Union Strong: Growing New York's Union Movement
Welcome to the New York State AFL-CIO Union Strong campaign!
This campaign celebrates the benefits of belonging to a union—key among them are better wages, better benefits, better working conditions, and a voice in the workplace.
The Union Strong campaign helps amplify our affiliates’ solidarity campaigns to show our strength and unity.
It unites working people by giving them an opportunity to show their support for the union movement—whether they are proud union members, related to union members, or support unions.
In addition, the New York State AFL-CIO Union Strong campaign provides the backdrop as we continue to build on our momentum of strengthening the voice of working people across all sectors of the union movement.
Together we will demonstrate our solidarity and collective strength as we engage with our members to build a ground-up movement at the worksite, the ballot box, and in our communities.
Support the Union Movement
The union movement is as strong as its members and supporters! You can help keep New York State Union Strong by participating in legislative, political, and solidarity actions.
Sign up for email and text alerts to hear about upcoming actions, or follow the New York State AFL-CIO on Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, Threads or Bluesky.
Union News on the Union Strong Podcast
Tune in to the Union Strong podcast, where we cover local organizing campaigns, legislative and political issues that affect working people, and share stories of union members who benefit from belonging to a union and having a voice in the workplace.
You can listen wherever you get your podcasts, or watch the video version of the show on our YouTube channel.
How to Unionize Your Workplace
Forming a union with your coworkers gives you the right to negotiate with your employer for the wages, benefits and working conditions that you deserve. There are four steps to forming a union in New York:
1. Get together with your co-workers who may share a common interest in organizing a union.
2. Talk to a union organizer in order to strategize and to learn the next steps.
3. Talk to your co-workers to build support for the union.
4. Show that support through an election or a card-check once you have a strong majority.
When your union is official, you’ll choose your leaders and negotiate a contract. The process is democratic, and the more inclusive you can be, the stronger your union will be. Get connected with a union organizer.
