2023 Labor Power Players

Vincent Alvarez is president of the NYC Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest regional labor federation, bringing together 300 local unions and 1.3 million workers from all sectors of the NYC economy. A member of the IBEW since 1990, Vinny began his career with Local 3 in Flushing, New York. He is a class c director and board chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and serves on numerous other advisory boards.

What is one of your organization’s recent successes?
We’re proud of our collaboration with Climate Jobs NY, an independent organization of NY labor unions working toward a goal of combating climate change while reversing income inequality through the creation of good union jobs. In 2022, CJNY, in partnership with Cornell, released “A Climate for Change,” a followup to a groundbreaking 2017 report offering a suite of recommendations to build an equitable clean energy economy that tackles climate change and racial and economic inequality.

Andrew Ansbro, president of the FDNY-Uniformed Firefighters Association, represents 20,000 active/retired NYC Firefighters. As leader of the largest FDNY Union, he has been an outspoken advocate for the interests, needs of NYC Firefighters. Elected 2020, Andrew has served as a trustee of the UFA since 2005. Ansbro joined the Department Feb. 2001, 58 Engine, promoted to marine wiper 2014, marine engineer in 2018. Ansbro is a first responder and survivor of the World Trade Center terrorist attacks.

What is one of your organization’s recent successes?
The Uniformed Firefighters Association has the privilege of representing many true heroes, with few that embody the word more accurately than those who responded to World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, helping with response/recovery/cleanup efforts. The UFA led the charge, alongside Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand, secured $1 billion in federal funding for the WTC  Healthcare Program, so first responders stricken with illness from exposure can receive medical care they are owed by this country.

What are the benefits that union membership (your union if applicable) provides?
Being a member of UFA does not only entitle NYC’s bravest to collective bargaining power, it empowers NYC firefighters with a tireless, respected advocate for safe, fair working conditions.  Being a NYC firefighter is a profoundly dangerous job, those who swear the oath to protect life, property deserve the best, safest, equipment, adequate healthcare to address service-related illnesses, injuries sustained in the line-of-duty. The FDNY Family is a tight-knit community, reaffirmed by a firefighter’s UFA membership.

Stuart Appelbaum is president of the RWDSU, VP of the national AFL-CIO, executive VP of the UFCW, chair of the Amazon Global Alliance, and president of a global federation of commerce unions. Appelbaum is a member of the DNC and chairs its Labor Council. He also serves as  president of the Jewish Labor Committee and a director of the National Endowment for Democracy. Appelbaum graduated summa cum laude from Brandeis University and with honors from Harvard Law School.

What is one of your organization’s recent successes?
The RWDSU has a strong organizing record – NY’s cannabis workers, the first farmworkers in NY to have a union, Housing works, the first REI workers in the country to achieve a union. Our campaign to organize Amazon workers in Alabama gained global attention and sparked further organizing at Amazon and other companies around the country, while highlighting the extent to which employers often go to union bust.

What are the benefits that union membership (your union if applicable) provides?
Coming together through a union provides strength and the ability to make change – better wages  and benefits and safer working conditions.  Through a union, workers have the ability to stand up for themselves and have their voices heard. Solidarity!

Robert Bishop is a founding member of Pitta Bishop & Del Giorno. Mr. Bishop is known as a top lobbyist for New York’s labor unions. Clients of the firm include the Transport Workers Union and the Teamsters Union. Mr. Bishop earned his B.A. from Fordham University and his J.D. from the Fordham University School of Law. Mr. Bishop serves on the boards of directors of the Queens County Farm Museum, the Flushing YMCA and the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation.

Benny Boscio Jr. began his career as a New York City Correction Officer in 1999. Over his 24 years of service, he has worked in various commands on Rikers Island, as well as in the borough facilities. In 2020, Benny ran for president of The Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association on a platform of creating safer jails and improving the working conditions of his members. He was elected president by an overwhelming margin of victory.

What is one of your organization’s recent successes?
As COBA president, he helped secure an Arbitration Award, which preserved the raises, retro pay, and benefits owed to his members. He fought for legislation that makes it illegal for any public employer, including the New York City Department of Correction, from taking any disciplinary action against any public employee for COVID-19 related absences. He also led a vigorous campaign to prevent former Mayor de Blasio from privatizing the jobs of hundreds of correction officers.

What are the benefits that union membership (your union if applicable) provides?
COBA is committed to enhancing the union’s health and welfare funds, improving salary and benefits, and ensuring the safest working conditions possible for their members, all while promoting and advocating for their wellbeing and respect in the media.

James Cahill is the regional vice president for Empire BlueCross BlueShield, where he supports hard-working New Yorkers as part of the company’s mission to materially and measurably improve the health of all New Yorkers. In this role, he oversees healthcare for New York’s municipalities and private labor unions, ensuring access for the people that power the city that never sleeps. James has been with Empire since 2003.

What is one of your organization’s recent successes?
Empire is New York’s health insurance company – built over the last 85+ years, we are New Yorkers taking care of New Yorkers, and this simple premise has earned us an unrivaled reputation. As one of New York’s largest insurers, we are known for our service and deep roots in the community. A recent success is continuing to increase market share with the NY Taft-Hartley community, based on our trust, reputation and excellent service.

Renee Campion was appointed in 2019 as the first woman labor commissioner in New York City. Campion has worked for the city for over 20 years and has worked 31 years as a professional in labor relations. She represents the mayor in labor negotiations between the city of NY and over 150 labor unions, associations, or other organizations representing civilians, teachers and uniformed employees. Campion is responsible for administering all city employee contracts, prevailing wage agreements, health insurance for over 1.2M individuals including active employees, pre-medicare retirees, retirees, all spouses and dependents, and various pre-tax programs. 

What is one of your organization’s recent successes?
The NYC Employee Assistance Program provides confidential counseling, education, consultation and referrals to all city employees.  In 2022, EAP has assisted over 19,000 employees and family members and increased its reach to Health+Hospitals employees, resulting in a 115% increase in utilization of our services.

What are the benefits that union membership (your union if applicable) provides? 
Our WorkWell NYC program offers direct services at worksites such as vaccination clinics, fitness classes, health education, awareness campaigns and fun and competitive competitions.  In 2022, almost 48,000 city employees participated in our programming from 62 different agencies.

Michael Carrube began his career in NYCT in 1989 as a train conductor. In 1993, he was elected shop steward. He then served as TWU 100 division chairman from 1997 to 2004. In 2007, he was promoted to supervisor and joined the Subway-Surface Supervisors Association. In 2010, he was elected section VP. In 2014, he was elected SSSA president. In 2018, he created the National Association of Transportation Supervisors, representing supervisors and managers.

What is one of your organization’s recent successes?
The SSSA passed legislation last year making it a felony to assault a NYCT supervisor.

What are the benefits that union membership (your union if applicable) provides?
The SSSA works diligently to enhance the wages and the working conditions for all of its approximately 4,000 active members. The union is also committed to protecting their members’ employment rights and negotiating excellent dental, optical, and prescription drug benefits for both their active and retired members.

23-year-old consultant Justin Chae, a proud Stuyvesant alum, and his team pride themselves on not being afraid to wage war for their clients. In NYC, Meridian took on electeds who used union members as their political pawns. In Long Island, Meridian used innovative storytelling to promote the Suffolk Police Benevolent Association’s electoral priorities. Though some of Justin’s other clientele is confidential, he can proudly provide references for his crisis response and issue advocacy work.

What is one of your organization’s recent successes?
Space in earned media is rapidly dwindling. We ensured that our clients got the TV, radio, and print coverage they deserved while successfully executing digital issue-based campaigns. We also introduced fully-integrated campaigns that reinforced our messaging across all different channels using new targeting and storytelling techniques. Our team is proud to be able to help unions reclaim their narratives, set the record straight, and defend against bad actors in all levels of government.

What are the benefits that union membership (your union if applicable) provides?
Unions defend their members from bureaucracy, politicking, and misinformation. Who better than unions (and their consultants) to advocate for their members? Working-class values must be protected in a rapidly changing world. Technology and politics may evolve with the winds of change, but working-class Americans must still be protected.

Edwin L. Christian is a 39-year member of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 14-14B and has been its business manager since December of 2004. He was elected as an international trustee in September 2021. Ed is the president of the New York City Coalition of Operating Engineers, trustee to the IUOE National Training Fund and trustee to the New York State Conference. He also sits on the Executive Board of the NYC Central Labor Council, the NYC Building and Construction Trades Council, the Board of Directors for the New York Building Congress and the Mayor’s Workforce Development Board. He is involved with many charitable organizations including Outreach and the March of Dimes.