Headlines for Friday November 18th, 2022

Yesterday, workers at the Starbucks on the Ithaca Commons joined other Starbucks workers in a nationwide strike. According to CNY Central, the strike was called to urge Starbucks to return to the bargaining table with union representatives. The strike, dubbed the “Red Cup Rebellion,” included around 2,000 workers at 113 stores around the country. Workers have tried to call attention to dangerous working conditions as well as union busting efforts by Starbucks. A few weeks ago the National Labor Relations Board found that there was merit to the claim that Starbucks shut down its Collegetown location in an effort to quell union activity.

Today, the student activist group Climate Justice Cornell will be holding a rally at Thompson Park in Ithaca at 5 PM. According to the Ithaca Times, the event is part of a statewide launch of NY Renews’ Climate, Jobs, and Justice package, a platform for climate justice in the 2023 legislative session. The event is sponsored by several local organizations including Sunrise Ithaca, Cornell Progressives, and will feature speakers from the Ithaca DSA and other climate leaders.

After election day last week Democrats retained their majorities in the State Assembly, but the Assembly map will soon be redrawn. According to the Albany Times Union, the state Assembly map was ruled unconstitutional by the courts and ordered to be redrawn in September. The courts also forced the state to redraw its congressional and state senate maps, but State Assembly maps were challenged too close to the 2022 elections for them to be redrawn. New maps would not be used until the 2024 election.