Labor Vision

Labor Vision host Autumn Guillotte sits down with Climate Jobs RI's Erica Hammond, Lead Organizer, Mike Roles, Policy Director, and Aislinn Hanley, Energy Fellow to talk about victories in 2022 and upcoming 2023 priorities. In 2022, Climate Jobs RI's successes included strengthening labor standards in renewable energy projects, building pathways for trades apprenticeship for those affected most in the climate transition, the Renewable Energy Standard Bill requiring 100% of electricity to be sourced by renewable energy by 2033, and the Offshore Wind Procurement bill paving the way for 600-1000 megawatts of offshore wind in Rhode Island. In 2023, Climate Jobs RI is revisiting the Green and Health Schools campaign to decarbonize all public K-12 school buildings by 2035 using strong labor and equity standards, and replacing lead pipes throughout the state via good union jobs. Stay tuned for future Labor Vision segments with Climate Jobs RI diving into the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which directs nearly $400 billion in federal funding to clean energy, the Environmental Justice Act, and the Green and Health Schools campaign. Follow @ClimateJobsRI on: Instagram: https://buff.ly/42ewpXW Twitter: https://buff.ly/3FqoM79 FaceBook: https://buff.ly/42sqsab Website: www.climatejobsri.org Listen to podcast panel recording on your commute: https://buff.ly/40dt0qK ~~~~~~ Never miss a segment! Like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@LaborVisionRI), and subscribe to our YouTube channel (LaborVisionTV1).

This special podcast episode covers the second half of the Rhode Island Labor History Society Panel Discussion “Organizing and Reinventing Unions in the 1970s and 1980s: Stories and Lessons Learned by Those Who Were There” and features panelists Tracy Fitzpatrick, Jim McGetrick, and Reverend Duane Clinker. Tracy Fitzpatrick organized jewelry employees. She served as Assistant Secretary of Labor in Massachusetts under Governor Dukakis and has been a consultant to many unions. She is currently a Life Coach. Jim McGetrick was an organizer for the United Steelworkers of America at Electric Boat, Quonset Point. He taught in Providence as a member of the American Federation of Teachers. He has been a lifelong Irish-American activist. Reverend Duane Clinker served as a Steelworkers' shop steward at BIF. He headed the Rhode Island Committee on Occupational Safety and Health and was an active participant in the Community Labor Organizing Coalition (CLOC). Presently, he is the Reverend Doctor at the Mathewson Street United Methodist Church. Visit this link to watch the show: https://buff.ly/3mWUt1z   Never miss a segment. Like us on Facebook (@LaborVisionRI), follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube page (LaborVisionTV1).

This special podcast episode covers the Rhode Island Labor History Society Panel Discussion “Organizing and Reinventing Unions in the 1970s and 1980s: Stories and Lessons Learned by Those Who Were There” and features the first two panelists of the event, George Nee and Scott Molloy, Ph.D.  George Nee, chairman of the Institute for Labor Studies and Research and President of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, discusses the founding of Local 76, RI Workers Association.  Scott Molloy, Ph.D. discusses his experience as a RIPTA bus driver and business agent for the Amalgamated Transit Union, Division 618, and starting the Rhode Island Labor History Society. Currently he is Professor Emeritus at the URI Labor Research Center and is finishing his memoirs. Future segments will feature panelists Tracy Fitzpatrick, Jim McGetrick, and Reverend Duane Clinker. Click here to watch the show: https://youtu.be/k5pk1OQyiqU  To learn more and join the RI Labor History Society, visit: https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/ba46b4c6-4094-473d-8bc2-3387180ecb5d/downloads/1c7cdu113_209241.pdf?ver=1662128767044  Never miss a segment. Like us on Facebook (@LaborVisionRI), follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube page (LaborVisionTV1).

Show host Autumn sits down with Matthew Gunnip, President, Service Employees International Union SEIU Local 580 and Rafael Martinez, President, AFSCME Local 2882 to talk about the staffing issues at DHS.  Due to the understaffing and the pandemic, massive backlogs for vital assistance are keeping Rhode Islanders from accessing the critical services that DHS provides. Food assistance, child care, medical care and income supports are but a few of the necessary programs that are being affected by this lack of urgency to fill these support positions. The state agency has roughly 150 unfilled positions, and in some cases it has taken over 600 days for them to post vacant positions to be filled. Meanwhile workers are feeling unsupported and overwhelmed as they attempt to help Rhode Islanders access state benefits.  What can we do to help? SIGN THIS PETITION: https://buff.ly/3PVFO0o 

Did you know that as a member of a labor union affiliated with the Rhode Island AFL-CIO you and your family members can get a FREE college degree? This week on Labor Vision, Learn about the No Cost College program with Michael Perik, CEO, Student Resource Center. Hosted by Bob Delaney and Erica Hammond, Institute for Labor Studies and Research. For more information: Website: https://freecollege.riafl-cio.org ​ or call: Toll Free: 888-590-9009

Opioid Crisis In The Building & Construction Trades (part lll). Jill Traecy, Independent Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Health Initiatives Manager at Building Futures, and Tim Potter an Electrician with IBEW Local 99 and Certified Peer Recovery Specialist discuss the Peer Recovery Program and why opioid abuse is impacting the construction industry at such alarming rates. We also take a closer look at the Opioid Crisis in RI and the Our Response Our Recovery training developed by Building Futures. This is in partnership with the RI Building and Construction Trades and Associated General Contractors of America, RI Chapter, with support from the RI Dept. of Labor and Training. In this final segment of the series (part lll) the group discusses Peer Support Models and the importance of Peer Recovery Programs throughout the industry. Hosted by Erica Hammond, Institute for Labor Studies and Research

Erica Hammond sits down with Jill Traecy, a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker & Health Initiatives Manager at Building Futures, to discuss a new training she’s been working on with partners like the RI Building and Construction Trades Council, the Associated General Contractors of America, RI Chapter, and support from the RI Dept. of Labor and Training. RI Opioid Crisis: Our Response Our Recovery training is to be offered in all trades union halls as well as on as many construction/job sites in the state as possible. In this segment Traecy outlines each of the training’s core components, additional resources, as well as how to schedule a training. 

Nationally, construction workers account for 20-25% of overdose fatalities and in Rhode Island, 1 in 5 individuals who have died of an overdose worked in the construction industry. Over the past few years, the Rhode Island Building and Construction Trades Council, along with several partners, are working to address this issue and educate leaders on ways to combat the problem plaguing the industry.

RI AFL-CIO 2021 Legislative Agenda & Update With George Nee & Patrick Crowley. On the latest episode of Labor Vision, RI AFL-CIO's President George Nee and Secretary-Treasurer Patrick Crowley discuss a handful of the legislation on RI Labor's agenda for next year's legislative session. President Nee discusses the work that will continue to increase the minimum wage with a path to $15/hour over a span of three years. He also highlights the ongoing campaigns to increase the wages and working standards of both Direct Service Providers and individuals working in the nursing home industry. Secretary-Treasurer Crowley highlights labor's concerns with the current continuing contract legislation and the benefits of extending this legislation to all public-sector workers. The group also discusses the Revenue for Rhode Island campaign which will add one new tax bracket for top 1% of earners on adjusted gross income above $475,000. The pair also discuss an exciting new project in Rhode Island involving green infrastructure and green manufacturing. Don't miss this segment and stay up to date on all of Labor Vision's latest episode's by visiting our website: www.laborvisionri.org RI AFL-CIO https://rhodeislandaflcio.org

NEARI Holiday Children's Fund 2020 Erica is joined by National Education Association of Rhode Island (NEARI) President, Lawrence Purtill, and Children's Fund Coordinator, Valerie Staples. They talk about NEARI's Children's Fund and how it came to fruition over thirty years ago. The pair also highlight some of the Fund's incredible work in the community, including the annual Gingerbread Express. The group discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic has, for the first time in 30 years, stopped the Gingerbread Express in its tracks and now the Children's Fund is finding alternative was to help children in need this holiday season. And as Val says, the best way to make a difference this year, is to go to www.neari.org/gingerbread and pick the most convenient way to donate.

In this segment Erica Hammond (ILSR) sits down with Teamsters Local 251’s Principal Officer, Matthew Taibi and Organizer, Michael Simone. The group discusses the two organizing drives turned victories with Johnson Brothers of RI and Stericycle. Taibi and Simone also highlight their contract ratification in East Providence/Barrington with Ocean State Transit and how it led to their most recent organizing victories with Scituate First Student (drivers) and Durham School Services Smithfield (drivers, monitors, and aids)

Now showing on Labor Vision, the frontline workers of SEIU Local 1199NE at Bannister House in Providence went on strike from Oct. 2-4 for safe staffing legislation. Watch and listen how labor leaders and politicians alike question how residents are shortchanged by receiving only two hours a day of care when industry standards say they should receive 4.1 hours a day. Never miss a segment. Like us on Facebook (@LaborVisionRI), follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube page (LaborVisionTV1).  Cox Channel 14 & FIOS Channel 33Tuesday @ 7pmThursday @ 8pmSaturday @ 5pm                                 More Info on Labor Vision:                                     Website: http://www.LaborVisionRI.org                           FaceBook: @LaborVisionRI                                                     Twitter: @LaborVisionRI                                                         Instagram: LaborVisionRIYouTube: LaborVisionTV1       

Labor Vision goes on location to learn about the pre-apprenticeship program at Building Futures as Director Andrew Cortés gives a tour of the Building Futures training facility and discusses how they give back to the community. Here, in partnership with One Neighborhood, Building Futures helps to improve the neighborhood in Riverside Park by constructing five net-zero emissions homes for low income residents. We also meet recent graduate, Lius Terrero, who gives insight into the skills he learned and how, now, as a union carpenter his family's situation has dramatically changed for the better.Never miss a segment. Like us on Facebook (@LaborVisionRI), follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube page (LaborVisionTV1). Cox Channel 14 & FIOS Channel 33Tuesday @ 7pmThursday @ 8pmSaturday @ 5pm                                 More Info on Labor Vision:                                     Website: http://www.LaborVisionRI.org                           FaceBook: @LaborVisionRI                                                     Twitter: @LaborVisionRI                                                         Instagram: LaborVisionRIYouTube: LaborVisionTV1 

President Nee and Secretary-Treasurer Crowley join Erica Hammond to talk about the alternate nature of doing things in these times, from working at the legislature, to organizing, and holding rallies and strikes, all virtually. As well as working to achieve electoral goals, including the bond issues to change the state name; and on the local level to approve school improvements in several communities.Never miss a segment. Like us on Facebook (@LaborVisionRI), follow us on Instagram and Twitter, and subscribe to our YouTube page (LaborVisionTV1). Cox Channel 14 & FIOS Channel 33Tuesday @ 7pmThursday @ 8pmSaturday @ 5pm                                 More Info on Labor Vision:                                     Website: http://www.LaborVisionRI.org                           FaceBook: @LaborVisionRI                                                     Twitter: @LaborVisionRI                                                         Instagram: LaborVisionRIYouTube: LaborVisionTV1 

Hosts Bob Delaney, Exec Director, & Erica Hammond, Labor Liaison , speak with Fatima Martin, and Sabine Adrian about the challenges facing the Institute for Labor Studies and changes made to our various programs as we transition to on-line learning during the COVID-19 crisis.

Labor Vision's Erica Hammond interviews NEARI President Larry Purtill about the how the educators of Rhode Island are rising to the challenge of distance learning during the Covid-19 crisis. http://neari.org/

Labor Vision's Erica Hammond interviews URI AAUP Executive Director Jay Walsh about his union's response to the COVID-19 crisis. http://www.uriaaup.org/

Rhode Island AFL-CIO - Labors Response to the COVID-19 Crises in RI with Patrick Crowley, Secretary-Treasurer, RI AFL_CIO. Hosted by Erica Hammond, Institute for Labor Studies and Research.2020 US Census with RI State Senator, Sandra Cano. Hosted by Thom Cahir, RI AFL-CIO

In the first half of the show, Rep, David Bennett (D) Warwick, and SEIU Healthcare 1199NE Elected Organizer, Emmanuel Falck sit down to talk about a series of issues with Erica Hammond, including the recent vote to increase the minimum wage in Rhode Island; the fact RI is the only state in New England without a minimum safe staffing requirement law, and what healthcare workers are planning to do to change that; and a shortened exchange on the need to increase pay for Direct Service Professionals that care for developmentally disabled members of society. In the second half of the show, a follow-up to a recent segment, we bring back Nick Carnevale, VP of the Scituate custodians, and Joshua Homerston, President, Local 855 of NEARI, to describe the VICTORY! and outpouring of community support demonstrated after educating the public through a grassroots campaign as to the waste of privatization of services.

Women @ Work 3 Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) Help A Sister Out, Period campaign with RI Senator Valerie Lawson & Desiree Leclair, SEIU Training Fund and newly elected President of Rhode Island CLUW. In the first half of the show, Erica Hammond sits down with Sen. Val Lawson and newly-elected CLUW President Desiree Leclair to talk about a common issue, last year's "Help a Sister Out, Period!" campaign, and the need for legislative relief for women and girls who many times go without and shouldn't. Legislative Issues With RI Senator Dawn Euer, district 13 & Patrick Crowley, Secretary -Treasurer, RI AFL-CIO. In the second half of the show, Sen. Dawn Euer and newly-elected Secretary-Treasurer of the RI AFL-CIO Patrick Crowley sit down with Erica to talk about the school bond referendum that will be on the ballot in the senator's district in Newport this fall, the minimum wage bill for domestic workers, as well as forbidding employers from requiring NDAs, and looking to require safe staffing for nursing homes.

In what has proved to be a very turbulent period for UFCW Local 328, Secretary-Treasurer Domenic Pontarelli and Lead Organizer Sam Marvin sit down with Erica Hammond in the first half of the program to discuss the ongoing troubles with Durham School Services and their unwillingness to recognize, negotiate or pay a fair wage to bus drivers, monitors or aides in the Cumberland school district.And in the second half of the show, Erica speaks with member Melissa Gaethofs, who works in the North Kingstown Stop & Shop store, and her business manager, Joe Renzi, over the latest outrage, the company throwing a birthday party for their robot, Marty; and how they treat him better than their own workforce.

Colleen Callahan, Ed.D, and Frank Flynn, President, RI Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals. Before the recent viral outbreak forced school closings, the Providence schools were taken over by the state of Rhode Island; and in response, Providence Teachers Union President Maribeth Calabro, along with RIFTHP President Frank Flynn and Director of Issues Colleen Callahan sat down with Bob Delaney to talk about the recent report from Johns Hopkins, the community forum they held in Providence, and how other communities have been instrumental in successfully advocating for and changing models for things like multiple language learners and community schools. In the second half of the program, later that same week, Bob caught up to AFT VP Jesse Sharkey, President of the Chicago Teachers Union, to talk about how teachers there engaged the community to help end a strike by getting parents to support common sense ideas like smaller class sizes and mandatory staffing. 'Teacher working conditions are student learning conditions'

In the first half of the show, Jenn Woods, Executive Director of the Center for Justice, sits down with Erica Hammond to discuss the work the center does on behalf of workers' rights, especially when it comes to the all-too-common practice of wage theft on the part of employers; as well as their willingness to many times take on causes for the overlooked or dispossessed.In the second half of the show, Erica sits down with Bob Delaney, Executive Director at the Institute for Labor Studies and Research to talk about the upcoming Teacher Assistant program and the institute's own Leadership for a Future Program (LFAF) that is now enrolling. They also outline what's coming down the road in the Institute's 40th year and the formation of an " Introduction to Hospitality," apprenticeship.

 In the first half of the show, Erica Hammond sits down with the presidents of two of the largest public sector unions in the state, respectively, Lawrence Purtill of the National Education Association Rhode Island and Frank Flynn of the RI Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, to talk about their upcoming legislative agenda for the coming year, and their concerns after hearing about a looming deficit and needs for more cuts. In the second half of th​e show, in another of our "Know Your Unions" segments, Jim Cenerini the Legislative Affairs Coordinator/Lobbyist/Staff Representative for AFSCME Council 94 sits down with Erica to talk about the coming budget and how it affects not only his members but all Rhode Islanders, some his unions' legislative issues - like addressing his public safety members' issues, and "reinstatement of licensing of clinical laboratory science practitioners."

In the first half of the program, Stephanie Mandeville from NEARI and Kathy McElroy of SEIU Local 580 sit down with Erica Hammond for the "Women in Leadership," program of our Women at Work series, talking briefly about their unions, who they represent, the role they play, and any specific issues or goals they are working to achieve. Then they will close with tips for women in labor interested in taking on leadership roles.And in the second part of the show, Jay Walsh from the American Association of University Professors at URI, will sit down with Erica to give an overview of his union's members and what they fight for; and he'll be looking forward at the new appointments to the university's Board of Trustees in February and offering his comments.

As the General Assembly gears up for its annual session, President George Nee and Secretary-Treasurer Maureen Martin sit down with Erica Hammond for an extended look back at last year's legislative victories and setbacks, including the Contract Continuation bill, and Firefighter OT bill; and look forward to the coming session, and the fight to bring the minimum wage on par with neighboring states, and ways to make employers pay their full share of healthcare costs, as well as making sure wage theft and overtime violations are dealt with as crimes against employees.

Seasons Greetings from the Rhode Island Labor Movement and the annual NEARI Gingerbread Express celebration. 

 Bob Delaney sits down with Josh Homerston and Nick Carnevale, two of the union custodians fighting a privatization drive in Scituate.In part 2 Chief Judge Robert Ferrieri, and Associate Judge Steven Minicucci of the RI Workers’ Compensation Court to continue their discussion of the important work the court does on behalf of workers in Rhode Island.

At the RI AFL-CIO convention, Jennifer Wood, executive director of the Center for Justice outlined her organization's mission to provide legal services for those most in need.And in the second half of the show, highlights from the annual Big Brother/Big Sister Halloween Hike in Roger Williams Park this year brought to us by the RI Building Trades Council.

In the first half of the show, Rachel Flum, executive director of the Economic Progress Institute, and Andrew Schiff, chief executive officer of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank sit down with Erica Hammond to talk about the growing wealth gap in our communityAlso, Bob Delaney sits down with Chief Judge Robert Ferrieri of the RI Workers’ Compensation Court to talk about the upcoming RI Workers' Compensation Educational Conference 2019.

Part One: Collectively Bargained Training Funds with Desiree Leclair, Director, Training and Upgrading Fund and Dulari Tahbildar, Director, Childcare Training Fund, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) 1199NE.Part Two: Ergonomics with Dr. Lee Okurowski, Medical Director, Occupational and Environmental Health Center of Rhode Island (OEHCRI).