New York unions are packing up and heading to D.C. for the Women’s March on Washington.

Source: N.Y. unions are packed and ready for Women’s March on Washington

An internal memo outlines plans to slash budgets by 30 percent at SEIU, the group behind the Fight for $15.

Source: Fear of Trump Triggers Deep Spending Cuts by Nation’s Second-Largest Union – Bloomberg

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka issued a statement this Thanksgiving, reaffirming the labor movement’s commitment to hold America’s newly elected president accountable to the promises he made to working people, and reaffirming its commitment to vanquish oppression and protect the freedoms for all who live and work here.

Source: A Letter of Thanks and Solidarity to Union Members and All Working People

Chuck Jones, president of the United Steelworkers Local 1999, said on Tuesday that he believed Trump lied to the Carrier workers last week.

Source: Donald Trump insulted a union leader on Twitter. Then the phone started to ring. – The Washington Post

The Freelance Isn’t Free Act passed the council unanimously and now heads to Mayor de Blasio.

Source: NYC Passes First Freelancer Wage Theft Protections In The Nation

Bernhardt Labor Journalism Prize CALL FOR ENTRIES –2016

The New York Labor History Association is pleased to announce this Call for Entries for the Second Annual Debra E. Bernhardt Labor Journalism Prize. The deadline is Thursday September 1, 2016 – details are at www.LaborArts.org/Bernhardt .

The Bernhardt Prize is an award of $500 given to an article or series of articles that furthers the understanding of the history of working people.

Articles focused on historical events AND articles about current issues (work, housing, organizing, health, education, and also workers’ organizations and unions) that include historical context are both welcome.

The work should be published – in print or online – in a union or workers’ center publication and/OR by an independent/free-lance journalist.

By sponsoring this award we hope to inspire more great writing for a general audience about the history of work, workers, and their organizations. The award is co-sponsored by LaborArts; Metro New York Labor Communications Council; the NYC Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO; and the Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives at NYU’s Tamiment Library.Dear friends and colleagues,

The winner will be announced at the Tamiment Library on Thursday October 13, 2016, during a forum about the history of labor journalism.

We are guided by the vision of the late Debra E. Bernhardt, who worked in so many different realms to share the hidden histories of working people. As head of the Wagner Labor Archives she reached out to an astonishing number of people and organizations, to document undocumented stories and unrecognized contributions, and to make links between past and present.

TO ENTER send an e-mail before Thursday September 1, 2016 to with the following information:
Author name
title of article
name of publication
URL link to publication if available
date and place of publication
URL link for article if available.

IF the entry originally appeared in print,send the above mentioned e-mail and also mail six print copies of the article (with a cover sheet) to Labor Arts, 7th Floor, 25 Broadway, New York, NY  10004.

The work should be published between September 1, 2015 and August 30, 2016.

Only one entry per person; publications and subject matter should target the United States and Canada; neither books nor plays are eligible.

If you have any questions about the prize please email or call  212-966-4014 ext. 1703.

Former SAG-AFTRA Co-President Roberta Reardon has been confirmed as labor commissioner for the  state of New York. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo selected Reardon for the post in September as his commissioner of labor, taking over for Mario Musolino. The State Senate confirmed Reardon on Wednesday. “My highest

Source: Ex-SAG-AFTRA Co-President Roberta Reardon Confirmed for NY Labor Post

Metro held its 41st Convention last Friday, May 6th.

The convention was opened by NYC Public Advocate Letitia James, below being introduced by Carl Ginsburg, NYSNA Communications Director.

Letitia James addressing the issue of a changing work place.

A panel on the gig economy followed. (L to R) Moderator, Bob Hennelly; Katie Unger, Michelle Chen and Mauricio Niebla.

Hamilton Nolan was honored as the Labor Communicator of the Year for his work in organizing the staff at Gwaker.

Trisha Arnold, NYC public school teacher and UFT member was given our highest competative award, the Mary Heaton Vorse award for a video she made of teachers talking about their connection with their students. Here she is receiving her award from Metro Secretary Marie Smith (Council of School Supervisors and Administrators).

The event ended with an engaging presentation by new Metro Co-Chair, Liz McKenna (NYC District Council of Carpenters) on using your smartphone as a communicating tool.

Thanks to Dave Sanders and NYSNA for the great photos.