This Labor Day, local members of labor unions participated in a parade and rally wrapping-up the last day at the State Fair. They’re encouraging all union members to vote in the upcoming election. Speakers mentioned poor working conditions and area employers not wanting to negotiate for better wages and benefits.
“Every time we get a victory, the other side, management tries to take away our gain and tries to take away what we want.”
Greater Syracuse Labor Council President Mark Spadafore says the next several months will be very telling as the union celebrates its 125th Anniversary.
“If you talk about things like the right to join a union. You talk about things like the right to join a union, prevailing rate laws or project labor agreements or the rights of public employee unions. Across the board people are like, ‘Yeah, I support that.' The trick is to get it to the candidates that support those issues.”
The union representing employees at a local company TCGplayer in Syracuse say they’re still having problems with e
bay nearly three years later. Organizing Member Richard Vallejo says despite winning their contract in 2023, negotiations with the company to finalize a contract labor agreement have never materialized.
“They’ve take away 56 hours of sick pay and our health insurance has become overly convoluted. Co-workers have had their accommodations stripped away suddenly."
Vallejo says E-bay unilaterally changed policies and benefits and did not offer benefits similar to other employees. Speakers at the rallies encouraged everyone to vote. WAER reached out to ebay and a company spokesperson issued this statement:
"Negotiations for a first contract take time. We continue to have productive, collaborative bargaining sessions with the CWA, and we remain optimistic that we will reach an agreement with the CWA that positions our team and company for continued growth and success."
