Second Amazon Warehouse Begins Union Vote + 32BJ Reaches Contract Agreement
NO. 267 | Monday, April 25
Local News:
The second Staten Island warehouse being organized by the Amazon Labor Union is set to vote for whether or not to join the union on Monday, with vote counting to begin May 2. Workers rallied in support of the union yesterday, with support from Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Local 32BJ, which represents over 3,000 doormen and other apartment building workers across the city, reached a new contract agreement with the Realty Advisory Board, averting what would have been their first strike in over 30 years.
City Councilmember Nantasha Williams and others are delaying a bill that would require businesses to disclose pay ranges in ads for open positions. They put forward an alternate bill that would exempt companies between 5 and 14 employees. Advocates argue the bill is good as is, and that further alterations would mean fewer opportunities for those in low paying industries to fight for better pay.
On Good Friday dozens of faith leaders condemned Mayor Adams' raids of homeless encampments, calling them "immoral and inhumane." They argue that the answer isn't to just move them out of sight, but to provide permanent housing.
The City is resuming twice-a-week alternate side parking, which has been suspended since the beginning of the pandemic.
Thirteen Extinction Rebellion climate activists were arrested after blocking delivery trucks from accessing a New York Times distribution center in Queens, in protest of their acceptance of advertising dollars from fossil fuel companies.
NYCHA tenants are still waiting on $2.2 billion of repairs promised to them in a federal lawsuit settlement that was agreed to in June 2018.
The City Council questioned NYPD officials over ongoing surveillance of Muslim communities.
Socialist State Senators Jabari Brisport and Julia Salazar went on Gotham Gazette's Max Politics podcast to discuss their disappointment with the State budget.
The Appellate Division, a mid-level State court, issued a split decision on the partisan gerrymandering case, ruling that the congressional maps violated the state constitution but reinstating the state legislature maps. The decision will be appealed to the Court of Appeals.
Elections:
The City has a breakdown of the history of elected District Leaders and what powers they hold, primarily over choosing poll workers, judgeships, and party leadership.
The resignation of Lt. Governor Brian Benjamin is complicating Governor Hochul’s ability to appear on the ballot twice in the general election by using the newly-formed Fair Deal Party’s line.
Mayor Adams sought to appoint Assembly Member Jeffrion Aubry (District 35, Corona) to a city job in order to clear a path to victory in an open primary for Hiram Monserrate, a former elected official who was convicted of both domestic assault and federal corruption.