Listen: Just Say, ‘No’ to Adams And Cuomo; Taking On Formosa Plastics
UAW 9A is urging members to steer click of both Eric Adams and Andrew Cuomo.
By Bob Hennelly
On this episode of the Stuck Nation Labor Radio Hour, we’re talking about UAW 9A telling its members not back Eric Adams or Andrew Cuomo for mayor. Last week, UAW Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla and Jane Fox, a member of UAW 2325 and chair of UAW Region 9A NYC Area Political Council, strongly urged union members and their supporters NOT to rank former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Eric Adams in the upcoming June Primary.
The UAW’s DREAM guidance—Don'tRank Eric or Andrew Mayor—was an update of their December endorsement of City Comptroller Brad Lander, State Senator Jessica Ramos, and Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani for Mayor—along with explicit instructions not to rank incumbent Mayor Adams, who was indicted on multiple corruption charges back in September.
In New York, UAW members work in auto dealerships, bookstores, museums, movie theaters, manufacturing, nonprofits, colleges and universities, courts, and more.
“Our members have felt the squeeze of the Adams administration’s cuts to libraries, early childhood education like 3K, and social services,” the UAW leaders wrote. “We feel it in our pocketbooks too, with rents ever increasing. Our members cannot accept more of the status quo.”
Their voter advisory continues, “Our members take on bad bosses every day. Why would we elect one in Andrew Cuomo who settled with the federal government, acknowledging he ‘subjected at least 13 female employees of New York State to a sexually hostile work environment?’ He is the antithesis of union values that ensure working people can thrive free from discrimination and abuse.”
We also look at a grassroots movement taking aim at Formosa Plastics—one of the world’s worst environmental bad actors.
As the Trump/Musk junta continues to dismantle the federal civil service—aiming hardest at agencies focused on corporate accountability, science and environmental protection—we highlight climate crisis activists who were willing to get arrested in a bid to hold the Formosa Plastics Group accountable for its long history of violating environmental laws and destroying communities.
During a December 5, 2024 rally outside Formosa Plastics’ U.S. headquarters in Livingston, New Jersey Goldman award winning activist, community leader and author Diane Wilson and two other San Antonio Bay Waterkeepers were arrested for trespassing as they approached the public entrance of the company’s office building to deliver a letter requesting a meeting with company executives. Their trial has now been set for March 10, in Livingston, New Jersey Municipal Court.
Wilson, won a landmark case against Formosa for their illegal dumping of plastic waste on Texas’ Gulf Coast. The $50 million settlement was the largest award in a citizen suit against an industrial polluter in the history of the U.S. Clean Water Act. “Repeated violations of the Court Order in that case have already cost Formosa Plastics nearly $27 million more in fines, but they still refuse to stop polluting,” Wilson says.
In addition to the March 10, hearing—there is also a second hearing on a related case coming up on April 1 for the Formosa 4 involving Wilson and Paula Rogovin.
Paula is no stranger to WBAI. For years Paula, a long time Teaneck, New Jersey resident and retired UFT member, has been organizing around social justice and environmental issues. Whether it be anti-militarism or chemical freight train safety—she’s been on the case and on the street fighting for all of us.
Listen to the entire show below: