February 26, 2024 • 43 mins
Ever wondered how a single voice can stand up against corporate giants like Starbucks and Amazon? Our latest episode takes you through the heart of organized labor, where collective voices echo louder than ever. We share a narrative that's not just about unions, but about the irreplaceable shield they offer to workers' rights and job security, all while exploring how our united front as voters can influence the political landscape and protect our interests.
This conversation isn't just another discussion; it's a journey through personal triumphs and societal challenges. With guests who've been on the frontlines, we celebrate the first unionized Amazon warehouse in Staten Island and draw strength from their stories. These insights help us understand the crucial role unions play, from preventing unfair dismissals to providing life-changing educational resources. The episode underscores the power of unionization in fostering employee empowerment and the far-reaching benefits for community welfare.
Closing with an intimate reflection on the bond between labor rights and civil movements, we're moved by tales of generational activism. These stories of relentless pursuit for betterment remind us that the quest for equality and justice is perpetual. Join us as we honor the legacies that shape our nation and challenge each other to stay alert and engaged, ensuring that the values we hold dear are never left unguarded.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
We do not want to become a country where all of
our freedoms to organize aretaken away.
We run a danger that becomes afactor when efforts by large
(00:28):
companies like Starbucks, likeAmazon, if these efforts take
hold, then we are in big trouble.
And so it's up to people likemyself, who you know, we know
the work that the union does, weknow the importance of
(00:50):
organizing under collectivebargaining agreement.
We have to sound the alarm andwe have to make sure that we are
educating as many people aspossible about the benefits of
of a union.
(01:11):
The union has a long history inthe United States, going back
to the turn of the century, whenthe first immigrants came over
from Europe to work in thesweatshops of New York City and
(01:32):
and they were really, reallyunder some horrible working
conditions and that gave way tothe union, the organized labor
movement, because it was aboutsafety.
You know, we need to have jobsecurity, we need to have safe,
(01:55):
good working conditions, andthose were the efforts that
those initial workers organizedunder.
And it wasn't easy.
People got killed, peoplesacrificed a lot to make the
(02:17):
union possible.
So we can't let all that blood,sweat and tears over centuries,
over years, go by the wayside.
We, you know we can't do thatand allow our right to bargain
and good faith be decimated bybig business.
(02:39):
We need to like sub Jeff basosby the CEOs of Starbucks telling
their workers oh well, you know, you don't need this union.
You know, and just so in theseseeds of misinformation to our,
(02:59):
to our brothers and sisters inlabor.
And that's not a good thing,because when we have an
organized workforce, we havepower, we have the ability to,
to decide what happens in thiscountry.
We are a voting block and 90%of our members of voters, so we
(03:25):
get get to say what happens inin our cities.
We, you know, we work with ourelected officials.
We make them understand whatour needs are, and that's very
important.
And they hear us because we area force, we are, we're coming.
(03:50):
For example, the union that I'ma part of, we have close to
150,000 members, so that's a.
That's a lot of power, that's alot of influence, especially
when it comes to the things thatwe need when we have to bargain
for salaries, for pay scales,for benefits.
(04:14):
And it's very important that wemake sure we keep our right to
organize alive and we do that bynot succumbing to what, what
they say, anyone that's tryingto silence you.
It's not good, because ourConstitution gives us a right to
(04:40):
speak up and to speak out.
So it's not about silence.
It's not about that, but anorganized workforce.
I'm, you know, a part of agrand organization, but my
workforce is organized.
Our teachers are organized, ourcooks, our custodians, we're
(05:05):
all under collective bargainingagreement.
That allows us a voice.
It allows us to have a bettersalaries, then some shops and
some places that are notorganized.
So it's a big difference ineverything that we get and just
(05:31):
everything that we do, and it'sabout dignity, equity and
respect.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
At the end of the day , so what do you feel I guess
will be a benefit of being apart of a union?
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Okay.
Well, the main benefit is jobsecurity.
It gives the worker a grievancemachinery, if you will.
Okay, now, without a union, aboss can come in and say you're
fired.
Okay, well, that goes deeper.
(06:07):
Because even with the union, ifa boss, you know, just comes
with no good reason and says, oh, I want to fire you, oh, the
union shop, oh really, well,under what grounds?
Now you have a structure andyou have the ability to fight.
So you know this unjustmovement, this under this, this
(06:33):
firing, that is unjust becauseunless it's justified, so why
are you firing me?
Oh well, I don't like that.
You're wearing a purple today.
Well, that's not a good enoughreason to fight.
Now, without a union, the bossdoesn't have to give a great
reason and they could just go onand fire you.
(06:55):
There's no recourse in a unionshop.
You have recourse.
Well, well, I'm doing my workand there's nothing in my
contract that says I can't wearpurple, I don't have a uniform
or whatever.
So you get an opportunity andyou have grounds that to stand
(07:19):
on.
That cannot be easily violated.
That's what I want to say.
So you have a machinery, youhave a movement behind you,
because most unions we have alegal department.
We have a structure where youeven have a lot of support for
(07:41):
even education.
Like myself, I'm a teacher.
There's a battery of tests thatmost teachers that all teachers
actually and New York have totake for a New York State
certification and my union givesthe courses, the prep courses,
(08:02):
free of charge to union members.
If I wasn't a part of the unionand I had to take those courses
on my own, I'd be out therepaying $5, $600 for a prep
course yeah, out of pocket for atest that I have to take.
We also have scholarships.
(08:24):
We have many unions have whatthey call welfare funds.
Now the welfare fund isbasically set up for medical and
additional benefits like dentalvision and here you know and
those types of benefits.
But some of the you know aroundthe city because in New York we
(08:53):
are a union town.
We have unions that haveeducation funds where you can
get your tuition paid for schooland get your degree.
Most unions have scholarshipfunds.
So there's so many benefits tobeing an organized workforce.
(09:15):
You know it comes with so manyprotections, so many safeguards.
You have access to these thingsand we also have access to
other outreach.
Like many of our members wantto buy homes.
We have workshops, you know.
(09:36):
We get someone to come in totalk about the process of
purchasing your first home, howto get approved for mortgage,
what do you need to do to clearup your credit, and things like
that, things that actuallybenefit the member as a whole.
You know, and when we have ahappy member, a member in a
(10:01):
workforce who has their needsmet, that member is going to
produce more at the job, they'regoing to be satisfied, they're
going to be more willing to takeon more responsibility and it's
a win-win on both sides.
So I encourage and I promoteand support unionization
(10:26):
organization.
I support it with everythingthat I am.
I've seen the benefits over theyears.
I've seen both sides of thecoin.
I've seen organized labor andI've seen the other side and I
(10:48):
hear the stories.
For example, amazon.
Amazon runs many warehousesaround the country.
These warehouses are huge and aworker could be on the line and
their job is to pack the box,to put 15 items in box A or
(11:11):
whatever, and they're on anassembly line Okay, well.
Oh, I need to use the bathroom.
Okay, well, the break that theyget is 20 minutes.
Now these warehouses are so bigthat it may take 20 minutes to
get to the restroom from wherethey are, and I've heard stories
(11:33):
about people working on theline you're an eight-man bottle
and all manner of just crazybecause they don't have the
human element has left thebuilding.
They just want the work doneand that's nice that they have a
(11:56):
quota, and we know thateverybody and their brother and
mama has Amazon Prime and I canorder a dress tonight and get it
the next morning and get it putinto the locker and that's
awesome.
But what's behind that time andthat speed?
Is somebody's son or somebody'sdaughter getting violated to
(12:21):
get that dress to the Amazonlocker?
So you know, when I think aboutthat, when I hear these horror
stories, it gives me even moreresolve.
It gives me even, you know, itmakes me even that much more
diligent and poised when I speakto young people, just to get
(12:43):
that message of empowerment outto them that you want a union.
If they come around with theunion card, you sign it.
A young man out of New York lastyear he decided enough was
enough and he, you know, withouta whole lot of infrastructure,
(13:08):
he decided to just walk out onhis promise and look, we're
going to have a union here and Igot a chance to meet that young
man.
That young man is dynamic.
He, you know, he started thefirst union shop in Staten, I
(13:28):
think, one of the warehouses inStaten Island.
A young brother, he's dynamic.
If you see him he's dressed uplike a gang member now he's got
a bandana or whatever.
But what he did is that he was,I guess, eking out his own way
through this to this and as aresult, he a lot of attention
(13:52):
got called to the issue oforganized labor and organizing
Amazon in particular, becausethey are one of the biggest.
So from Amazon we also hear thatStarbucks, the next big
multinational company, is alsogetting unionized, shop by shop.
(14:22):
Sometimes that's what it takes.
It's not always the whole group, but little bit by little bit.
So in their regard to them, Ithink they're going shop by shop
until they get to the day thatall the shops are organized
under one umbrella.
But they had to start somewhereand they are getting a lot of
(14:46):
pushback, because it's not easywhen you have a mega giant it's
like David and Goliath, you know, and this is such a big
industry and they are so small.
This is like one person upagainst this big machine with
all these resources, and theyhave tried let me tell you, they
(15:09):
have put it all out there tobreak the union.
But that's okay, because what wesay is, the more you throw at
us, the more we're going tofight.
You know, we're going to getour biggest ball back and we're
going to just keep batting thoseballs, rock stones, whatever
you throw at us, we're going tohit it and we're going to keep
coming, and that's how that's.
(15:29):
The attitude you have to haveis that these efforts cannot
deter us.
Oh, they're paying people$1,000.
Okay, well, how?
$1,000?
In theory sounds like a lot ofmoney, but when rents are two
and three thousand and fourthousand a month, especially
(15:50):
here in New York, $1,000 beginsto become like maybe $50 or $100
, and we can put it intoperspective and we can figure
out.
You know what.
This thousand dollars is notgoing to last me very long, but
a union contract that comes withbenefits, that comes with
respect, dignity, that comeswith all these great things, not
(16:16):
just for the here and now, butfor the future, for future
contract negotiations.
Oh, I've got a 7% raise in thiscontract.
Maybe the next contract, twoyears down the line, we'll get
an 8% raise or 20% raise orwhatever it might be going
forward.
You know, are we going to getthis or we're going to get that.
(16:37):
So it is.
You know, the exchange ratedoesn't even match up.
So that would be my message toanyone that is faced with that
choice.
Yes, the union is a good thing.
The union is under attack inthis country, but it's a good
(17:02):
thing.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
So I was wondering you kind of spoke about it
briefly but what a way thatcompanies are trying to convince
new employees to not be a partof the union Like.
Are there more than one tacticthat they may use?
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Sure, sure.
There's many ways.
Money is one Also.
What they'll do is sowfalsehoods and false narratives
about the union.
Oh, the union, they don't careabout you, they're just trying
to get your money.
The union, oh, they can't helpyou.
(17:40):
We can do better for you.
But you see, this is the thing.
If you've been on a job so manyyears and you see things go in
a certain way and you see thatthey usually double down on the
things, that the tactics thatthey, you know that they
(18:01):
propagate nine chances out of 10, they're not going to get
better at taking care of you ontheir own.
They need motivation to treatthe worker with respect.
It doesn't always happenautomatically.
Then there's some places.
You know I'm not going to sayall employers are bad there are
(18:27):
some good companies out therethat are trying to do the right
thing and they will step up tothe plate.
Those are so few and farbetween the bigger companies,
the multinational companies,those companies that fall
outside of the mom and pop model, those places that are
(18:51):
employing anywhere from 30 to1,000 members or people.
These are the places that wehave to watch, because it's
almost guaranteed that there'sgoing to be a civil rights
violation or human rightsviolation or any kind of
(19:15):
violation, you name it.
Something is going to happen atone of these workplaces that is
going to be beyond the scope ofthe person to deal with on
their own, and I think thatthere's many tactics that an
(19:36):
employer will use to discouragemembers.
One of them is fear, fear ofthe unknown.
Basically, this is why Iencourage people to read about
the union, especially thehistory of the union, to see
(19:58):
where it came from, to see why,why a union.
Once you have that history,once you're on with the back
story of where this comes fromin this country, then we will be
more willing and able toembrace it, I think for this
(20:22):
generation who the school systemhas kind of neglected, in
essence, whereas history isconcerned.
I'm an educator so I know thatthe history lessons are not the
same now and they've always beenthin Depending on where you
(20:47):
went to school and whateducation you had.
So anything outside of thescript you had to go and seek on
your own.
So the history of the unionalso cross sections the civil
rights movement, because it wassomewhat of a parallel fight
(21:09):
civil rights coming out of the50s and the 60s and those
movements led by Dr MartinLuther King Jr and Malcolm X,
and even going in theinternational realm.
The Pan-African movement wasall about calling attention to
(21:34):
workers' rights.
Case in point, cesar Chavezbecomes the poster child for
farm workers.
That is also a history that isvery key to understanding how a
union is derived and theimportance of organized labor
(21:58):
and protections on the worker.
We're getting ready.
I heard something that'stroubling to my ears.
I'm going to put this out herebecause it's something for us to
watch, especially in big cities.
We live in New York right now.
We have a migrant crisis.
I think you've heard about itvia the news.
(22:23):
Well, it's serious here Now.
This is what's happening.
We have a leadership here in theform of a governor who believes
and this is why we have to useour intellect and we have to use
(22:44):
our listening ears to really,really dissect and disseminate
what people are saying.
That's what we said out of hermouth that we need the migrants,
because who is going to pickour fruit?
Who's gonna take care of yourelderly and sick?
(23:07):
Who's gonna take care of this?
Who's gonna do the cleaning andthe cooking and all those
menial jobs?
Right?
And it hit my ears like a tonof bricks because she sounded
like a slave master of 1830 orsomething.
(23:31):
It was no difference betweenher words and probably the words
of anybody who was looking, whowas sponsoring a slave ship
from Africa and during thehighest heights of the slave
(23:55):
trade.
And this is a governor, is aDemocrat.
This is a Democratic governorwho was catapulted into office
through many, many people ofcolor that promoted her
throughout this whole all fiveboroughs, including upstate New
(24:20):
York, because she's from upstateNew York.
But she said this out of hermouth about two weeks ago.
I could have hit the floorbecause I'm like, wow, so now
that brings me back to union.
We must fight to make sure thatwe are keeping these jobs union
(24:44):
jobs, industries organized,because we have an element out
here that will exploit us all.
I just gave an example of asitting governor, a female
governor First time we've had afemale governor in the whole
history of New York state, andthis is what she said out of her
(25:06):
mouth on a podium for all tohear, and she said it with pride
and she'll probably say itagain.
So we have to be mindful of allof the moving parts that are
going out here, that are set anddesigned to impoverish, because
(25:29):
that's what she was pretty muchsaying.
We are looking for the newunderclass.
So you see the motivation andso we have to be mindful.
So all of these things and allof these sentiments play into
the argument for a union, forprotections around our work and
(25:55):
the work that we do, becausethere's an element out here that
is going to be a union andthere's an element out here that
are sitting at the ready toexploit us.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
The people in the workforce.
That's a terrible statement tomake.
I mean, that's like wow, you'reall in good, you like go do the
jobs and nobody wants to do soterrible to say yeah, pretty
much, and she said it withimpunity and I was like whoa.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
And this is why we have to vote and we have to
educate ourselves about whatpeople's meaning is, what they
stand for.
What have they voted for?
What have they supported in thepast?
What have they done?
What's their track record?
Because being a woman is notenough.
(26:49):
Being black is not enough, beingthere saying a few buzz words
and promise it oh, I'm going todo better, because Como was this
and Como was that.
That's not enough.
And here we are, and this ladyjust took office less than a
(27:13):
year ago.
So we have four grueling yearsof her to go.
So we're in a very, veryserious spot.
And what it does it gives meeven more of a urgency to fight
that we cannot rest on ourlaurels because, oh boy, we got
(27:39):
people who say they are ourfriend and she says she's our
friend.
So if that's the friend, Iwould hate to see the enemy
that's supposed to be our girl.
This is our advocate.
So we have to watch people.
(28:00):
We have to definitely watch.
Like I said, if the union cardcomes around, sign it.
Someone says I wanna bring theorganization here.
Union is a good thing.
You can use union, union, youwant it.
You want it.
You want that protection,especially in times like this
(28:21):
when there's so much being lost.
We have so much stuff that'sbeing outsourced out from under
us.
Union, I would say, is theAmerican way.
We're gonna take it.
We gotta hold on to it, thethings that are ours, because
there's a movement out here thatjust wants to.
(28:42):
I don't know.
They just want to giveeverything away, and our
children, our grandchildren, ourgreat grandchildren will not
know the good things that thiscountry did and the protections,
because all of them are beingchallenged.
(29:04):
In this time we have to fightlike no other, like we've never
fought before, for our right tojust live.
So yes.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
So, what's the name of your union and how did you
become a part?
Speaker 1 (29:16):
of that, okay, my union.
Well, actually, I'm lucky, I'mpart of a history of union
people.
My mom was a social worker.
My mom came to New York fromVirginia in 1963, and she lived
(29:38):
in Jersey City at first but shemoved to Brooklyn, new York,
after she was married and shemoved to Brooklyn in 1970.
And we lived in Brownsville andwe came to a place that needed
a lot of help.
(29:59):
Brooklyn at the time was roughto say the least burnt out
buildings.
We were in the wake of the lastvestiges of the civil rights
movement.
A lot of these inner cities hadsuffered riots, unscrupulous
(30:26):
landlords that were burning downtheir buildings for insurance
money.
That's the Brooklyn weinherited.
My mom was blessed.
She found a community that hadsaid enough is enough.
She joined Head Start as afamily assistant.
(30:47):
She worked, she found a churchthat was close by and she became
an active member.
She became an active member ofthe community and at the time we
had a lot of Jewish brothersand sisters that were still in
and around the city of New Yorkand they came to her work site
(31:11):
and said you know what we areinto union organizing.
Oh really, what is that?
Well, they broke it down andexplained and there was some
pushback.
Of course you have a boss, oh,what I've done for you, but what
have you done for me?
(31:33):
I mean, you know that's left tobe seen, let's try this.
So you know, they becameorganized and they started off
with a district council thatthey built.
My mom was the first shopsteward.
So I sent from a young kid offive, six years old I have been
(31:56):
eating and sleeping union, union, union, and I saw it in action.
I saw, you know, thecamaraderie, I saw the
brotherhood.
My mother would go to unionmeetings.
She was a shop steward.
So the shop steward is a memberof the staff.
Who's that voice?
Who's that liaison betweenmanagement and the union at the
(32:22):
workplace?
She went to a shop stewardtraining at Cornell University.
They was having a shop stewardtraining.
So I remember her bringing homethe certificates.
Oh, you know, here from Cornell.
And my mom has always been thatvoice and she's still at 83
(32:44):
years old, she's still anactivist calling attention to
different things in New York,here and in Brooklyn.
So I came up into it, naturally,and it was when I joined where
I'm working, when I joined HeadStart, brooklyn, it was 1992.
(33:07):
And the union was already there.
So after my 90 day probation,signed this union card.
And you know I'm just a rankand file member at that point.
You know, not only did I signthis union card, you know, not
really knowing all of the insand outs, I do have a idea of it
(33:30):
because I know what unions cando.
But you know, just there signedthat card.
I was a young person at the time, my hair was black, but you
know I was there, we're gonnaenable, and I think I was on the
job.
I wanna stay maybe two weeks.
And on my second week at thejob my co-worker said come on,
(33:56):
we're going to.
We have a rally.
We have a rally.
We got to come to city hall.
We're fighting for coal andmoney.
We're fighting for it wassomething.
And at the time we had a blackman.
We had Mayor David Dinkins.
He was our first black man.
We're on our second black mannow in the form of Eric Adams,
(34:18):
but he was our first and thatwas Mr David Dinkins.
He occupied Gracie Mansion atthe time and we went down to
city hall and we were there.
We had picket signs, we wantedbetter wages, people were asking
(34:39):
for coal or money and whateverit was.
So we went and I got my baptismby fire on that day.
So I showed the microphone inmy hand and I had to speak
before I mean what looked like500 people.
It was a crowd.
This is New York, so the crowdsget big.
(35:00):
I had a microphone and I had todo it.
So I greeted the crowd and Ihad to give them my personal
story and I let them know.
Look, you know, yeah, we reallyneed higher wages.
I just recently started workinghere as an assistant.
I started out as an assistantteacher and my wages are so low
(35:24):
I can't afford to move out mymama's house.
So that was my personal story.
So with that, I got a lot ofwoo woo.
You know, it was a lot ofpeople that could identify with
that.
Right, that's real.
I mean, when you get to acertain age, you have to.
You want to leave home?
Oh yes, so right, your motherraised you.
(35:46):
Now it's your time to go offinto the sunset and do what you
have to do.
So we definitely need a livingwage.
So that was my argument of theday.
I had the crowd going and Iguess the rest is history.
So I, you know shortlythereafter, after, you know,
being inundated by some mentorsthat are not with us anymore.
(36:14):
I became very active in theunion.
I went to every union meeting.
I was at the rallies.
I became a shop steward.
I moved on up through the ranks, was asked to be a board member
of local 95 of the executiveboard.
(36:34):
I served as a secretary first.
I served a term, then I ran forvice president.
I was elected as vice president, I ran again and got elected a
second time.
So, you know, I just thank God,you know, and the rest, like I
(36:56):
said, is history.
I'm here today thanks to aunion I have.
You know, I have met greatpeople.
I've had great fellowships overthe years with these people.
I still maintain greatfriendships and we are a brother
and sisterhood.
(37:16):
No, no different than theEastern stars, and you know,
you've heard of the lodge withthe masons and it's very much
like that.
The sororities, thefraternities.
We are brothers and sisters inlabor.
(37:37):
That's what we come together.
And when you saw me, I was part,and I'm also part, of the CBTU,
that is, the coalition forblack trade unionists, and that
is the black and people you knowthat were marginalized and left
(37:58):
out of a lot of the mainstreamthings years ago formed.
They're all formed their ownunion that encapsulates many
locals and district councilsacross the United States and
Canada.
So when you met me, we were atour conference, our annual
(38:23):
conference, and it was a realamazing time.
Also, it just tells us, we gotto continue to fight Right.
We had great speakers thatenergized us, like Randy Wynne
Gart.
She is the president of theAmerican Federation of Teachers.
(38:45):
We have some powerful voicesfrom the UAW you know that's the
United Auto Workers Union.
So we are union.
Although we serve in differentcapacities, we all unite as one
under labor.
(39:06):
We are brothers and sisters inlabor always.
So this has been a greatexperience and it also lets you
see something new.
It also lets you see somethingbigger than yourself.
We always we're here to makesure that we are leaving a
(39:32):
legacy for the next generation.
We don't want to come into thisworld and go out without
leaving a legacy behind.
We want to leave them withsomething that they can build on
.
We want to leave them empowered.
We want to leave them empoweredRight.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
We all stand on someone else's shoulders, right,
Right, Exactly.
Miss Beverly, thank you so muchfor your time.
You're welcome.
Thank you so much for talkingto me and just educating my
listeners and myself, because Ijust knew I had to talk to you.
You just be talking so muchpassion and I was like I have to
talk to her.
Speaker 1 (40:15):
Well, the pleasure was mine.
Dear the pleasure was mine.
I appreciate this moment toshare what the union is with the
next generation.
It's a powerful thing and Ithink it needs to continue.
(40:36):
We have to fight for it.
It's not given, it's notautomatic.
We have many attacks on our wayof life in this country and I
just want to say that we must bealways watchful and discerning
(40:57):
and keep fighting.
That would be my message toyour listeners.
Continue this fight.
This model, this democracy wecall America, is worth fighting
for.
This is our home.
My parents were born here.
(41:18):
My grandparents, my grandfatheron my mother's side, was a
sharecropper in the state ofVirginia.
So I'm blessed.
I'm blessed.
I have a great legacy of powerfor people who did not take the
shortcut and they did not acceptthe word no and oh, you can't.
(41:44):
No, I'm gonna show you that Ican and I'm gonna show you that
I will and that I am.
So please, to your listeningaudience, go in power, don't be
afraid.
This is not a time for fear.
This is a time to take actionand to be about it.
Speaker 2 (42:07):
That's what I wanna say and that's how we ended.
Thank you again so much, and,guys, I hope you got something
from this.
Y'all have a good day, thankyou thank you for inviting me.
Speaker 1 (42:21):
Have a good day.
Thank you, bye-bye.
We do not want to become a country where all of
our freedoms to organize aretaken away.
We run a danger that becomes afactor when efforts by large
(00:28):
companies like Starbucks, likeAmazon, if these efforts take
hold, then we are in big trouble.
And so it's up to people likemyself, who you know, we know
the work that the union does, weknow the importance of
(00:50):
organizing under collectivebargaining agreement.
We have to sound the alarm andwe have to make sure that we are
educating as many people aspossible about the benefits of
of a union.
(01:11):
The union has a long history inthe United States, going back
to the turn of the century, whenthe first immigrants came over
from Europe to work in thesweatshops of New York City and
(01:32):
and they were really, reallyunder some horrible working
conditions and that gave way tothe union, the organized labor
movement, because it was aboutsafety.
You know, we need to have jobsecurity, we need to have safe,
(01:55):
good working conditions, andthose were the efforts that
those initial workers organizedunder.
And it wasn't easy.
People got killed, peoplesacrificed a lot to make the
(02:17):
union possible.
So we can't let all that blood,sweat and tears over centuries,
over years, go by the wayside.
We, you know we can't do thatand allow our right to bargain
and good faith be decimated bybig business.
(02:39):
We need to like sub Jeff basosby the CEOs of Starbucks telling
their workers oh well, you know, you don't need this union.
You know, and just so in theseseeds of misinformation to our,
(02:59):
to our brothers and sisters inlabor.
And that's not a good thing,because when we have an
organized workforce, we havepower, we have the ability to,
to decide what happens in thiscountry.
We are a voting block and 90%of our members of voters, so we
(03:25):
get get to say what happens inin our cities.
We, you know, we work with ourelected officials.
We make them understand whatour needs are, and that's very
important.
And they hear us because we area force, we are, we're coming.
(03:50):
For example, the union that I'ma part of, we have close to
150,000 members, so that's a.
That's a lot of power, that's alot of influence, especially
when it comes to the things thatwe need when we have to bargain
for salaries, for pay scales,for benefits.
(04:14):
And it's very important that wemake sure we keep our right to
organize alive and we do that bynot succumbing to what, what
they say, anyone that's tryingto silence you.
It's not good, because ourConstitution gives us a right to
(04:40):
speak up and to speak out.
So it's not about silence.
It's not about that, but anorganized workforce.
I'm, you know, a part of agrand organization, but my
workforce is organized.
Our teachers are organized, ourcooks, our custodians, we're
(05:05):
all under collective bargainingagreement.
That allows us a voice.
It allows us to have a bettersalaries, then some shops and
some places that are notorganized.
So it's a big difference ineverything that we get and just
(05:31):
everything that we do, and it'sabout dignity, equity and
respect.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
At the end of the day , so what do you feel I guess
will be a benefit of being apart of a union?
Speaker 1 (05:46):
Okay.
Well, the main benefit is jobsecurity.
It gives the worker a grievancemachinery, if you will.
Okay, now, without a union, aboss can come in and say you're
fired.
Okay, well, that goes deeper.
(06:07):
Because even with the union, ifa boss, you know, just comes
with no good reason and says, oh, I want to fire you, oh, the
union shop, oh really, well,under what grounds?
Now you have a structure andyou have the ability to fight.
So you know this unjustmovement, this under this, this
(06:33):
firing, that is unjust becauseunless it's justified, so why
are you firing me?
Oh well, I don't like that.
You're wearing a purple today.
Well, that's not a good enoughreason to fight.
Now, without a union, the bossdoesn't have to give a great
reason and they could just go onand fire you.
(06:55):
There's no recourse in a unionshop.
You have recourse.
Well, well, I'm doing my workand there's nothing in my
contract that says I can't wearpurple, I don't have a uniform
or whatever.
So you get an opportunity andyou have grounds that to stand
(07:19):
on.
That cannot be easily violated.
That's what I want to say.
So you have a machinery, youhave a movement behind you,
because most unions we have alegal department.
We have a structure where youeven have a lot of support for
(07:41):
even education.
Like myself, I'm a teacher.
There's a battery of tests thatmost teachers that all teachers
actually and New York have totake for a New York State
certification and my union givesthe courses, the prep courses,
(08:02):
free of charge to union members.
If I wasn't a part of the unionand I had to take those courses
on my own, I'd be out therepaying $5, $600 for a prep
course yeah, out of pocket for atest that I have to take.
We also have scholarships.
(08:24):
We have many unions have whatthey call welfare funds.
Now the welfare fund isbasically set up for medical and
additional benefits like dentalvision and here you know and
those types of benefits.
But some of the you know aroundthe city because in New York we
(08:53):
are a union town.
We have unions that haveeducation funds where you can
get your tuition paid for schooland get your degree.
Most unions have scholarshipfunds.
So there's so many benefits tobeing an organized workforce.
(09:15):
You know it comes with so manyprotections, so many safeguards.
You have access to these thingsand we also have access to
other outreach.
Like many of our members wantto buy homes.
We have workshops, you know.
(09:36):
We get someone to come in totalk about the process of
purchasing your first home, howto get approved for mortgage,
what do you need to do to clearup your credit, and things like
that, things that actuallybenefit the member as a whole.
You know, and when we have ahappy member, a member in a
(10:01):
workforce who has their needsmet, that member is going to
produce more at the job, they'regoing to be satisfied, they're
going to be more willing to takeon more responsibility and it's
a win-win on both sides.
So I encourage and I promoteand support unionization
(10:26):
organization.
I support it with everythingthat I am.
I've seen the benefits over theyears.
I've seen both sides of thecoin.
I've seen organized labor andI've seen the other side and I
(10:48):
hear the stories.
For example, amazon.
Amazon runs many warehousesaround the country.
These warehouses are huge and aworker could be on the line and
their job is to pack the box,to put 15 items in box A or
(11:11):
whatever, and they're on anassembly line Okay, well.
Oh, I need to use the bathroom.
Okay, well, the break that theyget is 20 minutes.
Now these warehouses are so bigthat it may take 20 minutes to
get to the restroom from wherethey are, and I've heard stories
(11:33):
about people working on theline you're an eight-man bottle
and all manner of just crazybecause they don't have the
human element has left thebuilding.
They just want the work doneand that's nice that they have a
(11:56):
quota, and we know thateverybody and their brother and
mama has Amazon Prime and I canorder a dress tonight and get it
the next morning and get it putinto the locker and that's
awesome.
But what's behind that time andthat speed?
Is somebody's son or somebody'sdaughter getting violated to
(12:21):
get that dress to the Amazonlocker?
So you know, when I think aboutthat, when I hear these horror
stories, it gives me even moreresolve.
It gives me even, you know, itmakes me even that much more
diligent and poised when I speakto young people, just to get
(12:43):
that message of empowerment outto them that you want a union.
If they come around with theunion card, you sign it.
A young man out of New York lastyear he decided enough was
enough and he, you know, withouta whole lot of infrastructure,
(13:08):
he decided to just walk out onhis promise and look, we're
going to have a union here and Igot a chance to meet that young
man.
That young man is dynamic.
He, you know, he started thefirst union shop in Staten, I
(13:28):
think, one of the warehouses inStaten Island.
A young brother, he's dynamic.
If you see him he's dressed uplike a gang member now he's got
a bandana or whatever.
But what he did is that he was,I guess, eking out his own way
through this to this and as aresult, he a lot of attention
(13:52):
got called to the issue oforganized labor and organizing
Amazon in particular, becausethey are one of the biggest.
So from Amazon we also hear thatStarbucks, the next big
multinational company, is alsogetting unionized, shop by shop.
(14:22):
Sometimes that's what it takes.
It's not always the whole group, but little bit by little bit.
So in their regard to them, Ithink they're going shop by shop
until they get to the day thatall the shops are organized
under one umbrella.
But they had to start somewhereand they are getting a lot of
(14:46):
pushback, because it's not easywhen you have a mega giant it's
like David and Goliath, you know, and this is such a big
industry and they are so small.
This is like one person upagainst this big machine with
all these resources, and theyhave tried let me tell you, they
(15:09):
have put it all out there tobreak the union.
But that's okay, because what wesay is, the more you throw at
us, the more we're going tofight.
You know, we're going to getour biggest ball back and we're
going to just keep batting thoseballs, rock stones, whatever
you throw at us, we're going tohit it and we're going to keep
coming, and that's how that's.
(15:29):
The attitude you have to haveis that these efforts cannot
deter us.
Oh, they're paying people$1,000.
Okay, well, how?
$1,000?
In theory sounds like a lot ofmoney, but when rents are two
and three thousand and fourthousand a month, especially
(15:50):
here in New York, $1,000 beginsto become like maybe $50 or $100
, and we can put it intoperspective and we can figure
out.
You know what.
This thousand dollars is notgoing to last me very long, but
a union contract that comes withbenefits, that comes with
respect, dignity, that comeswith all these great things, not
(16:16):
just for the here and now, butfor the future, for future
contract negotiations.
Oh, I've got a 7% raise in thiscontract.
Maybe the next contract, twoyears down the line, we'll get
an 8% raise or 20% raise orwhatever it might be going
forward.
You know, are we going to getthis or we're going to get that.
(16:37):
So it is.
You know, the exchange ratedoesn't even match up.
So that would be my message toanyone that is faced with that
choice.
Yes, the union is a good thing.
The union is under attack inthis country, but it's a good
(17:02):
thing.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
So I was wondering you kind of spoke about it
briefly but what a way thatcompanies are trying to convince
new employees to not be a partof the union Like.
Are there more than one tacticthat they may use?
Speaker 1 (17:18):
Sure, sure.
There's many ways.
Money is one Also.
What they'll do is sowfalsehoods and false narratives
about the union.
Oh, the union, they don't careabout you, they're just trying
to get your money.
The union, oh, they can't helpyou.
(17:40):
We can do better for you.
But you see, this is the thing.
If you've been on a job so manyyears and you see things go in
a certain way and you see thatthey usually double down on the
things, that the tactics thatthey, you know that they
(18:01):
propagate nine chances out of 10, they're not going to get
better at taking care of you ontheir own.
They need motivation to treatthe worker with respect.
It doesn't always happenautomatically.
Then there's some places.
You know I'm not going to sayall employers are bad there are
(18:27):
some good companies out therethat are trying to do the right
thing and they will step up tothe plate.
Those are so few and farbetween the bigger companies,
the multinational companies,those companies that fall
outside of the mom and pop model, those places that are
(18:51):
employing anywhere from 30 to1,000 members or people.
These are the places that wehave to watch, because it's
almost guaranteed that there'sgoing to be a civil rights
violation or human rightsviolation or any kind of
(19:15):
violation, you name it.
Something is going to happen atone of these workplaces that is
going to be beyond the scope ofthe person to deal with on
their own, and I think thatthere's many tactics that an
(19:36):
employer will use to discouragemembers.
One of them is fear, fear ofthe unknown.
Basically, this is why Iencourage people to read about
the union, especially thehistory of the union, to see
(19:58):
where it came from, to see why,why a union.
Once you have that history,once you're on with the back
story of where this comes fromin this country, then we will be
more willing and able toembrace it, I think for this
(20:22):
generation who the school systemhas kind of neglected, in
essence, whereas history isconcerned.
I'm an educator so I know thatthe history lessons are not the
same now and they've always beenthin Depending on where you
(20:47):
went to school and whateducation you had.
So anything outside of thescript you had to go and seek on
your own.
So the history of the unionalso cross sections the civil
rights movement, because it wassomewhat of a parallel fight
(21:09):
civil rights coming out of the50s and the 60s and those
movements led by Dr MartinLuther King Jr and Malcolm X,
and even going in theinternational realm.
The Pan-African movement wasall about calling attention to
(21:34):
workers' rights.
Case in point, cesar Chavezbecomes the poster child for
farm workers.
That is also a history that isvery key to understanding how a
union is derived and theimportance of organized labor
(21:58):
and protections on the worker.
We're getting ready.
I heard something that'stroubling to my ears.
I'm going to put this out herebecause it's something for us to
watch, especially in big cities.
We live in New York right now.
We have a migrant crisis.
I think you've heard about itvia the news.
(22:23):
Well, it's serious here Now.
This is what's happening.
We have a leadership here in theform of a governor who believes
and this is why we have to useour intellect and we have to use
(22:44):
our listening ears to really,really dissect and disseminate
what people are saying.
That's what we said out of hermouth that we need the migrants,
because who is going to pickour fruit?
Who's gonna take care of yourelderly and sick?
(23:07):
Who's gonna take care of this?
Who's gonna do the cleaning andthe cooking and all those
menial jobs?
Right?
And it hit my ears like a tonof bricks because she sounded
like a slave master of 1830 orsomething.
(23:31):
It was no difference betweenher words and probably the words
of anybody who was looking, whowas sponsoring a slave ship
from Africa and during thehighest heights of the slave
(23:55):
trade.
And this is a governor, is aDemocrat.
This is a Democratic governorwho was catapulted into office
through many, many people ofcolor that promoted her
throughout this whole all fiveboroughs, including upstate New
(24:20):
York, because she's from upstateNew York.
But she said this out of hermouth about two weeks ago.
I could have hit the floorbecause I'm like, wow, so now
that brings me back to union.
We must fight to make sure thatwe are keeping these jobs union
(24:44):
jobs, industries organized,because we have an element out
here that will exploit us all.
I just gave an example of asitting governor, a female
governor First time we've had afemale governor in the whole
history of New York state, andthis is what she said out of her
(25:06):
mouth on a podium for all tohear, and she said it with pride
and she'll probably say itagain.
So we have to be mindful of allof the moving parts that are
going out here, that are set anddesigned to impoverish, because
(25:29):
that's what she was pretty muchsaying.
We are looking for the newunderclass.
So you see the motivation andso we have to be mindful.
So all of these things and allof these sentiments play into
the argument for a union, forprotections around our work and
(25:55):
the work that we do, becausethere's an element out here that
is going to be a union andthere's an element out here that
are sitting at the ready toexploit us.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
The people in the workforce.
That's a terrible statement tomake.
I mean, that's like wow, you'reall in good, you like go do the
jobs and nobody wants to do soterrible to say yeah, pretty
much, and she said it withimpunity and I was like whoa.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
And this is why we have to vote and we have to
educate ourselves about whatpeople's meaning is, what they
stand for.
What have they voted for?
What have they supported in thepast?
What have they done?
What's their track record?
Because being a woman is notenough.
(26:49):
Being black is not enough, beingthere saying a few buzz words
and promise it oh, I'm going todo better, because Como was this
and Como was that.
That's not enough.
And here we are, and this ladyjust took office less than a
(27:13):
year ago.
So we have four grueling yearsof her to go.
So we're in a very, veryserious spot.
And what it does it gives meeven more of a urgency to fight
that we cannot rest on ourlaurels because, oh boy, we got
(27:39):
people who say they are ourfriend and she says she's our
friend.
So if that's the friend, Iwould hate to see the enemy
that's supposed to be our girl.
This is our advocate.
So we have to watch people.
(28:00):
We have to definitely watch.
Like I said, if the union cardcomes around, sign it.
Someone says I wanna bring theorganization here.
Union is a good thing.
You can use union, union, youwant it.
You want it.
You want that protection,especially in times like this
(28:21):
when there's so much being lost.
We have so much stuff that'sbeing outsourced out from under
us.
Union, I would say, is theAmerican way.
We're gonna take it.
We gotta hold on to it, thethings that are ours, because
there's a movement out here thatjust wants to.
(28:42):
I don't know.
They just want to giveeverything away, and our
children, our grandchildren, ourgreat grandchildren will not
know the good things that thiscountry did and the protections,
because all of them are beingchallenged.
(29:04):
In this time we have to fightlike no other, like we've never
fought before, for our right tojust live.
So yes.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
So, what's the name of your union and how did you
become a part?
Speaker 1 (29:16):
of that, okay, my union.
Well, actually, I'm lucky, I'mpart of a history of union
people.
My mom was a social worker.
My mom came to New York fromVirginia in 1963, and she lived
(29:38):
in Jersey City at first but shemoved to Brooklyn, new York,
after she was married and shemoved to Brooklyn in 1970.
And we lived in Brownsville andwe came to a place that needed
a lot of help.
(29:59):
Brooklyn at the time was roughto say the least burnt out
buildings.
We were in the wake of the lastvestiges of the civil rights
movement.
A lot of these inner cities hadsuffered riots, unscrupulous
(30:26):
landlords that were burning downtheir buildings for insurance
money.
That's the Brooklyn weinherited.
My mom was blessed.
She found a community that hadsaid enough is enough.
She joined Head Start as afamily assistant.
(30:47):
She worked, she found a churchthat was close by and she became
an active member.
She became an active member ofthe community and at the time we
had a lot of Jewish brothersand sisters that were still in
and around the city of New Yorkand they came to her work site
(31:11):
and said you know what we areinto union organizing.
Oh really, what is that?
Well, they broke it down andexplained and there was some
pushback.
Of course you have a boss, oh,what I've done for you, but what
have you done for me?
(31:33):
I mean, you know that's left tobe seen, let's try this.
So you know, they becameorganized and they started off
with a district council thatthey built.
My mom was the first shopsteward.
So I sent from a young kid offive, six years old I have been
(31:56):
eating and sleeping union, union, union, and I saw it in action.
I saw, you know, thecamaraderie, I saw the
brotherhood.
My mother would go to unionmeetings.
She was a shop steward.
So the shop steward is a memberof the staff.
Who's that voice?
Who's that liaison betweenmanagement and the union at the
(32:22):
workplace?
She went to a shop stewardtraining at Cornell University.
They was having a shop stewardtraining.
So I remember her bringing homethe certificates.
Oh, you know, here from Cornell.
And my mom has always been thatvoice and she's still at 83
(32:44):
years old, she's still anactivist calling attention to
different things in New York,here and in Brooklyn.
So I came up into it, naturally,and it was when I joined where
I'm working, when I joined HeadStart, brooklyn, it was 1992.
(33:07):
And the union was already there.
So after my 90 day probation,signed this union card.
And you know I'm just a rankand file member at that point.
You know, not only did I signthis union card, you know, not
really knowing all of the insand outs, I do have a idea of it
(33:30):
because I know what unions cando.
But you know, just there signedthat card.
I was a young person at the time, my hair was black, but you
know I was there, we're gonnaenable, and I think I was on the
job.
I wanna stay maybe two weeks.
And on my second week at thejob my co-worker said come on,
(33:56):
we're going to.
We have a rally.
We have a rally.
We got to come to city hall.
We're fighting for coal andmoney.
We're fighting for it wassomething.
And at the time we had a blackman.
We had Mayor David Dinkins.
He was our first black man.
We're on our second black mannow in the form of Eric Adams,
(34:18):
but he was our first and thatwas Mr David Dinkins.
He occupied Gracie Mansion atthe time and we went down to
city hall and we were there.
We had picket signs, we wantedbetter wages, people were asking
(34:39):
for coal or money and whateverit was.
So we went and I got my baptismby fire on that day.
So I showed the microphone inmy hand and I had to speak
before I mean what looked like500 people.
It was a crowd.
This is New York, so the crowdsget big.
(35:00):
I had a microphone and I had todo it.
So I greeted the crowd and Ihad to give them my personal
story and I let them know.
Look, you know, yeah, we reallyneed higher wages.
I just recently started workinghere as an assistant.
I started out as an assistantteacher and my wages are so low
(35:24):
I can't afford to move out mymama's house.
So that was my personal story.
So with that, I got a lot ofwoo woo.
You know, it was a lot ofpeople that could identify with
that.
Right, that's real.
I mean, when you get to acertain age, you have to.
You want to leave home?
Oh yes, so right, your motherraised you.
(35:46):
Now it's your time to go offinto the sunset and do what you
have to do.
So we definitely need a livingwage.
So that was my argument of theday.
I had the crowd going and Iguess the rest is history.
So I, you know shortlythereafter, after, you know,
being inundated by some mentorsthat are not with us anymore.
(36:14):
I became very active in theunion.
I went to every union meeting.
I was at the rallies.
I became a shop steward.
I moved on up through the ranks, was asked to be a board member
of local 95 of the executiveboard.
(36:34):
I served as a secretary first.
I served a term, then I ran forvice president.
I was elected as vice president, I ran again and got elected a
second time.
So, you know, I just thank God,you know, and the rest, like I
(36:56):
said, is history.
I'm here today thanks to aunion I have.
You know, I have met greatpeople.
I've had great fellowships overthe years with these people.
I still maintain greatfriendships and we are a brother
and sisterhood.
(37:16):
No, no different than theEastern stars, and you know,
you've heard of the lodge withthe masons and it's very much
like that.
The sororities, thefraternities.
We are brothers and sisters inlabor.
(37:37):
That's what we come together.
And when you saw me, I was part,and I'm also part, of the CBTU,
that is, the coalition forblack trade unionists, and that
is the black and people you knowthat were marginalized and left
(37:58):
out of a lot of the mainstreamthings years ago formed.
They're all formed their ownunion that encapsulates many
locals and district councilsacross the United States and
Canada.
So when you met me, we were atour conference, our annual
(38:23):
conference, and it was a realamazing time.
Also, it just tells us, we gotto continue to fight Right.
We had great speakers thatenergized us, like Randy Wynne
Gart.
She is the president of theAmerican Federation of Teachers.
(38:45):
We have some powerful voicesfrom the UAW you know that's the
United Auto Workers Union.
So we are union.
Although we serve in differentcapacities, we all unite as one
under labor.
(39:06):
We are brothers and sisters inlabor always.
So this has been a greatexperience and it also lets you
see something new.
It also lets you see somethingbigger than yourself.
We always we're here to makesure that we are leaving a
(39:32):
legacy for the next generation.
We don't want to come into thisworld and go out without
leaving a legacy behind.
We want to leave them withsomething that they can build on
.
We want to leave them empowered.
We want to leave them empoweredRight.
Speaker 2 (39:57):
We all stand on someone else's shoulders, right,
Right, Exactly.
Miss Beverly, thank you so muchfor your time.
You're welcome.
Thank you so much for talkingto me and just educating my
listeners and myself, because Ijust knew I had to talk to you.
You just be talking so muchpassion and I was like I have to
talk to her.
Speaker 1 (40:15):
Well, the pleasure was mine.
Dear the pleasure was mine.
I appreciate this moment toshare what the union is with the
next generation.
It's a powerful thing and Ithink it needs to continue.
(40:36):
We have to fight for it.
It's not given, it's notautomatic.
We have many attacks on our wayof life in this country and I
just want to say that we must bealways watchful and discerning
(40:57):
and keep fighting.
That would be my message toyour listeners.
Continue this fight.
This model, this democracy wecall America, is worth fighting
for.
This is our home.
My parents were born here.
(41:18):
My grandparents, my grandfatheron my mother's side, was a
sharecropper in the state ofVirginia.
So I'm blessed.
I'm blessed.
I have a great legacy of powerfor people who did not take the
shortcut and they did not acceptthe word no and oh, you can't.
(41:44):
No, I'm gonna show you that Ican and I'm gonna show you that
I will and that I am.
So please, to your listeningaudience, go in power, don't be
afraid.
This is not a time for fear.
This is a time to take actionand to be about it.
Speaker 2 (42:07):
That's what I wanna say and that's how we ended.
Thank you again so much, and,guys, I hope you got something
from this.
Y'all have a good day, thankyou thank you for inviting me.
Speaker 1 (42:21):
Have a good day.
Thank you, bye-bye.
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