NEWS
New York Coalition Against Wage Theft Issues Report
The New York Coalition Against Wage Theft, of which Local 79 is a founding member, held a press conference and rally on November 17, 2015 to publicize the publication of the first major report on New York wage theft since 2009. Local 79 members were joined by other Coalition members--Local 78, Local 108, Local 1010, LECET, Make the Road New York, RWDSU, UFCW 1500, CPD, Labor -Religion Coalition, and other community and faith-based groups--to rally in [...]
Right to Work is Wrong!
Message from Business Manager Mike Prohaska to Local 79 Members: I want to alert all members to an important case that is going to be heard before the Supreme Court early next year that, depending on the result, could be devastating to public employees, many of whom are LiUNA members. The case, Friedrichs v. the California Teachers Association, will determine whether all public employment in this country becomes right-to-work. What [...]
Local 79 Members: Ensure Your Future Financial Security!
Beginning in November, Local 79 will start to offer members a series of workshops on issues related to retirement and education saving for your children. The workshops will be provided free of charge by advisors from Wells Fargo and are intended for all members, not only those who are nearing retirement. The workshops will enable members to make informed decisions about their financial future. All workshops are approximately one-hour long [...]
Local 79 Business Manager Mike Prohaska: Bronx Born and Bred
Local 79 has at long last received a copy of Local 79’s Business Manager Mike Prohaska’s fiery speech that he gave at the annual Bronx Democratic Committee gala where he was honored this past July. The event, which was attended by, among others, Governor Andrew Cuomo, Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, and Public Advocate Leticia James, is among the most important political events of [...]
Local 79 Expands Eligibility for Legal Services
Business Manager Mike Prohaska, Secretary-Treasurer George Zecca, and President Kenneth Brancaccio—the Trustees of Local 79's Legal Services Plan—recently announced a change, effective immediately, that expands eligibility for Local 79's Legal Services Plan. Members will now be eligible for a full year of legal services—January 1-December 31—if they have worked a minimum of 700 hours during the eligibility period (defined as November 1 through October 31 of the preceding year.) Another [...]
African American Day Parade Draws a Crowd of Many Thousands
Hundreds of Local 79 members joined a crowd of many thousands for the annual African American Day Parade in Harlem on Sunday, September 20. Members gathered at 113th Street where they received distinctive t-shirts and awaited their turn to march alongside the Local 79 float as it made its way down Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard. Unions and community organizations throughout New York City were represented at the festive parade, [...]
Hundreds Walk for St. Mary’s Hospital for Children
Over 500 Local 79 members went to Coney Island on the morning of September 19 to participate in a Walk for St. Mary's Kids, which raised over $10,000 for St. Mary's Hospital. Members gathered near the Parachute Jump and then proceeded to proudly march down the boardwalk to Asser Levy Park. At Asser Levy, members were greeted by a mobile Nathan's hot dog truck and the NY State Laborers' Health and Safety [...]
Local 79 Sets Up Wage Theft Line at Museum of the City of New York
On September 17, Local 79 members lined up behind yellow hazard tape emblazoned with “Wage Theft” and passed out leaflets about wage theft to participants attending a symposium about affordable housing . The symposium was linked to the opening of a new exhibition at the museum entitled “Affordable New York: A Housing Legacy.” Local 79 members had good cause to be there: a number of the sponsors of the exhibition—Lettire [...]
Local 79 Marches in Labor Day Parade
On September12, over 500 Local 79 members joined thousands of members of other labor unions throughout New York City as they marched down Fifth Avenue in a spirited celebration of Labor Day. Throngs of onlookers lined the streets as cries of "Whose City? Our City" echoed off the buildings while a sea of Local 79 workers in LiUNA orange t-shirts proceeded up the corridor. It was by far the largest Local 79 turnout ever for [...]
Local 79 Members Show Solidarity as Fast Food Workers Win the Fight for $15
Dozens of Local 79 members and members of other LiUNA locals joined members of other New York City unions on September 10 to hear Governor Cuomo announce that the state Labor Department has approved the recommendations of a wage board to increase the minimum wage for fast-food workers to $15 an hour. About 180,000 workers will be impacted by this increase, which will be phased in. Governor Cuomo also announced [...]
WE
BUILD
NEW YORK
LOCAL 79
We’re Fighting for the Future of New York City Construction
