Pride at Work Statement on Assini

Pride at Work is proud to have a decades-long partnership with Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. She was for LGBTQ equality long before it was popular. She has stood with us against unfair trade deals that ship good-paying New York jobs overseas. She is a steadfast supporter of the right to organize and bargain collectively. She is fighting to pass landmark civil rights legislation that would guarantee LGBTQ people protection from discrimination in employment, housing and much more. In good times and bad, Congresswoman Slaughter has had our back.

Mark Assini compared marriage equality to child molestation and bestiality. He endorsed the notion that transgender people are mentally disturbed. We have a name for people like Mr. Assini: bigot. Hate has no place in the public square. We condemn Mr. Assini’s assertions and positions in the strongest possible terms.

Pride At Work Stands with Native Americans to Stop the Dakota Access Pipeline

For Immediate Release: September 19, 2016

Contact: Jerame Davis at jdavis@prideatwork.org

AFL-CIO Constituency Groups Stand with Native Americans to Stop the Dakota Access Pipeline

Washington, DC - Together, the Labor Coalition for Community Action, which includes the
A. Phillip Randolph Institute, the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, the Coalition of
Black Trade Unionists, the Coalition of Labor Union Women, the Labor Council for
Latin American Advancement, and Pride at Work, rises in solidarity with Native Americans
and our allies in protesting against the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) and defending
Native lands from exploitation by corporations and the U.S. government. We advocate
for a progressive labor movement rooted in dignity and respect of all peoples,
including Native Americans and their families.

Though cited to bring 4,500 jobs, the Dakota Access Pipeline seriously threatens tribal
sovereignty, sacred burial grounds, and the water supply of the Standing Rock Sioux
and potentially 17 million others. As organizations dedicated to elevating the struggles
of our respective constituencies, we stand together to support our Native American
kinfolk – one of the most marginalized and disenfranchised groups in our nation’s
history – in their fight to protect their communities from further displacement
and exploitation.

We recognize this systematic oppression that so intimately resonates with many
communities of color and marginalized populations, whether it be fighting for lead-free
water in Flint to uncontaminated water in North Dakota.

We remain committed to fighting the corporate interests that back this project and
name this pipeline “a pipeline of corporate greed.” We challenge the labor movement to
strategize on how to better engage and include Native people and other marginalized
populations into the labor movement as a whole.

Lastly, we applaud the many labor unions working to create a new economy with
good green jobs and more sustainable employment opportunities for all. We also
encourage key stakeholders — labor unions including the building trades, the Standing
Rock Sioux tribe and others who would be impacted — to come together to discuss a
collective resolution.

As we just recently recognized Native American Women’s Equal Pay Day and as
we approach November – a time that marks not only a significant change in our country’s
 leadership but also the celebration of Native American Heritage Month – we will continue
to campaign and organize for a broader agenda that secures the rights for all working
people in all communities.

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Pride At Work organizes mutual support between the organized Labor Movement and the
LGBTQ Community for social and economic justice. We seek full equality for LGBTQ
Workers in our workplaces and unions and we organize in the spirit of the union
movement’s historic motto, “An Injury to One is An Injury to All.”
Learn more at www.prideatwork.org

PRIDE Movie at the Gay Alliance

"Let's Make Magic" Pride Parade in Rochester New York

Our chapter of Pride at Work once again marched in the Rochester Pride Parade.  The theme of this year's parade was 'Let's Make Magic' - thanks again to Teamster Local 118 for driving their wonderful truck in the parade.  Over 8,000 people watched the parade with over 100 entries throughout New York.  It was a great day and everyone had a fabulous time!

Bess Watts, President of Pride at Work Rochester Finger Lakes Chapter wearing the new Pride at Work shirt!

Contract Magic - Good Benefits, Job Security, Pensions and  Job Security.

Dawn Lepard

Teamsters Local 118 

Pride at Work Statement on the Deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile

For Immediate Release

July 7, 2016

Contact: Jerame Davis

jdavis@prideatwork.org

Pride at Work Statement on the Deaths of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile

Washington, DC - Following the recent police-involved shootings of two black men - Alton Sterling and Philando Castile - Pride at Work Executive Director, Jerame Davis, issued the following statement:

"Alton Sterling was a father. Philando Castile was a union brother. Their lives mattered, but those lives were taken from them in the blink of an eye by the very people designated to protect and serve us all. The repeated and continuous violations of black bodies is appalling.

"Silence is no longer an option. Shrugging our shoulders and waiting for the next tragedy is not the answer. No fewer than six bills have been introduced in this Congress to attempt to address the outrageous number of police-involved deaths and to curb racial profiling in law enforcement. None of those bills have gotten out of committee.

"This is a national crisis and our federal government needs to act. We will never solve this problem piecemeal - we must tackle it head on and nationwide. There is no other way.

"We call upon Congress to swiftly consider the multitude of options before them to curb these tragedies. The time to act has long past. Black Lives Matter."

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Photos from the Rochester Black Lives Matter rally on July 8th.  Photos by Bess Watts

We Are Orlando

MEMORANDUM #Weareorlando

It is with a heavy heart that the news of the attack on American soil reaches us in the Mid-Region of Upstate New York. The sullen and somber tone of all of our interactions are noted today. As our communities condemn any and all acts of terror and bigotry in our cities and towns, we stand in solidarity today and every day forward with the people of the LGBTQ community. Pride at Work Organization leaders and members sit on our boards, they are among our delegates, workers and families. We feel this injury greatly. In the workplace, we should maintain our support for an inclusive environment for all.

In Solidarity,

Dan Maloney, President RGVALF AFL-CIO