richard lipsitz

The labor movement says it is going all in on helping immigrants, who are joining unions in increasing numbers. It is part of a national program involving the AFL-CIO, headed by Richard Trumka.

Imagine wanting to have the American Dream—the family, the house, the car, the financial stability to live the life you want to live. But also imagine working full time and still not being able to make ends meet.

As the Western New York community gathers to celebrate Labor Day, the head of the region's AFL-CIO council looks at progress on several fronts.

For Richard Lipsitz, president of the WNY Area Labor Federation, the Supreme Court decision in Janus v AFSCME came as no surprise. The ruling outlaws mandatoy union dues for government employees. While some predict the move will have a crippling effect, Lipsitz says New York public employee unions have spent the last 20 months preparing for the decision by working to galvanize the support of their members.

Congressman Chris Collins is trying to distance himself from one of the dozen companies "in which he maintains a financial interest." And also from "the workers who receive a paycheck" from the companies.

Worker safety is at risk and there aren't enough inspections of job sites, especially construction job sites. That's the conclusion of a new report from the Western New York Council on Occupational Safety and Health, an organization with strong alliances to local labor groups.

The Western NY Area Labor Federation is at the forefront of the struggle for labor and human rights in the Buffalo area. Ahead of Labor Day weekend, WBFO's Eileen Buckley spoke with the organization's leader, President Richard Lipsitz, to discuss the fight for fairness in the local job market and its support of public education.

For some citizens, Labor Day is a day off from work. But for those who fight for workers rights, it marks an important day.

One of the most important court cases about academic freedom in public higher education grew out of actions at the University at Buffalo.

The state of Michigan's decision to become a Right-to-Work state has outraged organized labor.  The new law makes it illegal to require non-union workers to pay union fees.