Working Class Unity Inspires the Crowd at People's World Amistad Awards

 

By Jahmal Henderson

Solidarity in the resistance movement and celebration of collective action created a powerful and inspiring People's World Amistad Awards themed “Working Class Unity to defend our rights and fight for our future.”

On a beautiful winter evening in New Haven, community activists, labor leaders, students, comrades, teachers, elected officials and allies, gathered at the First and Summerfield Church, home to the offices of Unite Here in Connecticut for the 24^th annual People's World Amistad Awards.

That strengthening spirit was immediately felt upon entering the church, where solidarity and African rhythms filled the air, as dancers performed a traditional dance.  A beautiful 96 page greeting book helped set the atmosphere.

Adam Waters, president of Unite Here Local 33 of educators at Yale welcomed everyone to “The Ami's” and announced to cheers the majority of post docs have signed cards for union recognition.

Emcees Lisa Bergmann and Ben McManus kicked off the awards with a “Resistance 2025” slideshow highlighting the year's courageous actions, rallies, picket lines, and robust union and coalition solidarity.

An inspiring youth tribute marked the 106th anniversary of the Communist Party USA. The activist youth in their teens, 20s and 30s, some in the Young Communist League, lined up shoulder-to-shoulder to deliver a message of unity and organizing to change the conditions they face and make a better future.

“We pay tribute to the CPUSA, for its vision of equality and justice and its constant example of organizing with many other freedom fighters against fascism and for a better world,” they said to applause. “We step forward unapologetic and unafraid, bending the arc of history toward justice. Building a collective vision of solidarity and humanity and upholding the worth of each of us.”

The first Award was jointly presented to Norma Martinez-HoSang executive director, and Constanza Segovia organizing director, of Connecticut For All. Seth Freeman, a 2024  Awardee and president of the Congress of Connecticut Community Colleges (4Cs) presented the award, praising their leadership of the multi-racial labor community coalition united to end systemic inequalities and build power for racial and economic justice in Connecticut.

Drawing from her life, family, and educational experiences, Norma said that she “learned early on the critical importance of coalition building and fighting together for what people truly deserve”. She said this history is why the awards hold such a special meaning. “This celebration is not about the individual being honored but all the movements in the room committed to freedom and building a world in solidarity, peace and justice.” 

Constanza spoke about the profound importance of collective action and being part of the larger movement. She stressed, "The truth is that I’m nothing without all of you here, My work has no place if it’s not surrounded by the hundreds of thousands of workers that are members of our coalition, and I find great joy in that truth.”

IAM Local 700 president Wayne McCarthy received the Award from John Harrity, a 2003 Awardee and former president of the Connecticut State Council of Machinists. He praised Wayne for his leadership, as president at three different Pratt & Whitney plants over the years, and called upon everyone to follow this example and get involved.

After sharing his journey through the labor movement, Wayne detailed the historic 23-days in May strike at Pratt & Whitney that won job security, wage increases and improved benefits. The strike made a national impact defying the all-out attack on labor. He described how the 3,000 machinists stood firm. “Our resolve cannot be broken as the rain and cold weather eventually gave way to sunshine as we continued twenty three days on the picket lines in Middletown and East Hartford,” he said acknowledging his children who are among those members.

The final award was presented by 2024 Awardee and 1199 retiree Maribel Rodriguez to Tabitha Sookdeo, executive director of Connecticut Students For A Dream. Tabitha shared the story of her childhood in Guyana and the obstacles she overcame in the U.S., explaining how she channeled those challenges into powerful advocacy for undocumented youth and their families.

 

“Let us remember that the vast majority of our community is struggling with the effects of greed and a wave of authoritarianism, both local and global. Let us not be divided by identity, but be brought together by our collective struggle as working class people who simply try to make enough to provide for our children and for our aging parents who somehow continue to have to work as they get older and as wage inequality grows even steeper.”

“May we band together to care for one another as our communities come further under attack,” she said.  

 

A crowd of New Haven students and educators were called forward for recognition “In Solidarity,” with their work for immigration justice by Leslie Blatteau, 2023 Awardee and New Haven teachers union president.

Melony Yuda, a high school leader with CT Students For A Dream, emphasized student activism and the power of speaking out against injustice.

“When young people organize things change, conversations change, policies change, communities change, cause nobody knows what we need better than ourselves ,” she said as gifts of small plants were handed out.

The evening was highlighted with a multi-cultural concert of freedom songs and traditional African dance, performed by Brian Jarawa Gray and Friends.

Scotttesia Marks moved the audience with a beautiful rendition of Sam Cooke’s "A Change Is Gonna Come," followed by a lovely performance of Cambia todo Cambia by Teresa Quintana, an Awardee in 2024.

A powerful enactment of Paul Robeson’s "What is America to Me?" was followed by the event's Call to Action presented by Jahmal Henderson and Lisa Bergmann to a standing ovation.

​”We are the multi-racial working class. Our power is in our labor, that creates all wealth, and in our numbers when we are organized. Our vision of equality and working class democracy is our strength.,” said the call.

The People's World Amistad Awards continue to serve as a vital gathering for the movement around the state, strengthening a multiracial, working-class coalition dedicated to defending our rights and transforming our country by prioritizing people, peace, and planet before profits.

Educators Declare Contract Impasse and Demand Real Solutions for Students and Community

New Haven — Teachers in New Haven Public Schools called on city leaders Tuesday to resolve the teaching and learning crisis facing their students and families, on the eve of the legally-imposed deadline for a mutual settlement before the matter is referred to arbitration. .

The certified educators and members of the labor-community coalition held a press conference at City Hall to urge Mayor Justin Elicker to embrace the real solutions they’ve proposed for what union members and students need in contract negotiations.

Leaders of the New Haven Federation of Teachers (NHFT) have since late-September been in talks with district representatives to secure a new contract. For months, they have put forward numerous proposals to improve their students’ learning conditions by addressing the root causes of educator recruitment and retention shortfalls.

Many are still outstanding, forcing union leaders to declare impasse, noting that if the mayor does not direct school board representatives to reach a mutual settlement on the outstanding issues by Wednesday evening, a neutral, third-party arbitrator decides the final outcome.

In addition to refusing union members’ reasonable proposals for class sizes, special education supports, healthcare and salaries, city leaders are failing to meet the moment, said the New Haven Federation of Teachers.

The union emphasized that “After months of negotiations, the city leadership's inflexibility threatens to drive hundreds of hardworking educators out of the Elm City’s classrooms and deprive students of the learning opportunities they deserve.”

Tuesday’s impasse announcement follows months of active engagement by hundreds of educators, as well as their students and families, in support of securing a fair, honorable contract. These efforts to boost investments in New Haven public schools’ future by improving student learning have taken place while the city’s fund balance has exceeded $59 million. 

The previous week during public comment at the Board of Education meeting, speakers said prioritizing public education must include investments from the City of New Haven alongside continuing pressure to increase state funding. Speakers also emphasized that Yale University has a $44 billion endowment and should be expected to contribute in lieu of taxes enough funds to assure world class public education in New Haven.

Tenants bring their demands to Capital Realty Group in New York

Unionized tenants of Capital Realty Group, representing nine properties across six states including two New Haven apartment complexes (Park Ridge Apartments and Sunset Ridge Apartments), traveled to company headquarters in Spring Valley New York for a national action to demand quality housing conditions and a meeting with CEO Moshe Eichler.

The New Haven tenants, members of the CT Tenants Union, traveled to the action by charter bus after having been accosted by Capital Realty Group at two press conferences, one in front of New Haven City Hall where Mayor Elicker expressed support for the tenants' right to unionize.

Capital Realty Group is a New York-based corporate landlord, owns at least 14,000 units of housing across 28 states, and is one of the nation’s largest owners of subsidized housing. 

When the tenants arrived, instead of agreeing to meet with them, the corporation paid and directed a counter-protest, harassing and physically assaulting tenant union representatives. One CRG representative snatched signs from union members and physically assaulted at least three tenants; Spring Valley police arrested him. 

Police confirmed that the violent counter-protestor group was “there by the invitation of the property owner.”

Despite CRG’s efforts to disrupt, the unions ran their complete program, including announcing a new union at another CRG-owned property, Golden Spike Apartments in Denver, Colorado.

The unions represented at the action were from Kansas City, MO, Lee's Summit, MO, Louisville, KY, billings, MT, Detroit MI, Denver CO and from New Haven Ct. These unions, joined together in the Tenant Union Federation, are organizing in over 1500 units owned by Capital Realty Group.

The Tenant Union Federation issued the following statement: 

“Mr. Eichler is desperate. Instead of meeting with his tenants, as they have repeatedly and respectfully requested, he has resorted to union-busting, intimidation, and now– outright abuse. This is evidence that Capital Realty Group is scared of their tenants’ power. Unfortunately for Mr. Eichler, his tactics are entirely ineffective, as the tenants’ organizing continues to expand. The tenants will not be intimidated. Mr. Eichler would be wise to meet the unions at the bargaining table and reach an immediate resolution, before his business suffers any further losses.” 

Yale Postdocs, Allies Rally for Union Recognition

 

NEW HAVEN, CT — Hundreds of Yale Postdoctoral Scholars, joined by Local 33, 34, and 35 union members, students, and community allies, rallied before Thanksgiving to call on Yale University to immediately address the growing job insecurity and lack of vital workplace protections facing its Postdoctoral Scholars.

A majority of Yale postdocs have signed union cards and union leaders emphasized the need for Yale commit to a fair and neutral process for union recognition. Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, Connecticut State Senate President Martin Looney, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, and President of the New Haven Board of Alders Tyisha Walker-Myers voiced support for the organizing campaign.  

 

The demonstration, which closed College Street near Yale’s Cross Campus, highlighted the high stakes of postdoctoral research at Yale, citing issues of job precarity, high cost of living, and the need for basic workplace rights. 

 

Claire Laxton, a postdoc in Immunobiology, contrasted Yale’s wealth with the job insecurity she and her coworkers face: "Just a few weeks ago, Yale announced its endowment has grown to over 44 billion dollars. However, instead of using its massive wealth to bridge funding gaps and support all workers during this time, with skyrocketing living costs and federal funding cuts, postdocs are losing their jobs, as if we are disposable. But… We are not disposable!” 

 

Postdoctoral Scholars spoke powerfully about the critical need for workplace protections to provide stability against the backdrop of shifting federal funding and rising costs.  

 

The rally underscored the current two-tiered system on campus, where graduate workers represented by Local 33 have contract protections that postdocs who often work side-by-side with them, lack. 

 

The rally closed with a commitment from all academic workers to stand together and insist that the University value their essential labor. 

 

Adam Waters, President of Local 33, summarized the unified demands: “Just like grad workers, postdocs deserve health and safety protections, job security, fair treatment language, and a grievance procedure to deal with workplace issues. As postdocs and grad workers, we are also standing together in this moment to push back against unprecedented attacks on universities, on science, and on truth.”