The New York State Department of Labor is about to launch a major upgrade to unemployment services that will affect everyone currently collecting unemployment and new filers. It’s the largest unemployment insurance system overhaul in US history, and it’s happening in just a few days. Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon is our guest to explain what is happening, why it’s happening, and what it means for those dependent on unemployment insurance benefits.

Visit the NYS Department of Labor website: https://dol.ny.gov/

Get NYS Department of Labor newsletters: https://dol.ny.gov/connect

As Primary Election Day approaches, the stakes for working people have never been higher. Every endorsement made by the New York State AFL-CIO carries significant weight, and candidates seeking that endorsement must earn it by meeting a high threshold.

On the latest Union Strong podcast, we sit down with our Political Director Kevin Eitzmann to take you inside our endorsement process, explore what’s at stake in this year’s election, and discuss how union members are making their voices heard at the ballot box.

Resources: Volunteer for a labor walk or phone bank: https://nysaflcio.org/politics NYS AFL-CIO endorsements: https://nysaflcio.org/endorsements Voter information: https://nysaflcio.org/vote

For 17 years, the journalists and media workers of the Albany Newspaper Guild have been working without a contract at the Times Union.

They haven’t spoken about their fight publicly until now.

On the latest Union Strong Podcast, we’re diving into their story: what it means to report the news that so many rely on while facing your own uncertainty, why this contract fight has stretched on for nearly two decades, and what’s at stake, not just for these journalists, but for the future of local news.

In an interview with Wendy Liberatore, the president of the Albany Newspaper Guild, we gain insight into the ongoing contract dispute and its broader implications.

TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT THE TIMES UNION WORKERS:

Ask the Times Union and Hearst to give the Albany Newspaper Guild a fair contract now.

Publisher George Hearst: ghearst@timesunion.com, 518-454-5694

CEO Steve Swartz: sswartz@hearst.com, 212-649-2000

President of Newspaper Group Jeff Johnson: jeff.johnson@hearst.com, 212-649-2000

Visit the Albany Newspaper Guild website for more information: https://albanyguild.org/

On March 8, thousands of union members packed the MVP Arena in Albany in an incredible show of solidarity, calling on the Governor and State Legislature to Fix Tier 6 in this year’s budget. In this episode of the Union Strong podcast, we break down how we got here, take you inside the arena for a firsthand look at the rally, and hear from New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento about what comes next in the fight to Fix Tier 6.

Ask your State legislators and the Governor to Fix Tier 6: https://nysaflcio.info/4rgACWn

NYS AFL-CIO Tier 6 Pension Reform web page: https://nysaflcio.org/tier-6

New York State Assemblyman Harry Bronson’s journey from a childhood of hardship to becoming a champion for workers is inspiring. As one of 12 siblings growing up without indoor plumbing, and at times, no running water, he saw firsthand the struggles his parents faced working low-wage jobs for companies that did not offer collective bargaining. It was those early experiences that shaped his dedication to fighting for equity and opportunity. Now, as the powerful chair of the NYS Assembly Labor Committee, he is in a prime position to influence the future of labor policy, and he is our guest on the Union Strong podcast.

Unemployment benefits just got a significant boost in New York State. This long-awaited increase, championed by the union movement, raises important questions: How much did the benefit go up? Who qualifies? How long can you collect?

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon joins us to break down what’s changed, why it matters, and what workers need to know.

Resources:

Visit https://dol.ny.gov/

Women’s professional basketball has been on a roll, enjoying record growth, and it keeps getting better.

The WNBA recently signed a massive television contract, merchandise sales have increased, and attendance has reached historic levels, including right here in New York at the New York Liberty games.

Yet the players responsible for that growth don’t get a single share of all that revenue – and that’s at the center of a contract fight that has the attention of the entire union movement in New York.

On the latest Union Strong podcast, Terri Carmichael Jackson, the Executive Director of the Women's National Basketball Players Association, discusses what is at the center of this fight.

Resources:

Follow @TheWNBPA on Instagram, Twitter and Threads

WNBPA Letter Campaign: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/wnba-players-deserve-a-higher-salary-and-better-working-conditions?source=union-hall&referrer=group-new-york-state-afl-cio

See the NYS AFL-CIO letter to Commissioner Engelbert: https://nysaflcio.org/press-releases/20251025-wnbpa

Watch “Shattered Glass: A WNBPA Story”: https://tubitv.com/movies/100014374/shattered-glass-a-wnbpa-story

We are now in the second week of a government shutdown, one that has been described as calculated, cruel, and chaotic, and, unfortunately, there’s still no end in sight. On the latest episode of the Union Strong podcast, we are joined by the President of the New York State AFL-CIO, who sheds light on how this shutdown will affect working people, the services we rely on, and what we can do moving forward.

Resources:

Make a Call: Stop the Shutdown and the Cuts to Working Families

Statement from NYS AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento on the shutdown