Students, Labor, Unite at G-Town
Monday, April 3, 2006(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
The chant "Workers' rights are human rights" echoed loudly across
Georgetown's campus Friday as students, faculty, workers and members from the DC
labor and religious communities gathered for a rally in Red Square. Speakers
included Metro Washington Labor Council President Jos Williams, AFSCME Council
26's Carl Goldman, Gene Pinder of the Laborers' and Georgetown fellow Pablo
Eisenberg. "I was really enthusiastic about the turnout at the rally today,”
said Georgetown student Colleen Hodgetts. “We had some great speakers and the
presence of the labor community at the rally shows how important a cause we are
fighting for. I hope we can work
with Georgetown's administration to advance workers' rights." Speakers
emphasized card check – a process whereby employers recognize a union when a
majority of workers sign union cards -- as the most democratic way to form a
union and encouraged Georgetown to take strides to respect the right to organize
for campus workers. “We should be
proud that the fight at Georgetown is part of a greater struggle around the
country and world for labor and immigrants' rights," said Carl Goldman. Added
Jos Williams, "We are fighting the good fight united with students and workers
and history shows we won't stop till we have won!"
- reported by Ashwini
Jaisingh