UNION BUSTING!NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD INVESTIGATES PEPSI –SOFT DRINK GIANT- FOR ALLEGED VIOLATION OF SECURITY WORKERS’ UNION CONTRACT RIGHTS UNDER NLRB LABOR RULES. SERVICE EMPLOYEES INT UNION 32BJ WORKERS AGAIN TARGETED BY A WESTCHESTER COMPANY. 50 SEIU WORKERS AT RISK OF LOSING JOBS, HEALTH BENEFITS.

Posted on January 31, 2023 by John Bailey

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. Special to WPCNR from Service Employees International 32BJ. January 31, 2023:

PepsiCo violated local law when it did not give required notice under Westchester’s Displaced Workers Protection Law that it was changing contractors in December.

The company’s new security contractor, AGB Investigative Services, Inc., is now under investigation by the National Labor Relations Board for unlawfully withdrawing recognition of 50 security officers’ union 32BJ SEIU at PepsiCo’s New York headquarters in Purchase, and a location in Valhalla.

Workers are now scrambling to prepare for the loss of their employer-paid comprehensive healthcare on Feb. 1.

The security officers have been unionized with 32BJ SEIU, the largest security officer union on the East Coast, since 2019. Pepsi did not give the workers and their union the required 15 days’ notice under county law that Pepsi had canceled its contract with Securitas – a responsible security company that respects workers’ rights to organize and has raised standards for security officers in NY and the Hudson Valley.

On January 17, 2023, 32BJ SEIU filed a charge with the National Labor Relations Board, charging AGB with withdrawing its recognition of the union, an alleged violation of the NLRA. The union seeks injunctive relief.

Workers have delivered a petition to Pepsi (they await a promised response) and will be leafleting outside PepsiCo’s Valhalla location this week and can be made available to press.

“We are not walking away from this fight. Our members have worked too hard over the past decade to raise standards for security officers in Westchester and across the East Coast to allow contractors to come and think they can do whatever they want. Pepsi should know better. We are going to fight. The fight is on,” said 32BJ SEIU Executive Vice President and Director of the Hudson Valley District Shirley Aldebol.

“I have been a security officer for 19 years and at Pepsi for 15 years. Before these were union jobs I only saw two 20 cent raises. After we won union recognition, we were no longer ‘at will’ employees – we had job security, good wage increases and quality healthcare. We depend on our union benefits and will not stop fighting for our union jobs. We have a lot of officers that work here, we spend money in the town, we like the jobs – but we’re getting punished because of the new contract,” said Jason Anderson, who works at Pepsi’s Valhalla location. “Many of our co-workers still live paycheck to paycheck, with no quality healthcare, any sudden health issue could be devastating for any of us.”

County Executive George Latimer Looks Back

Posted on January 30, 2023 by John Bailey

WPCNR News & Comment. From the Facebook Page of Westchester County Executive George Latimer. January 30, 2023:

A contested election brought great disruption to America. The margin was relatively small and regionalized – one group of states committed to one direction for the country, the other pulling in a different direction. The man elected was vilified by those who did not vote for him, so much so that….

….states would not stay in the union. The year was not 2021…it was 1861. With two exceptions (Georgia and Virginia) the states were the same on the losing side of each election. They felt their way of life would be irreparable ruined by the election of the other candidate. Conspiracy theories abounded in both cases.

The price of Unity 160 years ago was four years of open war, hundreds of thousands of deaths, the ruination of the economy (for a while) and a bitter division that lingers still in some fashion.

I was disappointed with the outcome of some recent elections: 2000, 2004, 2016. Never once did I or we countenance violence against the side that won. The handful of voices that did were not encouraged by the mainstream of my party. We accepted the result – and in two cases, where we had the majority of American voters, but not the Electoral College. Can you just imagine the reverse: what would the case be if my side had lost the popular vote in 2020 but won the Electoral College?? How would that have been accepted by the losing side?

Now, we are past the election and the new President is in office. There will be debate about public policy and disagreement. And there will be other elections that either side might win.

There is no place for violence or vigilantism where you take your weaponry and override the rule of law. The great frustration for some is that they feel they were cheated (although they may have come to believe that without facts or reason). It may be the dawning reality that they are not actually the majority, and may not ever be again. If they regain power electorally it may take voter apathy from the majority, or a scandal or a unique moment or a unique leader. I tend to think it is a pendulum that swings one way then swings back.

But maybe the demographic tides are shifting away from them.

That is what the South felt in 1861. That is why they rebelled.

The “Boogaloo” crowd wants a Second Civil War (look it up if you don’t know the reference). They believe they can take it to the streets and win with bullets what they can’t win with ballots.

The dark clouds that swirl in Russia AND China (not just one or the other) and the lesser players in North Korea and Iran, applaud the domestic upheaval in the USA. They know they have the world to gain if America falls through internal strife. And a long dark future awaits the world if that were to happen.

Rational people- from left to center to right – understand we disagree on fundamentals. But they also understand that we must stay engaged in civil debate and structured competition, else fall into chaos. A chaos that would make the Civil War look like child’s play in comparison.

Buck up, America. We will get through all of this with determination and forbearance. For inspiration, read the speeches of Abraham Lincoln.

Brilliant then. Relevant now.

CORPORATE TARGETING UNION CONTRACTORS HAPPENS AGAIN IN WESTCHESTER, A PATTERN

Posted on January 28, 2023 by John Bailey

PEPSICO, PURCHASE LATEST TO REPLACE A UNIONIZED SECURITY CONTRACTOR. VIOLATION OF NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS ACT, UNION CHARGES. 50 UNION MEMBERS OUT OF WORK

WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. FROM THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL UNION 32BJ. January 28, 2023:

Area industry standards for security officers are at risk of being undercut after PepsiCo Inc. replaced union security contractor Securitas with new contractor AGB Investigative Services, Inc. at its New York headquarters in Purchase, and a location in Valhalla. AGB has withdrawn its recognition of workers’ union 32BJ SEIU, in violation of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the union has alleged.

As a result, some 50 full time security officers (and their families) could lose their high quality healthcare benefits on January 31. (These have been good union jobs since July 2019 and represent roughly 20% of the unionized security officer workforce in the Hudson Valley.)

In response, workers have mobilized, delivering a petition to Pepsi Co., calling on the mega corporation “to speak to AGB and assure that they continue our union health benefits or…hire a responsible contractor that will, so we can continue to receive the same benefits that other union security guards doing the same work in our area, and we are able to live with dignity.”

“This is unacceptable,” said 32BJ SEIU Executive Vice President and Director of the Hudson Valley District Shirley Aldebol. “Pepsi is a multi-billion dollar company making historic profits. It must stand by its commitment to social responsibility and continue to adequately fund its security contract so as to not lower area standards for security officers in Westchester. They need to tell AGB to cease its unlawful activity and recognize and bargain with the workers’ union or hire a responsible contractor who will. We need to bring more union jobs with quality wages and healthcare to the area, not attack the standards that have already been set.”

“I have been a security officer for 19 years and at Pepsi for 15 years. Before these were union jobs I only saw two 20 cent raises. Since we won union recognition, we got good wages and quality healthcare that helped me support my family. We depend on our union benefits and will not stop fighting for our union jobs. We have a lot of officers that work here, we spend money in the town, we like the jobs – but we’re getting punished because of the new contract,” said Jason Anderson, who works at Pepsi’s Valhalla location. “Most of our co-workers still live paycheck to paycheck, with no quality healthcare, any sudden health issue could be devastating for any of us.”

“The New Year for us has not been good,” continues the workers’ petition. “It has been met with the bad news that AGB, our new employer, will not agree to continue our current health benefits through our union that we have enjoyed for years. We now are worried about how we will take care of our families.”Edit

WHITE PLAINS SCHOOL DISTRICT INCREASING NARCAN (OPIOID OVERDOSE EMERGENCY TREATMENT) AVAILABILITY AND TRAINING IN ITS USE IN WHITE PLAINS SCHOOLS.

Posted on January 28, 2023 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. From Michelle Melendez, Clerk to the White Plains Board of Education. January 28, 2023:

Editor’s Note: In the aftermath of the New Rochelle High School Nursing Staff saving the life of a high school student by administering a Narcan nasal spray when the student was not breathing, WPCNR asked the White Plains School District what were the narcan procedures in White Plains Schools. Ms. Melendez has issued the following statement explaining the procedures:)

Here is some Narcan information you requested:

As you are aware, we are presently facing an Opioid epidemic in our state and nation. To make our schools a safer place for students and staff, we are increasing the access of Narcan and opioid overdose training within our district.

All Nurse’s offices have always had Narcan available for use in an emergency situation and Narcan has been available in some of our AED cabinets throughout our schools for some time.

Access to Narcan and training will empower all staff to assist with potentially lifesaving measures, should an opioid overdose occur within our schools.

Rochambeau, White Plains High School, Highlands, and Eastview will have Narcan for use in an emergency in the following areas:

Nurse’s emergency response bags
Coaches’ emergency bags (coaches will have these during after school sports)
Sport offices area
Main office
Inside all AED Cabinets

Elementary Schools will have Narcan for use in an emergency in these areas:

Inside AED
Nurses Emergency Bag
Main offices

All CPR training in White Plains School District will include Narcan administration as it relates to CPR.

I hope this answers your questions in regard to Narcan.

WOMEN’S BAR ASSOCIATION COMMENDS 2ND PASSAGE OF NEW YORK EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT

Posted on January 28, 2023 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. January 28, 2023:

The Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (“WBASNY”) commends the Legislature on the second passage of the New York State Equal Rights Amendment (“ERA”), A.1283/S.108-A, sponsored by Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright and Senator Liz Krueger.

WBASNY has unwaveringly supported adding further protections for sex, sexual orientation, and reproductive rights to the New York State Constitution and has made the passage and enactment of an Equal Rights Amendment a longstanding legislative priority.

For too long sex and gender bias have been pervasive in our social structure, and it has become abundantly clear that biases against sexual orientation and reproductive rights have become more commonplace.

While constitutional guarantees are also needed at the Federal level to prevent further discrimination, WBASNY is relieved to see New York State take up the fight to protect its citizens. By passing the ERA in a second legislative session, the Legislature helps bring an important WBASNY legislative priority to reality and ensure that all New Yorkers will have their rights protected.

WBASNY stands ready to provide whatever support is necessary to insure ERA is on the ballot and enshrined in the New York State Constitution.

WBASNY extends a special thank you to: Governor Kathy Hochul for her tireless efforts defending New Yorkers; Assemblymember Rebecca Seawright and Senator Liz Krueger for their work on protecting these important rights; and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins for ensuring that this legislation is a priority.

COUNTY LEGISLATURE PROPOSED CANDIDATE VETTING LAW DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH

Posted on January 28, 2023 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. January 28, 2023:

The Westchester County Board of Legislators is considering passing a law to prevent, or make it more difficult, for a candidate like Congressman George Santos (who lied about almost every aspect of his life during the campaign) from holding elective office in this county.

I believe that the proposed law doesn’t go far enough.

Candidates for every office (local, county, state and federal, should be required to provide biographical information including the candidates educational, military and employment histories to the New York State Board of Elections when they file nominating petitions.

If the candidate is elected and is found to have lied about his/her educational, military and employment backgrounds – I think that a recall election should be held if 5% of the voters who live within the boundaries of the district sign a petition calling for a recall election.

It’s outrageous that the Congress won’t remove George Santos from office even though he misrepresented his life to voters who live in his congressional district prior to the election.

There needs to be a mechanism in place that would enable the voters to remove officials from local, county, state and federal offices, if a similar situation would arise in the future.

19 states authorize recall elections.

New York State currently does not. I propose that the New York State Legislature approve a limited recall law that would only authorize recall elections when office holders are found to have lied about their educational, military and employment backgrounds.

PAUL FEINER Greenburgh Town Supervisor

WHITE PLAINS WEEK BREAKING NEWS THE JANUARY 27 REPORT now ON www.wpcommunitymedia.org

Posted on January 27, 2023 by John Bailey

**SNOWBIRD REPORT STAY WHERE YOU ARE: JANUARY QUITE CONTRARY**

**EXCLUSIVE: WESTCHESTER HOSPITALS SEEING 1,292 ADMISSIONS TESTING POSITIVE AFTER THEY ARE OFFICIALLY ADMITTED IN 3 WEEKS.**

**HOSPITALS REELING WITH ADMITTED PATIENTS TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID AFTER BEING ADMITTED.**

THIS WEEK EVERY WEEK ON WHITE PLAINS WEEK

SINCE 2001 22 YEARS

COVID HOSPITALIZATIONS UP! 1,292 HOSPITALIZED WITH COVID IN 3 WEEKS.

Posted on January 27, 2023 by John Bailey

WESTCHESTER HOSPITALS LAST 7 DAYS. 38% OF REPORTED ADMISSIONS POSITIVE FOR COVID AFTER ADMISSION. CONSISTENT FIRST 3 WEEKS OF JANUARY

WPCNR CORONAVIRUS SURVEILLANCE. Data from New York State Hospitalizations Tracker. Observation & Analysis by John F. Bailey. January 26, 2023:

Hospitalizations for treatment of covid reached 391 persons in the 7 days from January 17 to January 23. In Westchester.

My findings are based on the numbers of persons admitted to 9 key Westchester hospitals the last 7 days in the county.

WPCNR has observed that 38% of persons coming to these hospitals for treatment are testing positive for covid after being officially admitted.

9 COUNTY HOSPITALS REPORTED 471 PATIENTS HAD COVID AFTER PATIENTS ADMITTED IN 1 WEEK

White Plains Hospital Center Jan. 17 to 23: 100 Covid Positves in 188 Patients Admitted.(53%)

Westchester Medical Center ( Jan 17^th-24) 54 Covid Positives Found in 336 Patients admitted. (24%)

New Rochelle (Sound Shore): 47 Covid Positives Found in 102 Patients admitted.(46%)

Hudson Valley Hospital: 51 Covid Positives Found in 82 Patients Admitted (62%)

Northern Westchester Hosp(Mt. Kisco): 33 Positives Found in 69 Patients Admitted (48%)

Lawrence Hospital (Bronxville): 15 Positives Found in 105 Patients Admitted. (14%)

Mount Vernon: 6 Positives Found in 52 Patients Admitted. (12%)

St Joseph, Yonkers: 8 Positives Found in 24 Patients Admitted.33%

St. Johns Riverside, Yonkers: 115 Positives Found in 201 Patients Admitted (57%)

IN THE LAST 7 DAYS ENDING MONDAY THESE HOSPITALS REPORTED 1,246 PATIENTS ADMITTED WITH 471 FOUND TO BE POSITIVE FOR COVID (38%)

The last the county announced the number of hospitalizations about 2 weeks ago they said it was 286 hospitalizations. LAST WEEK NEW COVID HOSPITALZATIONS FOUND AMONG THOSE ADMITTED WENT UP 60%

What do I make of this?

There a lot of persons who are carrying the Covid-19 around and do not know they have it. And may think it isn’t covid.
There are those who tested positive with an at home test and did not have it lab-verified for whatever reason (keeping on the job, for example. And they have gotten sick enough to go into the hospital.
Or think it is the flu, and go to the hospital.
Or they may be admitted and found to be positive for covid when they had tested not positive previously.
Did not have the full range of covid shots including the booster and they have gotten covid.
From what I saw seeing the demographics of the infections the people testing positive are from 25 to 65 and the majority 65 and up.

If you take hospitalizations in Westchester for the first three weeks in January since December 30, the picture of how much the disease is spreading is quite different than the official statistics. Way higher.

In Westchester County, the last three weeks we have seen Covid Tracker reports showing the county containing covid, 1,896 cases January 1-7; 1,520 cases, Jan 8-14; and 1,441 Jan 15-21.

In the first four days of this week there have been 542 new lab-verified cases of covid –under 180 a day.

The hospitalizations this week may mean the lack of testing is failing to give a true picture of the rate the disease is spreading.

I will have to wait and see how this week plays out to see if the downward trend continues, and these new hospitalizations are just a warning to be careful. It’s out there still.

41% OF 3,117 NEW ADMISSIONS IN 9 WESTCHESTER HOSPITALS DISCOVERED POSITIVE WITH COVID AFTER ADMISSION. TOTAL FOUND POSITIVE OF THE ADMITTED– 1,292. THREE WEEKS OF JANUARY

WHITE PLAINS HOSPITAL had 691 new admissions from December 30 to January 17 and 414 Tested positive for covid, 53% of admissions.

WESTCHESTER MEDICAL CENTER admitted 1,005 new admissions. 250 Tested positive for Covid after admission (25%)

NEW ROCHELLE HOSPITAL admitted 191 patients, 89 were found with Covid . (47%)

HUDSON VALLEY HOSPITAL admitted 194 patients; 97 were positive for covid. (50%)

NORTHERN WESTCHESTER MT. KISCO admitted 144; 67 found with covid (47%)

LAWRENCE HOSPITAL (BRONXVILLE) admitted 315 in 3 weeks. 75 were found covid positive (25%)

MOUNT VERNON admitted 103 and 17 were found with covid – 17%

ST JOSEPHS (Yonkers) admitted 54 patients—19 were found covid positive—35%

RIVERSIDE (Yonkers) admitted 420 in 3 weeks. 264 were positive for covid, 63%

The trend of percentages of new covid patients being found after admission appears consistent the entire 3 weeks of January. The 1,292 infections for the three weeks is not at all close to the 5,399 new cases of covid the county experienced the last 25 days in the county, which means the disease is less severe, or it may be just beginning to stress the hospitals. But a third to 40% of all county admissions in a month covid positive? Is the covid not as serious as we have been told, or are the covid effects just as profound as in the past?

Keep being wary.

STEPINAC HIGH SCHOOL RAISES AWARENESS OF EFFECTS OF BULLYING AND CYBER-BULLYING WITH SPEAKER/AUTHOR JOHN HALLIGAN

Posted on January 26, 2023 by John Bailey

WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. Special to WPCNR from Stepinac High School. January 26, 2023:

In its ongoing commitment to help raise awareness about bullying and cyber-bullying, incidents of which are widespread at high schools throughout the nation, Stepinac High School today addressed the issue with riveting presentations by renowned speaker/author John Halligan.

The father of a 13-year-old son who was bullied at school and committed suicide in 2003, Halligan led compelling and informative discussions with Stepinac’s students, their parents and guardians as well as members of the community. The sessions were held in the school’s Major Bowes Auditorium.

Halligan, who has made it a personal mission to curb bullying and cyber-bullying, relayed his own tragic experience as a father of a son, Ryan, who had been bullied by his peers since the fifth grade, both in school and online. Halligan related that bullying and cyber-bullying were factors that contributed to Ryan’s vulnerability and ultimate suicide as the youngster had wrestled with underlying mental health issues and depression.

Halligan began his presentation with a short video comprising home movie clips and pictures to tell Ryan’s story. Paul Carty, Principal, said that Halligan’s heartbreaking and unforgettable presentation reminded “our students that there is a face, a person, a heart on the other side of the screen,” adding: “The students gained a unique perspective from inside the family of a victim of bullying and cyber-bullying.”

In the wrap-up session, the students received life-changing lessons about forgiveness, suicide prevention, the role of bystanders and a challenge to apologize to someone.

According to the Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) website, #StopBullying | CDC, last year, about 1 in 5 high school students in the U.S. reported being bullied on school property and more than 1 in 6 reported they were the target of cyber-bullying. Bullying can result in physical injury, social and emotional distress, self-harm, and even death. It also increases the risk for depression, anxiety, and poor academic achievement. The CDC also notes the youth who bully others are at increased risk for substance use and academic problems.

Frank Portanova (Class of ’93), Vice Principal of Academics and Curriculum, said: “Bullying and cyber-bullying can be prevented. Our hope is that, inspired by Halligan’s presentation, students, parents and guardians and the community at large will continue this important conversation with each other and elsewhere to effect change.” For more information, visit the site named after Halligan’s son: www.RyansStory.org.

SPECIAL PLANNING BOARD MEETING ON FARRELL ESTATES, 7 TO 9 FEB 7 CITY HALL

Posted on January 25, 2023 by John Bailey

WPCNR THE LETTER TICKER. January 25, 2023:

Below is some important information pertaining to the Special Meeting of the White Plains Planning Board on February 7th, 2023 regarding the Farrell Estates project in Gedney Farms.

The meeting will take place from 7-9pm at City Hall, 255 Main Street.

Large developments in our neighboring south end communities have the potential to negatively impact traffic patterns, potential environmental impacts regarding water run-off and drainage that flow south, the future development of 330 West St., as well as the old Windward property on Windward Ave.

The RRA (Rosedale Residential Association) wants to ensure the city informs us on how this new development may impact the safety and character of our neighborhood. If you are interested in these potential impacts, please review the below Farrell Estates application.

Farrell Estates at Ridgeway: Farrell Subdivision & Site Plan Application