This past week school safety agents, members of Teamsters Local 237, settled their contract with the city. The workers have been without a contract since 2010.

This contract also includes a resolution of a four-year lawsuit which highlighted the discrepancy in pay of over 5,000 female School Safety Agents as compared to their male counterparts in other agencies. The workers were earning up to $7,000 less than male workers who performed comparable duties. Both Mayor de Blasio and Comptroller Stringer had approved the $38 million settlement which will, over the course of the contract, bring the Safety Agents to pay equity.

On Tuesday the NLRB ruled that McDonald’s was a joint employer with its franchisees and thus responsible for management issues at its restaurants.  The decision marks a victory for the fast food workers whom had previously experienced a lack of accountability on the part of McDonald’s in wage and hour violations. Read More

New York, NY – Planned Parenthood is supposed to dispense care and concern, but workers in Central New York say that they are feeling more like unwanted “step-children” – and they want union representation to redress their grievances.

No less than eight elected officials from both the New York State Legislature and United States Congress are calling upon Karen Nelson, CEO, Planned Parenthood of Western and Central New York, to honor workers’ overwhelming decision to have CWA Local 1168 represent them in future contract negotiations. MORE

The labor strife at the Metropolitan Opera took on a new urgency Wednesday when its general manager, Peter Gelb, sent the company’s orchestra, chorus, stagehands and other workers letters warning them to prepare for a lockout if no contract deal is reached by next week. MORE

Empire State College Welcomes Letitia James, New York City Public Advocate

For a presentation and discussion of The Political and Economic Context of Collective Bargaining in New York City Today

Thursday, July 10, 4 – 6pm
At The Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Center for Labor Studies
Empire State College
325 Hudson St., New York

This event is part of the 2014 summer residency program in Labor Studies taking place at the VanArsdale Center. It is available for credit to students registered in the residency, and is open to the general public who wish to engage in discussion on this issue of urgent concern to the city’s labor movement.

The event is free but space is limited.

To reserve your seat, please RSVP to

Today, workers at Dylan’s Candy Bar joined community allies and the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) to speak out about the conditions at Dylan’s Candy Bar. Workers have recently called attention to health and safety concerns, and, in addition to OSHA claims, workers filed complaints with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, reporting concerns over food safety issues. READ MORE HERE

Twenty five Domino’s employees who were fired for calling out what they described as illegal labor conditions have been given their jobs back, New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced Thursday.

The delivery workers, who were employed by a franchise in New York City, were let go after complaining that they were still being paid the “tipped wage” of $5.65 per hour even though they were performing tasks, like kitchen cleaning, that should qualify them for the state’s minimum wage of $7.25. READ MORE HERE