For Immediate Release: September 11, 2024
Media Contact: Lisa Thomas, lisa@alignny.org, (347) 415-6431
ALIGN announces the honorees for the
2024 Movement Builders Awards, October 17
2024 Honorees:
Benjamin Arana, IBEW Local 3
Vincent Perrone, Teamsters Local 804
NYS Labor Chairs Sen. Jessica Ramos & Assm. Harry Bronson
New York, NY – ALIGN is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2024 Movement Builders Awards (MBAs), annually recognizing leaders in social, economic, and environmental justice who make New York a national model for progress.
This year’s honorees have been fierce partners in the movement for worker and climate justice. Teamsters Local 804 President Vincent Perrone has been a champion for working people across New York State, building power by organizing Amazon workers and working in coalition with ALIGN to raise the minimum wage, combat the abusive practices of big corporations, and win worker protections. New York State Labor Chairs Senator Jessica Ramos and Assemblymember Harry Bronson are steadfast labor leaders and passionate allies to ALIGN’s worker justice coalitions, shepherding landmark legislation to victory this year that will protect thousands of New York workers, including the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act, the Retail Worker Safety Act, and many others. Finally, IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) Local 3 has been an essential labor voice in the movement to decarbonize New York City’s polluting buildings. On the eve of longtime IBEW partner Benjamin Arana’s retirement, ALIGN is honored to recognize his contributions to winning and implementing NYC’s Dirty Buildings Law, Local Law 97 — the cornerstone to the city’s climate future.
“We’ve notched some incredible wins in 2024, from warehouse worker protections to polluter-funded climate action to city decarbonization investments,” said Theodore A. Moore, ALIGN Executive Director. “Of course there’s much left to do, but the transformative power of our movement is that we don’t do it alone. This year’s honorees demonstrate the power of coalition work and New York’s unique leadership in labor and climate justice. We’re proud to lift up our colleagues and allies Vinnie Perrone and Teamsters Local 804, Sen. Ramos, Assm. Bronson, and Benny Arana to celebrate their impact as we continue to fight alongside them for clean air, green jobs, and dignity and justice for all workers.”
The Movement Builders Awards will be held on Thursday, October 17 at the IBEW Electrical Industry Training Center.
All proceeds from the Movement Builders Awards benefit ALIGN in its nonprofit mission to address the root causes of economic injustice by forging strategic coalitions and developing policy solutions that make an impact. Tickets and sponsorships are available now; for more information about sponsorship, please contact Nina Terhune at ninat@alignny.org.
About the Honorees
Benjamin Arana recently celebrated his retirement from his role as Business Representative for IBEW Local 3 in the Bronx, where he was responsible for high voltage testing and instrumentation technicians. Ben previously worked as sub-foreman, foreman and general foreman with various shops and was employed as a superintendent for PJS Electric and Five Star Electric. He served on the Foreman’s Committee and the Wage & Policy Committee of Local 3 before being appointed Business Representative of the Bronx, and in March 2015, he gained the responsibility of overseeing solar energy for the five boroughs. Ben was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut and raised in Yonkers, New York, the youngest of 6 children born to Puerto Rican parents. He lives in Flushing, Queens with his wife Rebecca and is the proud father of two beautiful daughters, Michele and Gabriele.
Assemblymember Harry Bronson represents New York’s diverse 138th district, which includes portions of the City of Rochester. He currently serves as Assembly Labor Chair, and is dedicated to increasing worker protection and rights, workplace safety, and making sure we have an economy that works for everyone. Fighting for social justice, labor reforms, fair wages, health care access, LGBTQ protections, equality and fairness have been a lifelong endeavor. Prior to being elected to the Assembly, he was an attorney and former partner at Blitman and King, where his focus areas were anti-discrimination employment law, labor issues, employee benefits and litigation. Some of Harry’s proudest legislative accomplishments have been passing Marriage Equality in 2011, the success of ‘The Fight for 15,’ which established a minimum wage increase and paid family leave program to provide 12 weeks of paid leave. He has also passed legislation to end child poverty, reform mental health care, and protect our public school system.
Vincent Perrone is the President of Teamsters Local 804, Trustee for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and the Eastern Region Package Director. Vinnie was elected President of 804 in 2019, after working 25 years as a UPS driver. He is not one to ever run from a fight, whether it is for his members or for working people across New York. Vinnie, his staff, and his members have worked in solidarity with unions and community groups on issues such as wage theft, worker safety, and environmental protection. His ability to bring people together and win has cemented his place as a leader in the fight for justice.
Senator Jessica Ramos represents New York’s 13th District in the State Senate, which includes the Queens neighborhoods of Corona, East Elmhurst, Jackson Heights, as well as parts of Elmhurst, Rego Park and Forest Hills. Ramos chairs the Senate Committee on Labor, where she’s fought to pass historic legislation to grant farm & domestic workers basic labor protections, tackle wage theft and worker safety, and secured $2.1 billion to create a fund for workers who have been excluded from pandemic-related relief. Senator Ramos was born at Elmhurst Hospital to undocumented Colombian immigrants, grew up in Astoria, and now lives in Jackson Heights with her two sons.
About ALIGN
ALIGN (The Alliance for a Greater New York) brings together labor, climate, and community organizations for a more just, sustainable New York. Working at the intersection of economic and climate justice, ALIGN builds coalitions with those most impacted and uplifts worker and community voices to fight for dignity in the workplace and a just path to a renewable energy economy for all.
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