I am pleased to announce that the USWU’s Executive Board has decided to sell its headquarters in Briarwood, New York, and move to a new state-of-the-art location in New Rochelle, NY. This decision comes on the heels of the COVID pandemic when dramatic changes in the way we operate have forced every workplace to review its operations and the wellbeing of its employees. The current market was a good time to sell, and we have outgrown our current headquarters.

USWU leaves behind a lot of history and some great memories at 138-50 Queens Boulevard in Briarwood, NY; however, future success is about looking forward and moving ahead. Our union understands the need to adapt to a changing environment and adopt a new workplace model that accounts for broader economic trends, takes advantage of the latest technologies, and accommodates the needs of our first-rate employees. With upgrades in our remote networking capabilities, we remain able to run at full capacity, with a full staff, and to serve the needs of all of our members better than ever before. One of USWU’s greatest strengths has been its adaptability—its dynamic ability to innovate, evolve, and expand into new areas. This relocation represents yet another such modernization. We’re excited about the possibilities this move represents to the future of our organization.

Email: support@uswa.zendesk.com

Text: (914) 600-3733

Phone: (800) 619-2689

Fax: (914) 214-9866

USWU is responsible for the introduction of a new bill (S-3545) which just passed the New Jersey Senate Transportation Committee 8-0! This important bill will ensure that our paratransit members get time and half during a state of emergency.

Central to USWU's efforts in advocating for this legislation was the great testimony offered before the Transportation Committee by Shelia Graham, Local 455 Shop Steward at Access Link. Sheila first spoke out on this issue in an interview aired on NBC Nightly News.

The bill still needs to pass the full senate, but has passed out of committee without a single no vote.

Our thanks to Sheila Graham for her courage and her continuing advocacy.

Read Ms. Graham's testimony HERE

Kevin Barry, director of USWU’s construction division, has penned an op-ed recently published in the Gotham Gazette explaining the damage wreaked by wage theft in its various forms and the potential for recourse on the horizon for New York’s workers thanks to important pending legislation.

The CDC has updated its interim guidance

for fully vaccinated individuals¹ - including that they no longer need to wear a mask outdoors, except in certain crowded settings and venues. At this time, Mount Sinai recommends a more conservative approach where fully vaccinated individuals continue to wear masks when outdoors if engaged in a higher risk activity

(e.g., eating or drinking) and in the presence of employees who are unvaccinated (or whose vaccination status is unknown).

These updates were made in response to the growing proportion of Americans who are fully vaccinated, confidence in vaccine effectiveness, and the knowledge that transmission risks are very low outdoors.

The CDC is likely to adjust this guidance in the future based on community SARS-CoV-2 transmission rates, vaccination coverage, and evolving scientific understanding of the virus and vaccines.

Importantly, this kind of guidance is directed primarily towards households - people should continue to follow guidance issued by individual employers.  

On May 10, the US FDA authorized use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in children aged 12 to 15. The FDA arrived at this decision after reviewing data from a clinical trial that enrolled 2,260 children in this age group. Researchers found the vaccine demonstrated 100% efficacy against symptomatic disease. The vaccine also appeared to be safe in children, with side effects comparable to those seen in trial participants aged 16 to 25.

We recommend children get vaccinated once they are eligible. However, vaccine rumors are plentiful; many parents are unsure of what to do and are vulnerable to misinformation campaigns on vaccine safety that have spread on social media. Here, we review some common myths circulating about the vaccine as it relates to children and clear up confusion with reliable facts.

To learn more about who is eligible for this assistance and how to apply, go HERE.

(https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance)

Gathering outside the main offices of the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority (PMUA) in Plainfield, NJ, the utility's frontline workers sent leadership a powerful message, demanding a fair contract with fair wages. These sanitation and sewer workers are essential employees who have been working dangerous, dirty jobs for substandard pay—including throughout the pandemic—and it's long past time they received the wages they deserve.

The plight of these essential workers and their public plea for fairness has received coverage in local news outlets Patch and Tap Into Plainfield.

Larry Slater, Hillside Honda Shop Steward and Local 355 Executive Board officer retiring. He has been with us for 35 years.

His shop was originally organized by IUJAT International President Steve Elliott Sr when Steve was a Business Agent for Local 355.

Under the law, employees who test positive for COVID-19 or who have been exposed to someone with the virus during employment must quarantine for up to 14 days. Although these employees must miss work, they are entitled to receive COVID leave pay for up to 14 days. The company then deducts the amount of COVID leave pay from any federal taxes it owes. The employer basically becomes cost-neutral.

However, some employees have found it difficult to get paid for their COVID leave and Business Agents are having to step in and help enforce the law on their behalf, as there is little recourse for workers otherwise.

For example, a Local 355 member who works for MAT Bus in Wappingers Falls, NY, Dawn Mazzacone, did not receive her COVID leave pay. the excuse given was that the doctor’s note did not have the actual dates that Ms. Mazzacone was ordered to quarantine. Ms. Mazzacone was still refused her COVID leave pay immediately after correcting her doctor's note.

With the help of her BA, Ms. Mazzacone researched how to file a complaint against the company, which she did. Ms. Mazzacone received a call from a NYS-DOL representative who advised that she get a letter from the NY Dept. of Health and then submit it to the NY-DOL for payment.

Ms. Mazzacone was not able to wait that long without pay, so reached out to her Business Agent for assistance. Confronted with the evidence Ms. Massicone on what she was owed under the law, the company wrote a check for her and delivered it to her on the same day.

In order to avoid this issue, members should inquire from their employer how exactly the company wants the doctor’s note to read in order to avoid any issue in being paid. If you do have an issue obtaining your COVID leave pay, please contact your BA for assistance.

On March 25^th the union ratified a new three-year agreement at Holman Ford Lincoln in Maple Shade New Jersey. The new agreement provides strong contractual language, solid wage increases and improved pay plan.

Members at Transdev/Denver overwhelmingly ratified a one-year agreement. The vote was 47 Yes and 1 No.

Business Agent Ed Kahn congratulated Denver Area Chief Shop Steward Bill Manzanares and Local 455/Transdev Shop Steward Dalton Hypolite for their hard work and determination in securing a contract for the next year with significant improvements and no give-backs. USWU Business Agent Rene Choto also participated in negotiations.

USWU Local 455 members at First Transit in Philadelphia, PA ratified a new three-year agreement. The unit is comprised of paratransit drivers and utility workers. The agreement provides for substantial wage increases, cost of benefits has decreased for the members, stronger language protects the rank and file, and new bonus programs reward members.

Paratransit workers have been the forgotten heroes during the pandemic and this agreement is the start of recognizing them for all they have done.

This year's JATF graduation ceremony is sadly postponed until June of next year due to COVID, but we'd like to congratulate this year's graduates who worked hard to safely complete their programs despite the challenges of the pandemic:

Best of luck to our successful graduates! We'll see you all next June!

In a recent article, Ken Fulep, owner of A&F Fire Protection and a veteran of the fire safety protection industry, addresses the importance of modernizing fire safety codes and building occupancy regulations above the minimum requirements of the law in the wake of the tragic Evergreen Court fire in Spring Valley, NY, which killed a resident and a firefighter and destroyed the 200-bed facility.

Ken has been an instructor of sprinkler fitting at the USWU Joint Apprenticeship & Training Fund Apprenticeship School, which has been certified by the New York State Department of Labor.

Learn more about the JATF apprenticeship program HERE.

Use LiveHealth Online to connect to a doctor through a live video chat on your phone, tablet, or computer. The doctors you see using LiveHealth Online are trained to screen for COVID-19 and make recommendations for care. Licensed psychologists and therapists are also available for those who may be coping with stress, life transitions, anxiety, relationship troubles, depression, grief, or other concerns.

Visit https://ubenefit.iujat.org/ to learn how to sign up. Call Member Services at 718-658-4848 to discuss benefit questions.

Present this letter and an official Union ID to a Showroom Manager or Assistant Manager to receive your discount.

As an IUJAT member, you and your family are automatically eligible for our UBenefit discount programs. Not a UBenefit member yet? No worries! Click HERE to sign up. It just takes a minute!

UNITED WE STAND — Voluntary Membership Program

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, the International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades has created the United We Stand Voluntary Membership Program to assist employees who have been laid off or furloughed. It allows employees to remain connected to their union and provides them access to important benefits and services in their time of need. Employees that join the IUJAT’s voluntary membership program will have access to benefits and services such as:

203-205-0101 • support@uswa.zendesk.com • www.iujat.org