For Immediate Release: October 18, 2024
Media Contact: Lisa Thomas, lisa@alignny.org, (347) 415-6431
Download photos and video from the event, credit: Sean DiSerio
ALIGN’s 2024 Movement Builders Awards celebrate
New York’s labor leaders
2024 Honorees:
Benjamin Arana, IBEW Local 3
Vincent Perrone, Teamsters Local 804
NYS Labor Chairs Sen. Jessica Ramos & Assm. Harry Bronson
Clockwise from top left: Deputy Director Lucas Shapiro and Climate Director Jenille Scott with guests; CM Sandy Nurse, Executive Director Theodore A. Moore, CM Julie Won; Teamsters Local 804 President Vincent Perrone; IBEW Local 3 Business Representative Benjamin Arana
New York, NY – Last night, ALIGN: The Alliance for a Greater New York held its 2024 Movement Builders Awards (MBAs), recognizing leaders in economic and environmental justice who make New York a national model for progress. The annual event was held at the IBEW Electrical Industry Training Center in Long Island City.
This year’s honorees were Vincent Perrone, President, Teamsters Local 804; New York State Labor Chairs Senator Jessica Ramos and Assemblymember Harry Bronson; and Benjamin Arana, IBEW Business Representative. Also in attendance were Council Member Sandy Nurse, who emceed the event, and Council Member Julie Won, who represents the district, along with allies from labor unions and community organizations.
During his keynote speech, ALIGN Executive Director Theodore A. Moore said, “The late great Shirley Chisholm taught us if they don’t give you a seat at the table, you bring a folding chair. That’s what everyone in this room has done — pulled their chairs to tables of power to hold people accountable, from the bosses, to the corporate polluters, to the corrupt politicians. But when you’re sitting at their tables, it’s like when you go to someone’s house and play UNO — you’re playing by their rules, so you’re gonna lose! Well when you come to ALIGN, this is your table.”
In 2024, ALIGN has fought alongside coalition partners for safe working conditions, fair and dignified wages, and climate action that protects communities and creates green union jobs. The organization celebrated the year’s wins including the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act, which will protect Amazon and other warehouse workers in one of New York’s most dangerous industries; the Climate Superfund Act, making polluters pay to fund state climate action; supporting Tompkins County’s fight to raise the local minimum wage; and most recently, Council Member Nurse’s bill to install solar power on public buildings, including schools, and create good, green jobs.
ALIGN was honored to recognize this year’s Movement Builders for their achievements and partnership:
- Teamsters Local 804 President Vincent Perrone, for building power among Amazon workers and working with ALIGN and its coalitions to raise New York’s 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, for their partnership with ALIGN’s worker justice coalitions and for shepherding landmark legislation, including the Warehouse Worker Injury Reduction Act, to victory, protecting thousands of New York workers.
- Benjamin Arana, IBEW Local 3 Business Representative for his contributions as a labor voice in the movement to decarbonize NYC’s polluting buildings, working with ALIGN and the Climate Works for All coalition to win and implement Local Law 97.
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.
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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