The Local: Jan. 09, 2025 news roundup

Welcome back to the first post of the year for The Local, a publication of NYC-DSA Labor Working Group reporting every two weeks. As always, send any tips, corrections, and other feedback to thenyclocal@substack.com. In this issue, the International Longshoremen’s Association and port operators’ negotiations conclude after the ILA put their strike on hiatus in October, a reform slate takes the presidency at DC 37’s Local 1549, and a sketchy “union” affiliated with IUJAT is rapidly and quietly signing CBAs on behalf of home health workers — sometimes without the workers knowing that they are technically unionized.

Organizing (asterisks indicate employer-filed petitions for union election)

• Workers at the International Rescue Committee’s resettlement office in NYC have won voluntary recognition for their union, represented by OPEIU Local 153.

• Workers at the Starbucks location at 200 Liberty Street vote 12-0 to join Starbucks Workers United.

• Workers at The Athletic (the sports publication that was, in a controversial move, bought by The New York Times to replace its unionized sports page) are organizing to join the rest of the bargaining unit at the NYT, which is represented by NewsGuild New York.

• Building service workers at Eighteen Associates in Brooklyn are organizing with UFCW Local 342.

• Building service workers at the 400 Park Avenue South condo are organizing with SEIU 32BJ.

• Workers at Roasting Plant Coffee are organizing with UFCW Local 1500.

• Security and fire guards at International Proactive Security are organizing with the Law Enforcement Officers Security & Police Benevolent Association (LEOS-PBA).

• Workers at Amit Inc are organizing with DC 37.*

• The private police force for the Parkchester apartment complex in the Bronx are organizing as the Parkchester Patrolman Benevolent Association.*

• Drivers and warehouse workers at Foundation Building Materials in the Bronx are organizing with Teamsters Local 11.*

• Building service workers at Progressive Maintenance are organizing with Local 2, Bldg Service, Employee Factory Workers USA (IUJAT).*

Bargaining & Action

• 12/19: The NewsGuild NY NYT Tech Guild ratified their contract.

• 12/19: Unionized staff at The Atlantic with NewsGuild NY reached a tentative agreement.

• 01/06: Labor Notes publishes estimated numbers of the Amazon holiday strike.

• 01/07: The Atlantic Theater Crew with IATSE rallied and marched to Atlantic Theater as they remain without a contract.

• 01/07: 44 ConEdison contracted cleaners with 32BJ SEIU are on an Unfair Labor Practice strike.

• 01/07: Doctors Council SEIU members at four public hospitals postpone a strike after resuming negotiations, with an added mediator. [Gothamist] Doctors Council also recently reached a tentative agreement for other city physicians. [The Chief Leader]

• 01/08: The REI Union SoHo have remained on ULP strike since Dec. 4.

• 01/08: The International Longshoremen’s Association announces there will be no further strike as they have reached a tentative agreement with USMX.

Albany

• Several new state labor laws went into effect in the new year, from a 50-cent minimum wage increase (to $16.50 in the city and the suburbs), a new right to paid prenatal leave, capped insulin costs, and the extension of workers’ compensation to some forms of work-related post-traumatic stress. [NBC New York]

• Also, a new law offering more protections to workers in the fashion industry goes into effect. [The Chief Leader]

• And looking forward, City and State writes up the major state legislative issues looming in 2025. [City and State]

City Hall

• The biggest lawbreaker in New York state when it comes to administering workers’ comp benefits is New York City itself; the state workers’ comp board has cited the city’s law department over 10,000 times each year — an average of 3 times for every four new workers’ comp cases — for various legal infractions like late filing and failing to properly pay city workers. [The Chief Leader]

Miscellaneous

• Pres. Biden signs the Social Security Fairness Act into law, which increases Social Security benefits for retired public service workers who are also collecting a pension. [CNBC]

• 1199SEIU is holding elections January 29 - February 26 for its top officers, executive council members, organizers, and delegates.

• A report by the city’s Economic Development Corporation says that New York’s economy will continue to improve, but that AI might create jobs while displacing others. [Gothamist]

• The Comptroller’s office also releases its monthly report on the state of the NYC economy. Jobs held steady in 2024 before dipping slightly in the fall, with sizeable decreases in finance, construction, and retail jobs.

• The City drops an investigative report finding that the Home Healthcare Workers of America (IUJAT) has quietly grown to represent 43,000 workers via voluntary recognition rather than elections. However, many members – after accounting for dues – are making less than minimum wage. [The City]

• A reform slate wins the runoff election for president of AFSCME DC 37 Local 1549, while several other races for officer positions are going to a rerun. [The Chief Leader]

Job Listings

• Research Analyst - Carpenter Contractor Alliance Of Metropolitan New York (Salary: $65,000 - $75,000)

• Contracts Coordinator - Directors Guild (Salary: $73,000 - $77,000)

• Local Representatives - The NewsGuild of New York (Salary: $107,000 - $136,000)

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.