named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Fix Tier 6 Campaign
Advocacy initiative calling for reform of New York State’s Tier 6 pension system to improve retirement security for public employees
Michael L. Burns Labor Day Celebration
Annual community event offering food and entertainment for union members and their families, celebrating worker contributions
Union Strong Podcast
Weekly podcast highlighting labor issues, worker stories, and union campaigns, including coverage of local and national labor struggles
Unionize Your Workplace
Provides resources and support to workers seeking to form unions and negotiate with employers for better wages, benefits, and working conditions
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Union-Linked Educational Scholarships 1 activity
- Administers scholarship program for union members and familiesDistributes scholarships to union members and their children, having awarded over four million dollars in financial support over 25 years.
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Worker Rights Advocacy & Wage Protection 1 activity
- Advocates for workers' economic and social justice policiesEngages in state-level advocacy to advance workers' rights, including campaigns for increased unemployment benefits, protection of SNAP funding, and warnings about rising health insurance costs under the ACA.
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Organized Member Social Events 1 activity
- Hosts annual Labor Day celebrationOrganizes a free annual event for union members and their families featuring food and entertainment to celebrate labor contributions.
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Professional Networking Events 1 activity
- Hosts union conventions and gatheringsOrganizes and hosts events such as the welcome reception for New York State AFL-CIO COPE Convention delegates in Albany to support union networking and engagement.
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Policy Advocacy & Research 1 activity
- Organizes rallies and mobilizes members for labor policy reformPlans and mobilizes union members and community partners for public advocacy events, including a large rally at MVP Arena in Albany focused on Tier 6 pension reform.
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Podcast and Radio Production 1 activity
- Produces Union Strong podcastProduces and hosts the Union Strong podcast to highlight labor struggles, discuss workers' rights issues, and feature labor leaders and public officials such as New York State Assemblyman Harry Bronson.
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Member Hardship Assistance Programs 1 activity
- Provides disaster relief and pension assistance to maritime workersOperates the Seafarers Disaster Relief Fund to support members and retirees affected by natural disasters and provides pension-related support services.
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Recreational Boating and Sailing Programs 1 activity
- Provides maritime training and apprenticeship programsOffers vocational training and apprenticeships for maritime workers through partnerships with the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education and the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship.
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Labor Union Representation & Organizing 1 activity
- Supports workplace unionization effortsAssists workers in organizing and negotiating for improved wages, benefits, and working conditions through union representation.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$245K
Contributions & grants$60K24%
Program service revenue$184K75%
Investment income$1K0%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$186K
Program expenses—
Admin / overhead—
Fundraising—
Salaries & benefits$127K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$191K
Cash$90K
Investments$101K
Liabilities$3K
Net assets$188K
Liquid reserves12.3 mo
5 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue +8.3%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIKE PANZARINO | SECRETARY TREASURER | 15 | $17K |
relationships · 17
Who they work with
- AFL-CIO Network — Member of the national AFL-CIO labor federation network
- AFL-CIO Network — Member of the national AFL-CIO labor federation network.
- AFL-CIO Network — State and local labor council member of the national AFL-CIO federation.
- AT&T Partner — Partner for wireless discounts through Union Plus program
- Albany Newspaper Guild Partner — Collaborates with the Albany Newspaper Guild to produce content on labor issues, including the Union Strong podcast.
- Greater Capital Region Building and Construction Trades Partner — Co-organizes the Michael L. Burns Labor Day Celebration.
- Labor Day Parade Committee Partner — Co-organizes the Michael L. Burns Labor Day Celebration.
- NYS AFL-CIO Coalition — Collaborated on issuing a public letter in support of the WNBPA’s contract demands.
- New York State AFL-CIO Network — Collaborates with the state-level federation on pension reform advocacy and shares resources through joint campaigns.
- New York State AFL-CIO Network — Hosted a welcome reception for delegates of the New York State AFL-CIO COPE Convention.
- New York State AFL-CIO Partner — Collaborates with the New York State AFL-CIO by featuring its president on the Union Strong podcast.
- New York State Assembly Government — Collaborates with New York State Assembly leadership, including Assemblyman Harry Bronson, to advance labor policy.
- New York State Department of Labor Government — Collaborates with state labor agency to inform workers about unemployment benefit changes.
- Seafarers International Union Partner — AFL-CIO affiliate union representing professional merchant mariners.
- Times Union Partner — Supports journalists at the Times Union represented by the Albany Newspaper Guild in their fight for a fair contract.
- United Nations Government — References the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights as foundational to the labor movement's human rights advocacy.
- Women's National Basketball Players Association Partner — Featured guest on the Union Strong podcast to discuss labor rights in professional sports.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Centering Lived Experience in Advocacymethodology: lived-experience advocacyBy grounding policy and labor advocacy in personal stories of economic hardship and injustice, we create more compelling and effective campaigns because authentic narratives humanize systemic issues and build empathy and solidarity.
- Democratic Representation to Amplify Worker Voicemethodology: democratic representationBy electing representatives from within the labor community, we ensure authentic, accountable advocacy at the local and state level because democratic structures center worker interests and build legitimacy in policy engagement.
- Storytelling and Media for Public Education and Mobilizationmethodology: public-awareness-through-storytellingBy using podcasting and personal narratives to educate the public and union members about labor issues, we increase awareness and drive political engagement because lived experiences make systemic challenges relatable and motivate collective action.
- Union Consolidation for Structural Resiliencemethodology: union_consolidationBy consolidating worker representation into a unified, nationally chartered federation, we sustain member protections amid economic and industry instability because larger, coordinated bodies have greater leverage and institutional durability.
- Worker-Led Collective Bargainingmethodology: worker-led collective bargainingBy organizing unions and enabling workers to negotiate collectively, we improve labor conditions and workplace fairness because worker-led action builds power, trust, and accountability in employer-employee relationships.