Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Buffalo has been widely regarded as a "union town", with several workers across the city and region either having already unionized or continuing efforts to unionize with the help from a larger trade union like Workers United.
How has unionization efforts helped workers locally?
Gary Bonadonna Jr., president of Workers United Upstate NY & VT, says the union has a philosophy to help pour as much resources into new members organizing as possible when they are called to assist.
"Many unions understandably [have] limited resources, but I understand where they spend their money and prioritize with existing membership and existing contracts, which is extremely important in what we do. But with new organizing and new members, I mean private sector unionization is so low, and you see in Buffalo, these workers, they want a union. They just need the support, the assistance and the backing of a union," said Bonadonna Jr. in an interview with WBEN. "We have been proud in a lot of successful campaigns in the last few years in Buffalo, and we're going to keep continuing."
Bonadonna Jr. admits he's lucky and proud to lead a region of the union that is in Buffalo and Western New York, which has historically always been pro union.
"Many active workers and retirees are in unions, so they know what it is, they know the benefits of it. And elected officials are very supportive of unions as well. It's a good place to organize folks, but it's a lot of work too," Bonadonna Jr. acknowledged. "You're always up against these companies that continue to fight it, and that's why calling the boycott today, there has to be accountability for employers who break the law and union bust. And that's why I think we have the support of Buffalo, and the Buffalo community won't let that stand."
Workers United has helped workers with a number of local companies get first contracts, and gain benefits that no non-union worker has. This includes protections, just cause from discipline and firings, and expanded benefits and a whole host of things.
"Just a few years ago, the SPoT coffee chain of cafes organized, although now we're on the second contract over there now, but active union membership and exciting local of really wonderful people there. The Lexington Co-op, two grocery stores here in Buffalo organized a couple years ago. There's great examples of members who have come together, won their elections, and are fighting for improvements every day," Bonadonna Jr. said.
One of the biggest unionization pushes over the years that originated in Buffalo and was supported by Workers United was the organization of Starbucks workers at several stores across the region. That effort has grown nationwide, with more than 600 stores now unionized. However, Bonadonna Jr. says there is still no first contract in place, despite a national push for bargaining efforts to pick up.
"We're so immensely proud of getting this started here in Buffalo, and then it's spread across the whole country," he said. "Hopefully, though, when we do, workers will vote on that and they will get a wage increase, but that's hasn't happened yet."
Bonadonna Jr. was in Buffalo on Monday in support of Hyatt Regency Workers United and its announcement, calling on local leaders and other groups to boycott the downtown hotel as their labor dispute continues.
While the Hyatt Regency has not threatened to close as a result of the ongoing unionization effort from its workers, Bonadonna Jr. says he has seen in the past where some businesses have taken such action, rather than come to the bargaining table and agree to a deal with its workers.
"It's like a saying of, 'When you come across an owner or developer that hates unions more than making money, maybe they would decide to close rather than accept an organizing campaign.' That's very rare. I've seen that a couple times," Bonadonna Jr. acknowledged.
"With our union, we partner with responsible employers all the time. We want places to be successful, because then our members share in that success. But I think the public needs to be educated about when public money is given to developers like [Douglas Jemal], they turn around and do this. They fire their own workers and threaten and intimidate, all because they're just trying to exercise the right to form a union. I'm still hopeful that there could be a settlement and we can coexist and work together. That's what we're here for, and we really hope Buffalo supports that."
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