Easter in Syracuse Was For Supporting Frontline Workers

Easter Sunday was a special day for members and leaders at Syracuse, N.Y., Local 43, who partnered with two local restaurants to provide more than 700 meals to frontline employees at area hospitals.

"We wanted to let the health care workers know we have their backs," Business Manager Alan Marzullo said, "because we know they have ours."

The meals were sent to employees of Crouse Hospital, Upstate University Hospital, St. Joseph's Health and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Syracuse along with the St. Elizabeth Medical Center and St. Luke's Hospital in Utica, N.Y. Local 43's signatory contractors have agreements with all those facilities.

Marzullo said aiding workers at health-care centers that have supplied work to Local 43 members over the years made the experience even more rewarding. So did purchasing the meals from two local restaurants — The Preserve in Syracuse and Aqua Vino in Utica — which, like most restaurants across the country, have seen their business plummet during the pandemic.

"The owners had shared with us that without this order, they would have had to let some of their workforce go," Marzullo said. "It makes you feel good to know you helped out someone who needed it."

Media coverage of the event "gave us a chance to tell people not to forget the men and women working in the electrical industry and the skilled trades," he added. "They're putting their boots on every day and keeping our electrical and communication systems going."

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