Civil and Workplace Rights

Working for the freedom from employment discrimination and the right of working families to fair pay, job safety, secure retirements and affordable health care have been goals fundamental to the union movement, which has long partnered with the civil rights and women’s movements and, more recently, with the LGBTQ community.

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Apr 16, 2013 | News Story

Last year, 112 workers died when a garment factory in Bangladesh that supplies Walmart, GAP and others burned to the ground.  Conditions at the factory were so lethal that it didn’t have a single emergency exit, and supervisors prevented workers from leaving their sowing machines even when the fi

May 1

Join in support of public sector, private sector, building & construction trades and immigrant workers in their fight for the right to join a union.  Assemble in Union Square Park, march to City Hall for a 6:00pm rally.  Click below for flyers in both English and Spanish.
 

Apr 26, 2013 | News Story

The New York City Central Labor Council has launched a new website.  Please take a look around and get acquainted and feel free to drop us an email to tell us what you think!  For information on our affiliate organizations, please click here

Apr 25, 2012 | Press Release

We are disappointed with the Mayor’s veto of the Good Jobs Act, which would have made a real difference in the lives of many hardworking families.

Apr 1, 2012 | Press Release

“The Executive Order was done without public discussion and behind closed doors. No effort was made to communicate with the workers, they deserve better than that, and that’s why we back their legal challenge,” said NYC Central Labor Council President Vincent Alvarez.
 

Jul 6, 2012 | Press Release

Read newspaper coverage of Labor's prevailing wage win quoting Vinny Alvarez.

NY POST: Mike loses labor fight in court 

By DAVID SEIFMAN and DAREH GREGORIAN

Jun 30, 2012 | News Story

“It is a myth that somehow we can’t have safe communities without it,” he said, added that the problem is that the NYPD overwhelmingly targets black and Latino young men. “We need to find a better way, a fair way, to protect our communities while protecting the rights of all.”

Apr 19, 2013 | News Story

A commonsense immigration reform bill was unveiled this week which offers a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants currently living in the United States.  The bill would also ensure that immigrants are covered by US labor law, including minimum wage and workplace safety requirements. 

Apr 4, 2013 | News Story

On Thursday, April 4, 2013, hundreds of fast food restaurant workers in New York City staged a one-day strike to call attention to the mistreatment they face on the job and the low wages they receive.  Workers in the fast food industry make much less than they need to survive and many must rely o