BUFFALO, N.Y. Jan. 25, 2019 — Dozens of Western New York union members will rally Saturday, Jan. 26, at New Era Field in Orchard Park to show solidarity with the employees of New Era’s Derby production facility, which the company is slated to close in March.
Members of the Western New York Area Labor Federation — led by the Lake Shore Central Teachers Association — are planning to gather Saturday at 11:30 a.m. outside The Bills Store at 1 Bills Drive, Orchard Park, N.Y., to call out New Era for choosing profits over people.
Assemblyman Sean Ryan, U.S. Rep. Brian Higgins, Coalition for Economic Justice Executive Director Rev. Kirk Laubenstein and a representative from the Western New York Occupational and Environmental Health Center also are slated to be in attendance.
The #NewEraHatsOff rally comes as the company plans to cut nearly 200 union jobs in Western New York in favor of exploiting underpaid non-union workers in the deep south. More information about the rally is available at www.newerahatsoff.com.
In advance of Saturday’s action, Western New York Area Labor Federation General Vice President and West Seneca Teachers Association President Joe Cantafio will be available to speak with members of the media about the rally today, Friday, Jan. 25, from 1 to 3 p.m. during an open availability at the West Seneca Teachers Association Hall at 290 Center Road, Suite 202, West Seneca, N.Y. Michele Amoia, PAC coordinator for the Lake Shore Central Teachers Association, also will be available to discuss the impact the factory closure will have on area families.
New York State United Teachers is a statewide union with more than 600,000 members in education, human services and health care. NYSUT is affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO.