The Local: Apr. 3, 2025 news roundup
Welcome back to The Local, a publication of NYC-DSA Labor Working Group reporting every two weeks. We’re still interested in recruiting new writers for this newsletter so reach us at thenyclocal@substack.com, along with any tips, corrections, and other feedback. In this issue, Montefiore physicians reach tentative agreement, REI Union SoHo wins weekly pay, and the Trump administration strips union rights from a million federal workers.
Photo by Alexandra Chan at the “Stop the Cuts” march on 03/15.
Organizing (asterisks indicate employer-filed petitions for union election)
A unit of 26 stagehands and programmers at Original Music Workshop, Inc., d/b/a National Sawdust are organizing with IATSE Local 4.
Steamfitters Local 638 are organizing workers at True Mechanical Corporation.
Workers at 77 Charlton Condominium are organizing with 32BJ SEIU.
Workers at Governors Island Corporation d/b/a Trust for Governors Island are organizing with International Union of Operating Engineers Local 30.
Starbucks Workers United is organizing another store in Manhattan with 18 workers.
1199SEIU filed a petition for 225 workers at Crest Transportation Services, Inc. d/b/a Assist Ambulance, and Local 713 IBOTU, UMD, ILA is listed as an intervenor.
Accompanists at Hoff-Barthelson Music School voted 4-1 to join Local 802 AFM.
Workers at Public Storage Operating Company in the Bronx and Yonkers voted 5-21 against joining UAW Local 2179.
Workers at the Fresh Pond Road Ridgewood Starbucks voted 4-6 against joining Starbucks Workers United.
JFK Airport Delta Terminal bus operators voted 63-16 to join TWU.
Bargaining & Action
03/21: CIR/SEIU Resident physicians have reached a tentative agreement at Montefiore Medical Center
03/23: After the ‘First Strike In The School's History,’ ARTS/MSM/NYSUT Local 6498 faculty reached a tentative agreement at The Manhattan School Of Music.
03/24: REI Union SoHo won weekly pay for workers at New York REI stores in bargaining.
03/27: Columbia labor unions rallied against ICE, federal cuts, and layoffs.
03/29: 1,200 IBEW Local 1049 workers at the National Grid reach a second tentative agreement and avert a strike, after initially voting down an earlier agreement on Feb. 15.
03/30: RWDSU Local 1102 workers at Saks Fifth Avenue unanimously ratified a new contract.
04/01: ZeniMax Workers United-CWA have been negotiating for their first contract with Microsoft for two years and have authorized a strike by 94%.
04/01: 32BJ SEIU workers rallied outside 130 William Street to demand a fair contract from the condominium.
City Hall
The MTA and the Transport Workers Union announced 300 additional unionized employees will carry out the state-of-good-repair jobs laid out in the MTA’s $68-billion capital plan for 2025-2029.
The Board of Collective Bargaining ruled that the city’s Department of Transportation broke city labor law when it outsourced Staten Island Ferry service to a private contractor on New Year’s Eve 2022.
A federal appeals court has upheld a settlement on how the NYPD should police protests, rejecting the Police Benevolent Association’s challenge that reforms would jeopardize officer safety.
Miscellaneous
The Trump administration issued an executive order stripping union rights from over a million federal workers.
The Central Labor Council hosted the 114th Anniversary Commemoration of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory.
An AFSCME judicial panel ruled that the former president and two deputies of a city lifeguard union Local 508 violated the union constitution after members brought charges against them.
Months after a $4.3-million settlement for hundreds of FDNY fire protection inspectors over improperly paid overtime, Local 2507 is seeking another overtime suit.
Job Listings
Worksite Organizer - CIR/SEIU (Salary: $59,579 - $109,549)
Contract Fight Director - Hotel Trades Council (Salary: $120,000 – $150,000)
Business Representative Eastern Region - IATSE Local 600 (Salary: $67,531 - $106,923)
Operations Associate & Receptionist - United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE (Salary: $70,000-$80,000)
A complete list of local union jobs can be found at unionjobs.com, alongside here is the complete list of New York City’s civil service exams. Additionally if you’re interested in taking a job in a strategic industry and want to be connected through the Labor Working Group, check out this form here.