22 minute read
Union Matters
The more things change…
There was a time, not long ago, when the Democratic Party was considered the political party of the working class and the Republican Party was aligned with big business and the wealthy. Yet a recent New York Times/Siena poll––for the first time ever––revealed results that indicated a reversal. The Republican Party is trending toward a multi-racial working-class coalition, while the Democrats had a larger share of support among white college graduates. Many wonder what conclusions can be drawn. Do we now have an establishment progressive party and an antiestablishment conservative party? Making matters even more complicated are recent findings that many voters are not affiliated with either party, with polls indicating that 62% of Americans favor having a third party.
All of this should make for a very interesting 2024 presidential election! Questions abound: What will the candidates look like? What will they need to espouse to get our vote? With so many of the usual guidelines and guardrails gone, what’s the pitch? And how will it be communicated? That has changed too. Stump speeches on the back of a railroad car are a relic of the past. Even huge, televised rallies have their limitations––great for optics, but mostly “preaching to the choir” without really picking up many new converts. Twitter and other social media platforms are the bumper stickers of today…less costly, no car needed, and having the ability to reach millions with one click of a cell phone by influencers who make adding followers into a game. And, with baby boomers, who now domi-
nate the poGregory Floyd litically savvy voting popu-
President, Teamsters Local 237 and Vice President at-Large on the lation, starting
General Board of the International to decline in Brotherhood of Teamsters number, this medium of choice will become a legitimate, powerful tool––a king or queen-maker. But with so much change—and so much of it, of questionable positive value––there is one change that offers some real hope for the future. After years of declining numbers, union membership is now on the rise. Currently, there are many examples of workers in industries throughout the nation previously thought to be un-organizable or showing little interest in the union movement––from Amazon to Starbucks to McDonalds––now signing-up members. And the union drive comes from within. Workers talking to their fellow workers. They know the problems. They see the solutions. And their co-workers listen. Talk about “influencers”! So, perhaps in this great time of change––this time of altered dictionary definitions and role reversals––labor unions, which have remained steadfast in what they represent, are now presented with a path from which they had lost their way, and a newly created vacuum they can fill. We span all the demographics, political ideologies and have the communications network and skills—new and old— to make an impact. As the old adage says: “The more things change, the more they remain the same.” When applied to labor unions, that says it all. We have endured the union bashers, the union busters, the unfavorable court rulings and anti-labor appointees, but workers instinctively know that we’re on their side. Our task ahead is to make all Americans know it too and that the current slogan: “Union strong” is one definition that will never change.
With back-to-school season, teachers unions help members cope
The AFT is sponsoring a “What Kids and Communities Need” campaign for the coming school year (American Federation of Teachers photo)
By KAREN JUANITA CARRILLO
Special to the AmNews
September’s coming––and school will soon be underway.
In New York City, the 2022-2023 school year is about to start for teachers who potentially will face another year of school budget cuts, large class sizes, staffing shortages and––in many places––newly minted, first-year teachers. Teacher burnout among K-12 educators led to a wave of resignations at the end of the last school year. And then the city’s education budget cuts meant some schools could no longer afford some of its teaching professionals and had to get rid of extracurricular programming offerings.
This year will see fledgling teachers entering schools with students who will need extra support. The unknown quantity during this upcoming school term can be anxiety causing: particularly with another new round of state-issued COVID19 guidances to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Mask mandates are gone, COVID-19 testing of students will be limited, and the city is still battling a monkeypox outbreak.
With all this, veteran teachers will once again be asked to help students combat learning loss, while maintaining a sane head space for themselves.
“We have spent months, months working on the teacher shortage and making long term and short-term proposals,” Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), told the AmNews when asked what the AFT is doing to support its members this coming school year: “The No. 1 thing that we can do, that doesn’t cost a dime, is to advocate for the respect and dignity that educators need to help kids and that is part of what we are doing in this ‘What Kids Need’ campaign that
TEACHERS UNIONS on page 29
Recruitment coming up for carpenters’ apprenticeships
The Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (JATC) for the Carpenters of New York City and Vicinity will conduct a recruitment from Sept. 14, 2022 through August 9, 2023 for 25 Carpenter (Piledriver/Dockbuilder) apprentices; 20 Linoleum, Resilient Tile, and Carpet Layer apprentices; 10 Cabinet Maker apprentices; and 10 Millwright apprentices, the New York State Department of Labor announced.
Applications must be obtained in person at the New York City District Council of Carpenters Training Center, 395 Hudson St. (Clarkson St. entrance), 2nd floor, New York City, NY, on the second Wednesday of each month, excluding December 14, 2022 and January 11, 2023, during the recruitment period. Applications will be available from 7 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. ONLY. There will be no admittance after 7:30 a.m. Only the applicant will be allowed to obtain an application. In order to receive an application, applicants must provide government-issued picture identification.
Completed original applications must be submitted by mail to the New York City District Council of Carpenters Training Center, 395 Hudson Street, 2nd Floor, New York City, NY 10014. All applications must be completed correctly and postmarked no later than five (5) business days from the date that the application was provided. Failure to comply will disqualify the individual from further consideration.
Applicants that comply with the previous application steps will receive a confirmation letter and will remain on file until a demand for apprentices is anticipated. Once apprentices are needed, selected applicants will be notified, by mail, to attend a four-hour initial orientation. Applicants that do not arrive on time to the initial orientation will be disqualified from further consideration. At the end of orientation, applicants will be scheduled for an interview at a future date and will be provided with an instruction sheet and a list of original documents that will be required, if they are accepted into the program. Applicants that do not arrive on time to their scheduled interview will be disqualified from further consideration.
As apprentices are requested by signatory contractors, the top-ranking candidates will be notified to attend a final orientation. Applicants must arrive on time to the final orientation with proper documentation. All applicants must bring originals of all verification documents. Those that do not comply will be disqualified from further consideration. A conditional offer of employment will be made to all attendees of the final orientation.
For more information, see the JATC announcement on the NY State Department of Labor website: https:// dol.ny.gov/news/carpentersjatc-dc-nyc-august-17-2022.
Isn’t the best time to continue building your legacy right now?
Through our Community Homeownership Commitment,1 we’ve helped over 34,000 people and families get an aff ordable loan to buy a home. Here’s how it can help you secure your family’s future:
Down payment help up to $10,000 or 3% of the purchase price, whichever is less. Product availability and income restrictions apply.2
Closing costs help up to $7,500 as a lender credit.3
Down payment as low as 3% down. Income limits apply.4
Learn more at bankofamerica.com/homeowner
What would you like the power to do?®
You are invited to apply. Your receipt of this material does not mean you have been prequalifi ed or pre-approved for any product or service we off er. This is not a commitment to lend; you must submit additional information for review and approval. 1. Down Payment program and America’s Home Grant program: Qualifi ed borrowers must meet eligibility requirements such as being owner-occupants and purchasing a home within a certain geographical area. Maximum income and loan amount limits apply. Minimum combined loan-to-value must be greater than or equal to 80%. The home loan must fund with Bank of America. Bank of America may change or discontinue the Bank of America Down Payment Grant program or America’s Home Grant program or any portion of either without notice. Not available with all loan products, please ask for details. 2. Additional information about the Down Payment program: Down Payment program is available with one mortgage product. Program funds can be applied toward down payment only. Borrowers cannot receive program funds as cash back in excess of earnest money deposits. Down Payment Grant program may be considered taxable income, a 1099-MISC will be issued, consult with your tax advisor. May be combined with other off ers. The Bank of America Down Payment Grant program may only be applied once to an eligible mortgage/property, regardless of the number of applicants. Homebuyer education is required. 3. Additional information about the America’s Home Grant program: The America’s Home Grant program is a lender credit. Program funds can only be used for nonrecurring closing costs including title insurance, recording fees, and in certain situations, discount points may be used to lower the interest rate. The grant cannot be applied toward down payment, prepaid items or recurring costs, such as property taxes and insurance. Borrowers cannot receive program funds as cash back. 4. Maximum income and loan amount limits apply. Fixed-rate mortgages (no cash out refi nances), primary residences only. Certain property types are ineligible. Maximum loan-to-value (“LTV”) is 97%, and maximum combined LTV is 105%. For LTV >95%, any secondary fi nancing must be from an approved Community Second Program. Homebuyer education may be required. Other restrictions apply. Credit and collateral are subject to approval. Terms and conditions apply. This is not a commitment to lend. Programs, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. Bank of America, N.A., Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. © 2022 Bank of America Corporation. America’s Home Grant, Bank of America Community Homeownership Commitment, Bank of America and the Bank of America logo are registered trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. MAP4697912 | BAAM9333000 | 06/2022
Cops on patrol and out of control
Watching the video of Randal Worcester getting beaten by three white police officers in Mulberry, Arkansas, was like the merciless attack on Rodney King in 1991, only this time the victim was white.
In our opinion it makes no difference what an individual’s color or race, gender or nationality is, for someone to be repeatedly kneed to the pavement, and sometimes have his head pressed against it, with the officers taking turns pounding and kicking him is reprehensible and requires more than the reported suspensions.
We agree completely with the outrage expressed by several civic and national leaders, particularly Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League.
“The excessive force used against Randal Worchester by officers in Arkansas is the latest example of why we focus our reform efforts on police accountability and restoring community trust,” said Morial.
“The violent tactics used to subdue Mr. Worchester went well beyond police protocol, run counter to proper police training methods and do not appear to be warranted in any way. Incidents like this deepen the distrust between communities and the police, violating their duty to protect and serve. Distrust is especially true in underserved
EDITORIAL and over policed communities, like communities of color and the disability community. The National Urban League created its 21 Pillars proposal to promote police accountability and good policing and to ensure states and localities have a range of strategies for responding to public safety matters, including non-carceral strategies.” Too many cops on patrol are out of control, practically psychopathic when they have a suspect in custody. We know you’ve heard all the things that need to be done to curb such behavior, and the only one that may have some real consequence of preventing or at least minimizing these aggressive, brutal encounters is better measures at the very beginning of the process—the testing. Something must be done to winnow out the bad apples, as they say. A highly developed form of psychological screening is necessary because most of these beatings, excessive chokeholds, and knees on the neck have deep roots of hatred, and merely need the right moment to torment. We have no credentials on this matter, only a sense of hopelessness and a wish that those in place can find a way to minimize, to recognize those who are walking time bombs just waiting for an opportunity to exert the meanness of their spirit. We need to keep them out of uniforms and off the force.
Elinor R. Tatum: Publisher
and Editor in Chief Kristin Fayne-Mulroy: Managing Editor Nayaba Arinde: Editor Cyril Josh Barker: Digital Editor
By DONALD WILLIAMS
In most circumstances, an entrepreneur should not use a credit card instead of a loan to fund a startup and its expenses because the drawbacks of using a credit card usually outweigh a credit card’s benefits.
The major benefit of using a credit card instead of a bank loan is that a credit card makes it easy to obtain about $10,000 of credit without having to go through a cumbersome and restrictive bank loan approval process.
Another benefit is that the credit card will be widely accepted by suppliers of products and services needed by the entrepreneur. Also, the credit card will allow the entrepreneur to initially just make small monthly payments so that they have time to start generating a profit to repay the credit card.
The major drawback of a credit card is the extraordinarily high interest rates that accrue if the credit card balance is not paid off in full each month.
The annual interest rates on credit cards are generally 10% to 18% higher than the interest rates on a typical bank loan. Also, if any credit card minimum payment is not paid on time, the credit card company will usually charge a late fee of about $25 for every late payment.
The extra 10% to 18% of interest and late fees are very expensive for the entrepreneur. Having to pay the interest and late fees results in the entrepreneur not being able to use those amounts to hire employees, make investments, or to take a salary.
Another drawback of a credit card is that the available funds are too limited, as most entrepreneurs will need much higher available funds to start a business, so the entrepreneur will still need to obtain bank loans or other types of funding.
Therefore, for entrepreneurs who just need about $10,000 of cash and will be able to repay the $10,000 in a few months, the benefits of using a credit card will probably outweigh the drawback of the high interest rates.
For all other entrepreneurs, however, the drawbacks of the high interest rates and limited funds will outweigh the benefits, so financing a start up with credit cards should be avoided.
Donald Williams is founder and CEO of Williams Accounting & Consulting, https://williamsacct.com/
The poverty crisis in higher education
BY DIANA C. SILVERMAN
The poverty crisis in universities today has reached hallucinatory proportions. Fifty-eight percent of students were experiencing food insecurity, housing insecurity, or homelessness, in a survey of 200,000 students at 202 different institutions of higher education in the year 2020 by Temple University’s Hope Center for College, Community and Justice. At the same time, approximately 40% of the professoriate in the United States is paid poverty wages, with few or no employer-funded benefits, despite empirical evidence that faculty incomes are factors in student outcomes. Graduate teaching assistants and educators on short-term contracts, including approximately 75% of faculty, are in contingent positions. Imposing poverty conditions on educators and students in higher education poses a fundamental threat now that we have limited time to stop climate devastation on earth, and saving our planet depends on educating the electorate. Poverty in academia is remediable, however; a concerted movement of university donations could wipe out poverty as a barrier to educating voters.
The poverty-driven exodus from college teaching jobs has given rise to a copious literary genre called “Quit Lit;” nonetheless, it is virtually never said in academia that the impoverishment of educators and students will have a direct impact on our democracy and our climate. It’s time to start conversations about the threat to the earth caused by poverty in higher education.
You’ve never felt the lack of sustainable healthcare access on campus more acutely than when you’re hiding behind a locked door with a group of students and colleagues while New York City police officers go from room to room in search of an undergrad who posted a selfie on Instagram with a gun and a threat to the community. As people tensely scrolled their phones, I thought about a student whose weekly quiz scores in my Italian class had varied widely in inverse proportion to the work hours imposed by the low-wage jobs that the student needed in order to stay in school. As we waited for the “all clear” announcement, I thought of how, even with health insurance, an injury could devastate a low-income family whose household survival depended on perpetual minimum-wage work.
Not only the students who study until 3 a.m. after working lowpaying jobs all day and attending class at night, but, in fact, the vast majority of college students have professors who are, themselves, so preoccupied with food insecurity that they run from campus to
DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not represent those of the New York Amsterdam News. We continue to publish a variety of viewpoints so that we may know the opinions of others that may differ from our own.
ARMSTRONG WILLIAMS
A son’s first love is his mother. A mother’s last love is her firstborn. A daughter’s first love is her father. A father’s last love is his eldest daughter. I personally observed the bond between a mother––my niece––and son. They were both in the swimming pool, he was on a floater, and she was letting go of a floater. The son is just two years old, and the mother, though 36, never learned how to swim. As she leaned against the pool, she started to lose her footing. She slipped by mistake and submerged underwater. The terrified expression on her twoyear-old son’s face prompted him to ask, “Momma, are you okay?”
He had previously spoken, but never these exact words.
The child attempted to swim to his mother when the mother recovered. He approached the mother sitting on the stairs and said, “Are you alright momma, just sit down.” His mother shed a tear. Though he was only two years old, he could feel that his mother was in danger. Despite his inexperience and lack of knowledge, he knew something was wrong and went to make it right.
There are two passages in the Bible that relate to this and provide profound insight into the relationship between a child and his mother.
Proverbs 1:8-9: “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. They are a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.” 1 Timothy 2:15 “But women will be saved through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.
These two passages in the Bible encourage us to show reverence and respect to our mothers. It promotes the traditional ideals of motherhood and encourages us to respect the love that our mothers, who went through the excruciating pain of childbirth, have for us by encouraging us to listen to and respect their wisdom.
No one is born a good parent; rather, they develop into one. A woman cannot be considered a mother until she gives birth to a child. Whether parents recognize it or not, their children are their teachers. They compel them to learn the ins and outs of parenting, to stay up late and perform additional work, and to be tested under the most dire conditions. Each succeeding child provides a parent with more understanding, but the first child marks the change from being independent to having someone fully depend on you.
This situation demonstrated just that. It also showed me that the link between the firstborn and mother is innate. As long as a parent is receptive to parenting, they will discover that blood creates the most profound connection. It is a connection forged by nature, not circumstance. It motivates parents to succeed for their children and their children to appreciate, respect, and love their parents.
Throughout our life, we will encounter many people and we will engage with and learn from countless others. However, not all knowledge and insight are provided with pure intentions; there are transgressors in this world who seek to undermine our interests for their own gain. However, a parent who loves and appreciates their child will be the first and final person in whom a child will place their confidence. Every child with decent parents can rest easy knowing that every word their parents speak is intended to aid and not harm. These words are as much a helping hand as any physical act; they embody virtue.
As a child’s life progresses, they may be certain that their parents will be by their side every step of the way, imparting knowledge from their own life experiences and giving them the additional push they need to blossom into a successful adult. With each grain of wisdom they obtain, they will be able to transmit that knowledge to future generations. Each parent, whether they realize it or not, influences future generations of children who will only exist because of the inspiration they provided.
Those who are fortunate enough to have youthful parents can take comfort in knowing that they will be able to give their parents the chance to see them mature, an opportunity that every parent desires. Parents can observe their children develop from newborns who cannot talk, cannot walk, and cannot logically reason into individuals at the apex of their lives and careers. That is undoubtedly a sight to see for any parent, and it is the culmination of a child’s efforts to thank their parents for the gift of life.
I treasured every minute I spent with my parents, and I adore the sight of young parents and their newborns embarking on a long, rich, and healthy connection that will endure the remainder of their lives.
Armstrong Williams (@ARightSide) is manager / sole owner of Howard Stirk Holdings I & II Broadcast Television Stations and the 2016 Multicultural Media Broadcast Owner of the year. www.armstrongwilliams.co | www.howardstirkholdings.com
CHRISTINA GREER PH.D.
It’s official, I have a new podcast and I guess I should tell people about it. Many of you know I believe in Black media and Black journalism. Case and point, one of the highlights of my professional career is being able to have a weekly column in this paper, the Amsterdam News, one of the oldest Black publications in the country.
In addition to my work with the Amsterdam News, I also write occasional articles for www.thegrio.com. I now have a weekly podcast at The Grio where I interview smart Black people and ask them five questions pertaining to Black history and Black culture. We range from sports to politics to science, you name it.
The idea for the podcast isn’t to embarrass anyone, or make my guest and my listeners feel less than. The purpose of the podcast is to remind us of all of our beautiful and brilliant history that many of us were not taught in school. The intended goal of “The Blackest Questions” is to learn about Black history while having fun and learning a bit about our weekly guest. For example, do you know who was the first African American cookbook author? Or the name of the basketball team that J. Cole played for in Africa? Or who was the first Black person elected governor and for what state did they preside over? You’ll have to tune in to find out the answers.
At the end of the podcast there is a fun Black Lightning Round where my guest has to answer some truly difficult questions; like, whether mac and cheese should be a side dish or main dish, who has the best stand up - Eddie Murphy or Richard Pryor, or if you could rename the Edmund Pettus Bridge, who would you rename it after?
Many of my guests are recognizable figures in politics, activism, journalism, and the entertainment world. Not only are they excited to test their knowledge of Black history and culture, they are also excited to support Black media. The work of people like Elinor Tatum, publisher of this newspaper and Byron Allen, owner of The Grio and a growing entertainment empire, are doing the work to keep Black history and current events in the news for a multitude of generations, both Black and non-Black.
It is imperative that we continue to support the work of Black publications as they provide news and viewpoints not often found in mainstream media. People like Roland Martin and his “Unfiltered: Daily Digital Show” immediately come to mind.
So, if you’re looking for Black culture, education, and entertainment, you can find “The Blackest Questions” podcast by downloading TheGrio app or listen to the show wherever you get your podcasts. You can also watch it on YouTube if that’s more your style. Enjoy!
Christina Greer, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Fordham University, the author of “Black Ethnics: Race, Immigration, and the Pursuit of the American Dream,” and the co-host of the podcast “FAQ-NYC” and host of “The Blackest Questions” podcast.
