A conversation with AFT President Randi Weingarten

07/12/22 • 45 min

From gun safety reform and protecting students and teachers in the classroom to women’s reproductive rights, public health care, and the environment, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten speaks truth to power. She doesn't pull punches and isn't afraid to say what needs to be said on these and other important topics.
On this episode of The Voice, Randi offers some pointed opinions as she shares her thoughts with host--and UUP President--Fred Kowal on the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling that struck down Roe v. Wade and nullified the constitutional right that provided access to a safe abortion in the U.S.
She also discusses gun violence and the need for more gun safety laws; President Joe Biden's low poll numbers; the impact of recent decisions by the Supreme Court; and the absolute necessity for listeners to vote in the upcoming 2022 midterm elections.

Previous Episode

Addressing systemic racism in Buffalo

In this episode of The Voice podcast, host and UUP President Fred Kowal speaks with three leaders of Buffalo's Black community about systemic racism in Buffalo and the impact of the racially motivated May 14 mass shooting in Buffalo that killed 10 people, all of whom were Black, and wounded three others.
Our guests are:

Janique Curry, vice president of the Buffalo chapter of the National Action Network
Dr. Henry-Louis Taylor, Jr., founding director of the Center for Urban Studies at the University at Buffalo, is a professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the UB School of Architecture and Planning
Pastor James Giles, co-founder of Back-to-Basic Outreach Ministries in Buffalo and leader of the Buffalo Peacemakers.

Next Episode

Addressing abortion rights in a post-Roe world

On this episode of The Voice, UUP president and host Fred Kowal discusses steps being taken to preserve and guarantee abortion rights in New York state just weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court's June decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. The court's 6-3 ruling nullified the landmark Roe v. Wade decision of 1973, which recognized abortion as a constitutional right.
On the show, Kowal speaks with state Sen. Cordell Cleare and state Assemblymember Jessica Gonzalez-Rojas, prime sponsors of the Reproductive Freedom and Equity Program. If approved, the bill would set aside $50 million to fund grants to help women access safe abortion services—including women traveling to New York from states where abortions are illegal.
Cleare is also sponsoring a bill that would require SUNY to offer abortion services at all of its campuses.
Kowal also speaks with Alissa Karl, UUP's statewide vice president for academics, and the liaison to UUP’s Women’s Rights and Concerns Committee.