Listen: Labor’s Struggle for a Just Society — Then and Now

Rally for EMS pay parity on the steps of NYC City Hall held just prior to the pandemic. Photo by Bob Hennelly.

By Bob Hennelly

On this first Monday of Black History Month, we explore the civil rights movement and how it functioned as the conscience of the American labor movement with Firefighter Regina Wilson, president of the Vulcan Society, the African-American support group within the New York City Fire Department. In 2002, it was the Vulcan Society, along with the Center for Constitutional Rights, who brought a landmark lawsuit documenting the systemic racism within the FDNY where less than 3 percent of the department’s firefighters were Black — while nearly 30 percent of New York City was Black.

In the spring of 2014, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s administration signed off on a settlement awarding $98 million to Black and Latino victims of that discrimination. That settlement also established a special master to implement the consent decree under the direct supervision of a federal Judge, which continues to this day.

Regina further discusses the enduring systemic racism in the pay disparity and unequal treatment of FDNY EMS members who are mostly women and people of color — when compared to firefighters that are predominately white and male.

We also talk with noted labor historian Joe Wilson about how the American labor movement itself has had to battle internally with systemic racism — a fight that continues to this very day. Andrew Hackman, second vice-president of the Coalition of  Black Trade Unionists’ New York Chapter, also discusses the role his organization plays regionally and nationally in advocating for African-American workers, their families, and communities. Hackman also explains why CBTU has joined with the United Federation of Teachers to oppose the MTA’s plan to impose congestion pricing on vehicles heading into Manhattan south of 60th Street,

But first, we get an update from Dan Kroop, president of the Association of Legislative Employees, a group representing close to 400 New York City Council staffers. After many years of organizing, and over 20 months of negotiating, the ALE is on the verge of winning its first contract ending at-will employment and poverty wages.

Listen to the entire show below:

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