Postcards to Swing States

 

Pride at Work members participated in “Postcards to Swing States”. Voters who receive handwritten postcards are significantly more likely to vote.  We are sending over 300 postcards to Georgia, Kentucky and Florida.  Members are devoted to the election until Nov 3^rd VOTE!

RLC Statement Regarding Daniel Prude

Rochester Labor Council Statement Regarding the Killing of Daniel Prude

At the September 10th meeting of the Rochester Labor Council, Delegates voted to release this statement on the killing of Daniel Prude. In addition to this statement, the Council agreed to a material donation of medical supplies to those volunteers who have been acting as medics at recent protests. The continuous cycle of police brutality and the killing of Black and Brown men and women has got to stop. Too often their lives are forfeited because men and women who have taken an oath to serve and protect decide that the oath does not apply to the lives of Black and Brown sisters and brothers. The Rochester Labor Council is appalled that these actions have continued unchecked. On March 23, 2020 Rochester police officers committed an act of police brutality against an unarmed Black man, Daniel Prude, who was experiencing a mental health crisis, and he died days later. Despite body camera footage that captured the action, it was not made public until September 2, 2020. The officers who committed the crime remained on active duty and the Mayor of Rochester and the chief of police failed to come forward until five months after the incident occurred. This is egregious and unacceptable. After Eric Garner was strangled by police in New York City; Michael Brown was shot by police in Ferguson, Missouri; Ahmaud Arbery was chased and shot by armed white men in Georgia; George Floyd was suffocated by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota; Breonna Taylor was shot while sleeping in her home in Louisville, Kentucky; and Jacob Blake was shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Rochester Chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) took action and called on the labor community to stand up and fight back against police brutality and the violence too frequently perpetrated against our Black and Brown brothers and sisters. The Rochester Labor Council is now calling on all affiliate unions to take a stand against racism and police brutality by supporting and lobbying for the passage of Daniel’s Law; reallocate resources and demilitarize the police; and support the Black Lives Matter movement.   In response to these atrocities and in recognition that we need to be the change we wish to see, the Rochester Labor Council Racial Justice committee has been established. This committee has been empowered to challenge the status quo and initiate actions that will help increase diversity in the Rochester Labor Council’s structure, leadership, internal organization and external programming. This includes establishing community partnerships and coalitions with organizations to fight the racism and injustice that plagues our city. It is imperative to remember that social justice, racial justice and human rights are forever intertwined with the fight for labor rights, and to do anything less than uphold them all is unconscionable and hypocritical. Silence and inaction are unacceptable. To be silent is to be complicit. It is time to make noise, time to get in trouble…good trouble.

Support USPS

Our post office is under attack - several people came out on short notice to support our post office on Saturday at 11:00. The post office is part of the fabric of our community, we cannot afford for it to be disassembled under the Trump administration and DeJoy's actions. DeJoy must resign now. Join us for our next rally on Tuesday, August 25 at 5:00 at the same location. #SaveUSPS 

Black Lives Matter to Labor

On July 11, 2020 Labor unionists, allies, friends and family joined together to stand up and speak out on racial and economic injustice at a Black Lives Matter rally sponsored by the Rochester Chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.

Speakers at the event included chapter president Debbie Lee, a long time CSEA colleague, as well as NYS Assembly candidate for the 137AD Demond Meeks; Tracy Harrison, SEIU 1199; Pastor James Simmons, Director of Community Engagement at Mental Health Association Melanie Funchess and NYS Assembly member Harry Bronson 138AD.

Bess Watts, President of the Rochester FL Pride at Work chapter "I ask all labor organizations to look at their local and unit level to see if everyone has a place at the table.  We need actions to make sure all voices are heard and reflect our membership.  We have a lot of work to do and I’m hopeful for positive change in the future.”  

Black Lives Matter to Labor Rally

A message from CBTU Rochester Chapter President Debbie Lee:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Labor,

On July 11, 2020, at 1:00 PM there will be A Black Lives Matter To Labor Rally. We will gather at Union Place, 30 North Union Street, Rochester, New York. The Labor movement has been in the forefront of the Civil Rights movement as well as supporting a woman’s right to choose, opening educational opportunities for minority children attending isolated and substandard educational institutions. It was the march on Washington for Jobs and Freedom; we shared the struggles of better pay and equal rights.

It was Saul Alinsky whose work through the Chicago based Industrial Area Foundation that helped poor communities organize to demand better housing and jobs. Alinsky, helped to form the Fight Organization here in Rochester. I invite Labor to show our support to the Black Lives Matter Movement. With the murder of George Floyd, and others I would like to see the Labor Community join us in this event.

We ask that you share this with your family, friends and coworkers.  Please wear your union T-shirts and Colors for this gathering.  Also, be respectful and wear a face covering.

In Solidarity
Debbie Lee
CBTU Rochester Chapter President

CBTU Rochester Chapter
http://action.cbtu.org/

Pride at Work Endorses Vice President Joe Biden for President

News

For Immediate Release – June 24, 2020

Pride at Work Makes Historic First Presidential Endorsement; Endorses Vice President Joe Biden for President

WASHINGTON – Last night, the Pride at Work National Executive Board took a historic vote to offer its first-ever endorsement for President of the United States. The board voted enthusiastically to endorse former Vice President Joe Biden for President in 2020. The leadership of Pride at Work issued the following responses:

Pride at Work Co-President, Shellea Allen, said: “I am so proud to be a part of this dedicated and thoughtful team of LGBTQ labor leaders, especially as we make history by offering our first endorsement for President. Donald Trump is an unmitigated disaster for working people, for LGBTQ people, for immigrants, for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, for women, and for the world. These unprecedented times require extraordinary action and today, we’re taking ourselves off the sidelines and going all-in for Joe!”

Pride at Work Co-President, Gabe González, said: “Working people know they have a friend in Joe. And I believe the LGBTQ community does, too. Donald Trump’s repeated failures for working people have led to the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and it will take strong and dedicated leadership to get us back on track. Joe Biden’s leadership is exactly what we need to put people back to work and get our economy moving again. I know Joe Biden will be the most pro-worker and pro-LGBTQ president of my lifetime.”

Pride at Work Executive Director, Jerame Davis, said: “Pride at Work took this historic step to endorse Vice President Biden because we know he’s someone we can hold accountable to his promises. Joe Biden has possibly the most progressive and transformational platform for LGBTQ equality of any presidential candidate in history. His priorities are our priorities and we believe that he will fulfill his promises to lift up marginalized communities and working people. And if he doesn’t, we’ll be there to hold him to account, just like we did when we believed President Obama wasn’t living up to his word.”

Joe Biden’s Plan to Advance LGBTQ+ Equality in America and Around the World is a comprehensive and considered vision for achieving greater equality for LGBTQ people. In his plan, Vice President Biden lays out a vision that not only reverses the damage done by Donald Trump, but pushes the country forward with new regulations and laws that will help level the playing field for the LGBTQ community.

The Vice President’s Plan for Strengthening Worker Organizing, Collective Bargaining, and Unions goes a long way toward righting the wrongs of the past. From checking the abuse of corporate power to making it easier for workers to join and form a union, Joe Biden’s plan will empower working people and help ensure every worker can sustain a family, have access to healthcare, and retire with dignity.

Pride at Work will fight hard every day between now and election day to elect Joe Biden. We encourage everyone in the LGBTQ community – and, indeed all working people – to register to vote and then cast your ballot for Vice President Joe Biden on November 3rd.

Paid for by Pride at Work. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s agent or committee.

##

Pride At Work, a 501c4 non-profit, is the largest national organization that builds power for LGBTQIA+ working people. We organize mutual support between the organized Labor Movement and the LGBTQ Community for social and economic justice. We seek full equality for LGBTQIA+ working people in our workplaces, our unions, and the public square. 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 at Work Celebrates Supreme Court Decision Upholding DACA

For Immediate Release – June 18, 2020

Contact: Jerame Davis – jdavis@prideatwork.org

Pride at Work Celebrates Supreme Court Decision Upholding DACA

WASHINGTON – Today, the United States Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the Trump Administration had acted “arbitrarily and capriciously” when they moved to end Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) and must vacate its decision to terminate the program. Pride at Work Executive Director, Jerame Davis, issued the following statement:

“Hundreds of thousands of immigrant young people, an estimated 11% of whom are LGBTQ, can continue to work hard and contribute to their communities after today’s ruling. The cruel and needless terror Trump has put these Dreamers through is unconscionable, which is exactly why the Supreme Court called it ‘arbitrary and capricious’ in today’s opinion. Many of these young people have known no life other than the one they’ve built here, and would face severe challenges if deported. And for LGBTQ Dreamers, this ruling has an added layer of comfort and security because deportation could lead to persecution in a country they have never called home.

“We must continue to fight against Trump’s campaign of terror toward immigrant families. There can be no LGBTQ rights without immigrant rights, and the labor movement plays a central role in the struggle for both. We must pledge to keep fighting for comprehensive immigration reform, including ensuring a path to citizenship for every single Dreamer. Today is a good day for Dreamers, but the only way we can be certain they, and other immigrant families, will be treated with the dignity and respect they deserve is to vote for candidates who vow to uphold our values and who believe that everyone is welcome in America.”

##

Pride At Work is the largest national organization that builds power for LGBTQIA+ working people. We organize mutual support between the organized Labor Movement and the LGBTQ Community for social and economic justice. We seek full equality for LGBTQIA+ working people in our workplaces, our unions, and the public square. 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.