{"id":7966,"date":"2025-10-28T10:11:21","date_gmt":"2025-10-28T14:11:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/?p=7966"},"modified":"2025-11-05T11:00:04","modified_gmt":"2025-11-05T16:00:04","slug":"labor-leaders-emphasize-unity-and-collective-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/communicator.pef.org\/issue\/volume-43-no-9\/labor-leaders-emphasize-unity-and-collective-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Labor leaders emphasize unity and collective action"},"content":{"rendered":"

October 29, 2025 —<\/em> During his keynote address\u00a0at PEF Convention on Oct. 20, 2025,\u00a0Transit Workers Union (TWU) International President John Samuelson delivered\u00a0a strong reminder that unions must stick to their values and take the fight to management.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe have demonstrated that growth is possible,\u201d he said. \u201cWorkers\u00a0have a favorable opinion of unions when they fight. TWU\u2019s philosophy is sticking to our core values, taking the fight to the\u00a0bosses\u00a0and winning solid contracts. There is great\u00a0synergy\u00a0there. We win solid contracts every time we win a fight, workers on the outside see the victories,\u00a0and they want to join the TWU.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur footprint gets bigger, we grow our political strength, and we are able to win more victories,\u201d he said.\u00a0\u201cThe more we win, the\u00a0more\u00a0(workers)\u00a0want to join. It all starts with having the audacity to take on the employers in contract fights.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In 2026, several large union contracts will expire, including\u00a0PEF\u00a0collective bargaining agreements with New York State. Samuelson said\u00a0unions\u00a0shouldn\u2019t\u00a0trust any\u00a0particular political\u00a0party and\u00a0need\u00a0to\u00a0remain\u00a0a unified\u00a0labor\u00a0movement.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAt the end of the day, I would say there is no governor, no mayor, that can compel us to sign a contract we don\u2019t want to sign,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re\u00a0here because we want to take care of our families.\u00a0Let\u2019s\u00a0be in lockstep and as long as\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0together,\u00a0we\u2019re\u00a0not going to be beaten by Gov. Hochul, Democrats, or Republicans.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Mario
NYS AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento addresses the PEF Convention on Oct. 21, 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Mario Cilento<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On day two,\u00a0delegates were joined by New York State AFL-CIO\u00a0President Mario Cilento, a\u00a0long-time unionist\u00a0who began his\u00a0career with the Communication Workers of America (CWA)\u00a0in 1990.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

He thanked PEF members for continuing to give their time and hard work to the union, but also to the labor movement. He also thanked President Wayne Spence for continuing his work as a Vice President\u00a0of\u00a0the NYS AFL-CIO.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWayne serves on the executive board as a vice president. In that capacity, he has two responsibilities,\u201d Cilento said.\u00a0\u201cFirst is to\u00a0represent\u00a0the interests of this union and every\u00a0single one of your members. From the day that he came onto our executive board, he would speak\u00a0to\u00a0the issues important to PEF.\u00a0To this day, he has the full,\u00a0unmitigated support and respect of every single union leader around that table. And considering we have some of the most powerful\u00a0labor unions sitting around that table, that means something\u2014\u00a0when Wayne speaks, everyone listens.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In his\u00a0VP role in the federation,\u00a0President Spence helps chart the legislative and political priorities\u00a0for 2.5 million\u00a0NYS AFL-CIO members.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have some incredible accomplishments this year, including\u00a0$1 billion\u00a0in funding for SUNY Downstate,\u00a0and your union was able to push legislation twice in four years to Fix Tier 6, and those are great accomplishments,\u201d said Cilento. \u201cBut every year I\u00a0have to\u00a0go and see\u00a0the governor\u00a0to talk\u00a0about the legislative agenda. And while fixing Tier 6 are priorities for PEF and our public-sector unions, I can also tell the governor that those are the priorities of our building trades and private-sector unions as well.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cilento also addressed politics, reminding\u00a0delegates that union members vote for\u00a0both\u00a0Democrats and Republicans,\u00a0but it is up to union leaders to educate members on the best candidates at every level for working class people. He also reminded delegates that there are attacks on the rights of working people to organize\u00a0and engage in collective bargaining\u00a0across the country.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cImagine if you went back into the office on Monday morning and found that your manager or supervisor was going to rip up your CBA? Forget about wages,\u00a0benefits\u00a0and conditions of employment. And\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0going to cut 50% of the workforce right now,\u201d said Cilento. \u201cWhat would your reaction be?\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Cilento said it is up to leadership to be factual with their memberships. Leaders will need to educate members and hope they make the right choice at the voting booth\u00a0in order to\u00a0keep jobs from being lost and unions from being dissolved, regardless of what party is in power.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo matter who you are or where\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0from, we all share the same needs, the same\u00a0concerns\u00a0and the same wants. We share the same values and the same principles and the same ideas,\u201d Cilento said. \u201cWe all want to be able to go to work and support ourselves and support our families, we all want to be a part of the economic engine that runs this country and we all want to be productive members of this society.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Weingarten
AFT President Randi Weingarten addresses the PEF Convention via Zoom, joined by U.S. Rep. Timothy Kennedy (D-26), on Oct. 21, 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Randi Weingarten<\/span><\/b> \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

AFT President Randi Weingarten\u00a0also\u00a0appeared before the delegates via\u00a0Zoom on day two of Convention. Weingarten was in Washington visiting legislators as the government shutdown continued\u00a0and\u00a0was joined briefly by Congressman Timothy\u00a0Kennedy,\u00a0who\u00a0represents\u00a0New York\u2019s 26<\/span>th<\/span>\u00a0District, encompassing the city of Buffalo and Niagara Falls.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to jump on and say thank you so much for your leadership in the workforce,\u201d said\u00a0Representative\u00a0Kennedy. \u201cPEF, you are second to none. We are fighting to protect healthcare and to lower costs for working families, and I cannot thank you\u00a0enough\u00a0for all that you do for the great people of New York and this nation.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Weingarten opened her remarks by recognizing the ongoing fight\u00a0to fix\u00a0Tier 6\u00a0in New York State.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYour\u00a0issues\u00a0are similar to many pension funds across the nation,\u201d\u00a0said Weingarten. \u201cWe need to make sure that the kitchen table issues\u00a0\u2014\u00a0decent healthcare, good wages\u00a0\u2014\u00a0basically, having the things you need to make sure you can do your job, we need to make sure that there is more fairness on these issues.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Weingarten said that these issues should be bipartisan. As rising costs for everything from food to health insurance threaten working families, due in part to the government shutdown and federal cuts earlier this year, Weingarten believes that unions will need to fight at every level to make sure government works for them.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou have to remember that the\u00a0$1 billion\u00a0you got to save SUNY Downstate did not come magically,\u201d said Weingarten. \u201cIt was the strength and determination of PEF.\u00a0All of the members of PEF.\u00a0We have the power and strength to keep going together to deliver those outcomes.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Delegates were asked to keep an open mind about becoming politically involved wherever they can. Weingarten thanked members who showed up to No\u00a0Kings\u00a0rallies across the state\u00a0in June and again on Oct. 18\u00a0and said that when PEF members show up to\u00a0represent\u00a0working people, they give\u00a0working people a voice in government.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cJust as you, as a union, deliver the voice you need at\u00a0work;\u00a0you also need a voice in government,\u201d she said. \u201cWe use that voice to get better wages, healthcare, housing and so much more. Politicians on both sides are running campaigns on affordability. Our voice is so important right now.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"SEIU
SEIU President April Verrett told delegates it’s important “to\u00a0sing with one voice and sing the same song,” on Oct. 20, 2025.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

April Verrett<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SEIU President April Verrett, who counts many PEF members among her two million members,\u00a0built upon the Convention theme \u201cStronger Roots, Bolder\u00a0Future\u201d in her address to the delegates.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are gathered at a time when your work and courage\u00a0has\u00a0never been\u00a0more needed,\u201d said Verrett. \u201cIt is no coincidence that this year\u2019s convention theme is\u00a0\u2018Stronger Roots, Bolder Future,\u2019\u00a0because that is what President Wayne Spence has built. That is what all of you are building together, and that is what our movement is being called to live\u00a0up\u00a0to\u00a0right now.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Verrett\u2019s positive message of solidarity came with a\u00a0dose\u00a0of reality: that unions are under assault, that the news can be exhausting, but in the end, she believes that unions will stand strong.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are in a time of crisis,\u201d she said.\u00a0\u201cEvery day we wake up to another assault on our rights. But in moments like these, we must remember that chaos is the point. They want to wear us down and thin us out, but we do not come from weakness. This movement for building worker power was built on strength. Our roots are deep and held steady through every storm.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Verrett reminded delegates that the labor movement has fought to organize in fields and factories for eight-hour workdays, and more recently, showed up for the people of the nation as well as for their union members at the height of a global pandemic. That work, said Verrett, is continuing.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen systems collapse, it is\u00a0working\u00a0people who show up to build something better,\u201d said Verrett. \u201cI see the fire in the room. Healthcare workers are pushing back against being erased by algorithms, you are standing firm against dangerous work assignments that jeopardize your safety, and\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0organizing for\u00a0equity,\u00a0fairness\u00a0and a voice. Not just at the table, you are redesigning the system itself.\u201d\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Verrett called on delegates to keep their roots and history in mind when considering where to go next.\u00a0The future, she said, may look uncertain, but as long as the labor movement\u00a0remains\u00a0united, she believes unions will win.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe enemies of the labor movement are coordinated and moving as one. They are well-funded and playing for keeps,\u201d Verrett said. \u201cWe cannot afford division. We cannot waste time tearing each other down. We are building a movement choir, so we\u00a0have to\u00a0sing with one voice and sing the same song.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n