of New York’s upper legislative chamber.
“We’ve suspending [leafleting] for now,” Erikson said. “When we feel it’s appropriate, we’ll do it.”
IBEW Local 3 workers went on strike back on March 28, 2017, in an effort to preserve threatened union pension plans and healthcare packages.
Gounardes told LaborPress in an email that he spoke to IBEW but “was not asked to cancel my appearance.”
“I have always stood with organized labor, just this morning I joined CWA at a job site,” Gounardes said. “In the past I have stood with labor on picket lines and would proudly do so again. Tonight’s debate is critical to educating the voters of the 22nd District about the issues at stake in this election including who is the best candidate to fight for labor.”
State Senator Golden’s office has not yet responded to requests for comment.
“Marty Golden has crossed a picket line, he supports President Trump and the Janus decision,” Gounardes added. “These are important facts that I believe voters who care about organized labor need to know, and I hope to have a chance to discuss them tonight.”
Requests for comment from Governor Cuomo’s office have not been successful.
