Crystal Lewis

1 week ago | thechiefleader.com | Crystal Lewis

Posted 4/18/25 Hundreds of workers who deliver beer to bars, restaurants and other food and drink establishments could go on strike this week, their union announced Monday. About 600 delivery workers at Manhattan Beer & Beverage Distributors who distribute beer could walk off the job as soon as Tuesday unless their employer settles a fair contract. The workers’ contract expired on Monday, the Laundry, Distribution, and Food Service Joint Board, Workers United/SEIU said in a press release.

1 week ago | thechiefleader.com | Crystal Lewis

Posted 4/18/25 The city public school system will hire more than 3,700 new teachers to meet a mandate to lower class sizes, Mayor Eric Adams and union leaders representing educators announced last week. The reductions have been phased in since the 2023-2024 school year, and by September 2028, there must be a maximum class size of 20 students for kindergarten through third-grade classes, 23 students for fourth through eighth grade classes, and 25 students for ninth through 12th grades.

1 week ago | thechiefleader.com | Crystal Lewis

PSC members demand retro, ratification bonus payout from CUNY3 months after contract ratificationBY CRYSTAL LEWISPosted 4/18/25 Show them the money. Members of the Professional Staff Congress at CUNY are frustrated that, three months after ratifying their contract, they still haven’t received their ratification bonuses, retroactive pay or raises. The union’s rank and file ratified the pact, which provides a $3,000 ratification bonus and two retroactive 3-percent raises, on Jan. 13.

2 weeks ago | thechiefleader.com | Crystal Lewis

Posted 4/11/25 Although the city spends hundreds of millions on workforce development, just 16 percent of that funding is geared towards adults between the ages of 25 and 54 who don’t receive public assistance, with nearly half of the funding going towards teens and young adults, a recent report found. The study, by the New York City Employment and Training Coalition, analyzed how New York City has allocated its workforce training and development funding from 2009 to 2024.

3 weeks ago | thechiefleader.com | Crystal Lewis

Unions, labor advocate groups and community organizations sent a letter last Friday to Governor Hochul calling on the state to increase funding at the Department of Labor in anticipation of federal cuts that could threaten workforce development and job training programs. A 19-member coalition of unions and advocate groups urged the governor to provide $200 million to the Department of Labor, citing concerns that the Trump administration will make significant cuts to the federal budget.