2024 Labor Power Players

Patrick Hendry is a 30-year NYPD veteran and the president of the NYC PBA, the nation’s largest municipal police union. Hendry began his policing career in the Bronx’s 46th Pct. and later served in the 103 Pct. in South Jamaica, Queens, where he is still assigned. He has represented police officers as a union official for more than 22 years and served as the PBA’s Treasurer prior to his election as president in June 2023.

What led you down your current career path?
Since my earliest days on the job, I’ve had a passion for standing up for my fellow police officers. The key to public safety isn’t any new strategy or high-tech gadget — it is the police officer on the street, putting in the work, day after day, to protect our communities. They deserve the support and respect of every New Yorker, and it’s my mission to make sure they get it.

What does your organization hope to accomplish in 2024?
Our number one priority is to improve police officers’ quality of life. That not only means improving our benefits and pay so that we are on par with other police officers in this area — it also means working with the NYPD to implement better work schedules and fighting for legislation to help with retention and recruitment so that we can lighten the extreme workload cops are facing.

What are the benefits that union membership (your union if applicable) provides?
In addition to all of the standard union benefits, the PBA is a police officer’s voice when they need one publicly. New Yorkers need to know about the challenges their police officers face and the outstanding work they do every single day. We will keep sending that message and speaking up for our cops, even if that means we’re standing alone.

Claudia Henriquez is the director of workers’ rights at the Office of the NYC Comptroller. She oversees the Bureau of Labor Law, which sets and enforces the prevailing wage in New York City. In prior roles at the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection and State Attorney General’s Office, Claudia litigated city and state labor protections, respectively. Prior to joining government, Claudia represented low-wage immigrant workers at legal aid organizations in Florida and Virginia.

What led you down your current career path?
I went to law school because I wanted to work in the area of international human rights. I soon realized that I did not need to leave the country to encounter human rights violations. I became involved in immigrants’ rights causes, which ultimately led me to workplace justice issues. At the Comptroller’s Office, I have the ability to draw upon a number of tools, including litigation, policy initiatives, and outreach, to advocate for workers.

What does your organization hope to accomplish in 2024?
In 2024, we are focused on bringing impact litigation on behalf of NYC workers, including a set of lawsuits we recently filed seeking prevailing wages for workers who were cleaning and disinfecting subway cars during the height of the pandemic. Our other priorities are to make our services more accessible through improved communication and outreach, and advocating for legislative policies that would strengthen our office’s ability to enforce worker protection laws.

What are the benefits that union membership (your union if applicable) provides?
We are in an exciting moment in history, experiencing a resurgence in union activity. We have seen the erosion of worker protections over the last few decades, and workers are finally standing up and saying they have had enough. Unions lead to higher wages and better working conditions, including health and safety. For immigrant construction workers, disproportionately represented among injuries and fatalities in the industry, union membership may mean the difference between life and death.

Marc Herbst has served as executive director of LICA, the premier regional trade association of the heavy construction industry since 2006, where he manages services and programming, labor, and safety training for more than 170 member firms and acts as the voice for the industry’s public and government advocacy. Under Mr. Herbst’s tenure, LICA has become a critical driver of the Long Island economy, responsible for thousands of construction jobs within the bi-county region.

What led you down your current career path?
I worked full-time to put myself through college, beginning as a laborer with a Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) local. My interest in infrastructure and public works began then, as I continued my education to earn an MS in transportation and planning. After five terms in the NYS Assembly, I used the experience I gained inside government to help achieve infrastructure goals first at the New York State Thruway and finally at LICA.

What does your organization hope to accomplish in 2024?
Our association is the leading management representative in employer/labor negotiations in the Long Island region’s highway/heavy construction industry. We’ve recently achieved amicable multi-year collective bargaining agreements with our local carpenter, laborers, operating engineers, and teamsters affiliates. We look forward to sustaining and growing our excellent working relationship with our partners in the trades and advocating for good union construction jobs on Long Island.

What are the benefits that union membership (your union if applicable) provides?
LICA is proud to represent union contractors, simply because organized labor provides the best trained and dependable workers who perform their responsibilities in the safest work site environments. In my experience, organized labor provides cost savings for professional workmanship. We know that union jobs are jobs that will be done right.

Karen Ignagni is the CEO of the EmblemHealth family of companies, including one of the country’s largest nonprofit health insurers. A visionary and innovative leader, she oversees a diverse portfolio of health care companies, serving over three million members. She is recognized as one of the most influential people in health care for her work on employee benefits, health care policy reform, and, most recently, her efforts to expand EmblemHealth’s presence in medically underserved communities in NYC.

What led you down your current career path?
I’m from a working-class family with a labor union background. I’ve worked on Capitol Hill and with labor organizations, and have seen the importance of affordable, quality health care. Throughout my career, I’ve focused on expanding access and affordability. Prior to EmblemHealth, I led AHIP in Washington, DC, which played a vital role in health care policy, including the Affordable Care Act’s passage.

What does your organization hope to accomplish in 2024?
EmblemHealth aims to reduce health care disparities by closing care gaps and expanding access to affordable health care. Our “Neighborhood” Health Care Centers are in every borough and Long Island. Our award-winning AdvantageCare Physicians practice serves over 500,000 New Yorkers, promoting whole-person health. Additionally, our disease prevention and management company, WellSpark Health, provides coaching support to individuals in the workforce, helping them prevent and manage chronic illnesses, address burnout, and lead healthier lives.

Senator Robert Jackson, a dedicated advocate for New Yorkers, secured $16 billion for NYC public schools. During his tenure as a city council member, he sponsored the Small Business Jobs Survival Act. As a state senator, he champions public education, worker’s rights, climate justice, and public safety. Currently chairing the Civil Service and Pensions Committee, with 23 years of labor movement experience, including roles with the Department of Labor and PEF, he is poised to deliver results.

What led you down your current career path?
My journey working in labor for over 20 years, from a fraud investigator at the NYS Department of Labor to my time with the Public Employees Federation representing 50,000 employees deeply rooted me in public service. After being elected as community school board president I witness many disparities in public schools. This fueled my determination to run for office to break down barriers and advocate for workers’ rights and quality education for every child.

What does your organization hope to accomplish in 2024?
My goals include significant pension reforms and COLA increases that strengthen our public workforce. I’m committed to passing laws that safeguard tenant rights and create affordable housing. Our youth is the foundation of our society which is why funding public schools, and access to affordable childcare and higher education are always among my top priorities. As we continue to experience a climate crisis, holding corporations accountable for environmental justice and affordable energy is our duty.

What are the benefits that union membership (your union if applicable) provides?
Unions are beneficial for all workers, providing improved wages and working conditions, reducing wage gaps for women and people of color, and offering greater job safety protections and paid leave. Additionally, union members are in a more secure position when it comes to exercising their rights in the workplace. As a union member, you have the advantage of collective bargaining power to negotiate with your employer rather than having to negotiate as an individual.

Patricia “Pat” Kane, RN, CNOR, is NYSNA’s executive director. Pat has been a distinguished member of the NYSNA community for many years. Her experience extends to the many significant facets of the professional life of a NYSNA nurse, as well as to the social and political realm, advocating for quality care, community engagement, and social and economic justice. Pat combines hands-on experience with an understanding of our union, its operations, goals and ideals.

Mike Keogh, partner at Bolton-St. Johns, assists clients with issues before the government, public authorities and corporations. His experience enables him to assist clients interested in partnering with New York business, labor, academic and non-profit communities. Before joining Bolton St.-Johns, Mike was a principal lobbyist and legislative counsel to District Council 37, the largest municipal employee union in New York. He also served as NYC Council’s Director of Finance, specializing in budget and pension areas.

What led you down your current career path?
I was presented with an opportunity to lead the legislative affairs of DC37, New York City’s largest public sector employee union. This allowed for a renewed perspective on the priorities of the working population that is represented by various unions. Additionally, this beginning in labor allowed for continued work with unions through public-private partnerships across New York State.

What does your organization hope to accomplish in 2024?
Bolton-St. Johns looks forward to working with labor, government, and businesses, especially in emerging sectors. For example, the need for collaboration with unions in housing, gaming, and the cannabis fields will be critical to roll out successful programs and effective policies in New York.

Frederick E. Kowal has served as UUP president since winning election in 2013. Under his leadership, UUP has become a strong, politically influential organization in New York. Central to this work has been Kowal’s insistence that UUP take on the role of offering innovative solutions to the challenges facing SUNY. Kowal is a member of AFT’s executive council, NYSUT’s board of directors and executive committee, NY AFL-CIO’s executive council, and the NWF’s board of directors.

Daniel Kroop is in his second term as president of the Association of Legislative Employees (ALE), the independent New York City Council staff union. Representing approximately 400 workers, ALE is America’s largest union of legislative aides. Together with a team of fellow worker-organizers, Dan has led ALE to the cusp of a first contract that will include historic victories like higher salaries, overtime and disciplinary grievance protections. He lives in Flatbush with his partner, Brian.

What led you down your current career path?
Before joining the City Council as a financial analyst in 2017, I worked as an organizer in health care, and for a $15 an hour minimum wage. Before that I lived in London and worked in politics, where my militancy and socialist activism flowered. Labor unions are central to socialism – both call out the concentration of power in the hands of a few, and point toward collective action as the solution to inequality and exploitation.

What does your organization hope to accomplish in 2024?
ALE is working to deliver a groundbreaking first contract with annual raises, a bonus, compensatory overtime, and an end to at-will employment for the dedicated public servants at the Council. ALE is sending a delegation to the Labor Notes Conference in Chicago in April, and will connect with other legislative workers to keep building our movement nationwide. ALE will hold its third general election in September, and its marquee annual holiday party in December.

What are the benefits that union membership (your union if applicable) provides?
ALE is another example of how workers coming together to form unions can dramatically improve pay and conditions. ALE members democratically run their independent union, and use it as a collective tool to uplift and fight for each other. I am incredibly grateful that over 25 unions and labor organizations signed onto a solidarity letter backing ALE. I believe a united labor movement holds the key to changing our world for the better. 

Gary LaBarbera has served as president of the Building and Construction Trades Council of Greater New York since 2009, representing 100,000 working men and women in New York City. In 2021, Mr. LaBarbera was elected president of the New York State Building and Construction Trades Council, which is comprised of 15 local building trades councils, 12 district councils and state associations, and 135 local unions and represents 200,000 tradespeople across the entire state.

What does your organization hope to accomplish in 2024?
The Building Trades hopes to continue to successfully advocate on behalf of New York’s hardworking tradesmen and tradeswomen and play a role in pushing forward key infrastructure projects that generate thousands of good-paying, family-sustaining careers, boost our middle class, and revitalize our economy.

What are the benefits that union membership (your union if applicable) provides?
Union membership provides hardworking individuals with advocacy, reassurance and camaraderie in the workplace. The Building Trades is always working to ensure our members feel safe, valued, and fulfilled on the job site. Union members have the ability to pursue a more accessible path to the middle class and a career that is full of opportunities for growth, family-sustaining benefits and economic security.