Unions Join Marriage Equality Battle in New York

A number of New York labor unions have made their voices heard in the Empire State on the issue of marriage equality. Their consensus? The time has come for family parity on New York State.

A June 5 article in the Times Union reported that unions were turning up the heat on the state’s Senate, where legislation to provide for marriage equality has yet to come up to a vote.

The bill has already won approval in the Assembly. Two years ago, the Assembly approved a similar bill, but the then-Republican dominated Senate never voted on it. Now, although Democrats enjoy a slim two-seat majority in the Senate, it is highly uncertain that the measure would pass if put to a vote.

But unions see the matter in much the same way gay and lesbian families do: as a matter of fairness and equality before the law.

Last month, the state Assembly heard from the unions, with New York State United Teachers Executive Vice President Alan Lubin writing, "As unions, we have a particular responsibility to protect equal rights and promote economic justice in connection with collective bargaining, economic benefits, and legislation that affects our members,"

Lubin’s own union, along with several other unions, expressed support for marriage equality for the first time. The article noted that in recent years, unions have grown increasingly supportive of GLBT equality causes.

That change has been years in the making, and reflects the outreach and education efforts made by supporters of GLBT equality.

The article quoted Empire State Pride Agenda Executive Director Alan Van Capelle, who said, "We didn’t decide to pick up the phone and ask for help in this moment -- it’s been a relationship we’ve been building for seven years," the article reported.

Van Capelle went on to frame the issue in a larger context. "The message was: ’Your struggle is our struggle.’

"It is as much our job to lift people up in their workplace, as much as it’s your job to make sure that when your members leave work, they are treated fairly and with dignity.

"This is a labor issue, not a gay civil rights issue," Van Capelle added.