Empire State of Mind: President Shuler Rallies at AFL-CIO Bus Stops in Hudson Valley, Times Square

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler rode the AFL-CIO “It’s Better in a Union” bus into the Hudson Valley and New York City this week to rally local unions.

Shuler joined union members for an accountability rally on Tuesday to call out Rep. Mike Lawler for his vote to pass disastrous cuts to critical programs and investments. Hudson Valley union members and leaders gathered in Croton Point Park, in the heart of New York’s 17th Congressional District, to highlight how Lawler failed to advance the Protect America’s Workforce Act and thereby harmed the working people he represents. 

“Ripping away food from our children and our seniors, gutting funding from our schools, that our hospitals need, voting to give tax cuts to billionaires instead of working families who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads,” Shuler said. 

On Wednesday, the bus tour arrived at the iconic Times Square for a rally with Actors’ Equity Association President Brooke Shields as members face contract negotiations with the Broadway League beginning next week. Broadway actors and stage managers are gearing up to fight for the improved scheduling, better sick coverage and secure health care they deserve.

“Every working person deserves a fair deal at work. We need reasonable schedules, protection when we get hurt,” Shields said, adding that she had torn her meniscus and still danced on it for three months. “Our stage managers don’t have swings. They get sick, they have to still come to work. It’s too much. We need safer staffing practices. We need [a] fair share [of] money going into our health insurance.”