News Articles Archives
- Jun 7, 2011 Red Cross Workers Blow The Whistle On Blood Safety Charging that the American Red Cross (ARC) is threatening blood safety and violating workers’ rights, hundreds of nurses, donor collection staff and labor allies rallied outside the ARC’s downtown office on E Street NW at noon yesterday. The demonstrators circled the sidewalk for over an... more...
- Jun 7, 2011 Nurses To Call For New "Main Street Contract" Today Hundreds of registered nurses from across America will rally outside the White House, the US Chamber of Commerce and on Capitol Hill today to call for a new “Main Street Contract for the American People.” The mass demonstration – sponsored by National Nurses United (NNU) and the Labor... more...
- Jun 7, 2011 "Bread & Roses" Organizing Mixer Tonight Tonight’s casual organizing mixer – co-sponsored by Drink With Labor and Busboys & Poets – kicks off at 6P at BB&P’s 5th and K location. “Meet fellow organizers, labor activists and other progressive workers to share stories, make connections and exchange ideas over... more...
- Jun 7, 2011 Blair Mountain Struggle For Justice Continues Hundreds of people from Appalachia and across the nation are marching in West Virginia to demand an end to mountaintop removal, the strengthening of labor rights, sustainable job creation in Appalachian communities, and the preservation of Blair Mountain. The June 4-11 Appalachia Rising:... more...
- Jun 6, 2011 Red Cross Workers' Rally For Justice Today Citing ongoing threats to blood safety and workers’ rights violations, striking nurses and donor collection staff who work for the American Red Cross (ARC) in Philadelphia and South Jersey will rally outside the ARC’s Downtown headquarters at noon today . “Nurses and staff at the... more...
- Jun 6, 2011 Healthcare Activists To Call For New "Main Street Contract" Hundreds of registered nurses and healthcare reform activists will rally outside the US Chamber of Commerce and on Capitol Hill tomorrow to call for a new “program for rebuilding American communities with jobs, healthcare, education, and other urgent needs, funded through a fair tax policy... more...
- Jun 6, 2011 Busboys & Poets' Organizing Mixer Tomorrow Meet fellow organizers, labor activists and other progressive workers at a casual organizing mixer – co-sponsored by Drink With Labor – this Tuesday, 6P at Busboys & Poets (5th & K location). “Please join us to share stories, make connections and exchange ideas over good... more...
- Jun 6, 2011 Activists Poised To Expose American Water Company's Greed Fed up with steep rate hikes, immense cuts to employee benefits and “big executive pay days” at the American Water Company, workers and community allies will rally against the United States’ largest for-profit water utility in Alexandria, Virginia this Thursday to demand accountability.... more...
- Jun 3, 2011 Striking Workers To Picket Red Cross Monday Striking nurses and donor collection staff who work for the American Red Cross (ARC) in Philadelphia and South Jersey will rally outside the ARC’s Downtown headquarters at 12P on Monday, June 6 to fight for a contract that “addresses key issues of staffing, scheduling, training and... more...
- Jun 3, 2011 Nurses Plan Mass Demonstration Tuesday Hundreds of registered nurses from across America will gather outside the White House, picket the US Chamber of Commerce, and rally on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, June 7 to call for a new “Main Street Contract for the American People,” reports National Nurses United. The day of action... more...
- Jun 3, 2011 Registration Still Open For Washington Worker's Tour There's just one week left to sign up for the June 10 Washington Worker’s Walking Tour where Metro Washington Council Union Cities Coordinator Chris Garlock - who usually helps local and national activists make history on DC’s streets – will lead a 2-hour walking tour of downtown... more...
- Jun 3, 2011 Labor Photo: Peggy Browning Fund Honors Williams more...
- Jun 1, 2011 Williams Honored By Peggy Browning Fund Tomorrow Metro Washington Council President Jos Williams (center) is among those being honored by the Peggy Browning Fund, which is hosting its annual awards presentation this Thursday, June 2, 5:30P at the AFL-CIO . The Fund was established in memory of Margaret A. Browning, a prominent labor... more...
- Jun 1, 2011 CSA's "Labor Cares, Labor Shares": Building Trades Assist Injured Marine After being wounded in three separate attacks while serving in Iraq, Marine Jeromye Rogers found it difficult to navigate the steep steps on his front porch without aggravating his injuries. However, through the Washington DC Building Trades Council’s collaboration with Helmets to Hardhats... more...
- May 27, 2011 Locals In Action Local unions across the metro area have always been actively involved in activities that benefit the communities in which union members live. “We want to highlight your local union's story!” says Community Services Agency Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy. “Send us information about... more...
- May 27, 2011 1199SEIU Helps "Fight The Power" At Baltimore Gas & Electric A new community-labor coalition called Good Jobs Better Baltimore recently “turned the tables” on Baltimore Gas & Electric, serving the company with a “very special turn-off notice,” reports 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East . In a deal that would see the company's combined... more...
- May 26, 2011 Maryland Caregivers Expose Asbestos Crisis In Baltimore-Area Nursing Home If you found asbestos in a home, wouldn’t you tell the people who live there right away? Not if you’re management at Summit Park nursing home in Catonsville, Maryland. Officials at the Baltimore-area facility had known since at least January there was asbestos in the home, but they kept... more...
- May 26, 2011 'Unions Now More Than Ever' Contest Seeks Videos, Songs, Graphics A contest sponsored by Annapolis-based Union Communication Services – which supplies Union City’s daily labor history items – is offering $2,500 in prizes for videos, graphics, cartoons and songs speaking to the theme, "Unions Now, More Than Ever." Submissions can be made in three... more...
- May 25, 2011 DC Restaurant Worker Wins $6M In Abuse Case DC restaurant worker Liana Estona was recently awarded $6 million in damages in her sexual harassment case against her former employer, La Carbonara Restaurant and its owner, Fekeru Bekele, reports the DC Employment Justice Center . Estona (not her real name) “came to our clinic in... more...
- May 25, 2011 Busboys & Poets Hosts Organizing Mixer June 7 Busboys & Poets and Drink with Labor are teaming up for an organizing mixer June 7. The latest installment of B&P's monthly Bread & Roses Labor Series will be held at the 5th & K location . “Please join us to share stories, make connections and exchange ideas over good... more...
- May 25, 2011 Memorial Gathering Set To Honor Joe Flynn A memorial gathering to honor activist Joe Flynn – who recently passed away ( In Memoriam: Joe Flynn, Tireless Activist , 5/11 UC) – will be held on Thursday, June 9, from 7–9P at Glen Echo Park (bumper car pavilion) in Bethesda, Maryland. Click here for directions and parking... more...
- May 24, 2011 2011 Labor Arts Exchange & Creative Organizing Conference Set This year, the Labor Heritage Foundation’s annual arts celebration – scheduled for Friday June 17 to Sunday June 19 at the National Labor College – promises to empower participants with “cultural tools to combat fear and inject excitement into union and political campaigns,”... more...
- May 24, 2011 Union Voice: Readers Write: Short Labor Videos? “I do Local 2 new member -- and not so new -- orientation meetings in our shops,” writes OPEIU Local 2’s Lou Wolf. “For years I had been using an old 15 min video but someone suggested you might have an idea for something appropriate. Good for introducing newbies and not too long.... more...
- May 23, 2011 Federal Workers Worried About Pension Raids Adding financial insult to economic injury, federal workers may be forced to contribute more to their own pensions at the same time their wages have been frozen. Federal pensions have become an easy political target for lawmakers on both sides of the aisle looking to score points with voters... more...
- May 23, 2011 Maryland Home Care Providers' Bargaining Rights Become Law Nearly 5,000 Maryland independent home care providers have achieved another victory in a campaign for dignity that began in 2008 when they voted to join AFSCME Council 67. Recently, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed into law the providers’ right to collectively bargain with the... more...
- May 20, 2011 "This Fight Is Not Over" Say MontCo Workers Frustrated Montgomery County workers are calling on County councilmembers to “respect the collective bargaining process" after the Council voted Thursday to proceed with unilateral budget cuts after the workers had offered over $14 million in cost savings. Supporters are urged to contact... more...
- May 20, 2011 Last Day For Labor FilmFest Earlybird Discount Reserve your ad in the 2011 DC Labor FilmFest program book by close of business today to save 20% and receive a free 2010 FilmFest T-shirt! Email cgarlock@dclaborarchives.org to reserve space in the FilmFest program book and click here to download a rate sheet. Since 2001, the DC... more...
- May 19, 2011 Health Care Activists To Rally Against Big Insurance Area union members and health care reform activists will rally outside the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Tyson’s Corner – where Coventry Health Care executives are meeting – at 7:30A tomorrow to tell Big Insurance, “We need an economy and health care that works for the middle class, seniors... more...
- May 19, 2011 Asian Pacific American Workers' Rights Hearing Saturday As a follow-up to the National Workers' Rights hearing in November 2009, Saturday’s DC Asian Pacific American Workers' Rights Hearing – scheduled to begin at 10:30A at the National Education Association – will feature local worker testimonials on the right to organize, wage theft,... more...
- May 19, 2011 Metro Council Board, Staff Updates The Executive Board Monday night accepted – with regret – the resignation of UFCW Local 400’s Mark Federici , who is now the local’s Secretary-Treasurer. “Mark has been a steadfast brother during his years of service on the Board and his incisive input has been critical to me during... more...
- May 19, 2011 DC JwJ Announces "I'll Be There" Award Honorees This year, DC Jobs with Justice’s annual “I’ll Be There” awards – which honors individuals and organizations for “exceptional solidarity work in the Metro DC area” while raising funds to support DC JwJ – is scheduled for Thursday, June 23 at the AFL-CIO . Honorees include... more...
- May 18, 2011 Peggy Browning Fund Honors Williams This year, Metro Washington Council President Jos Williams (right) is among those being honored by the Peggy Browning Fund, an organization that “educates and inspires the next generation of advocates for workplace justice through fellowships, workers’ rights conferences, networking and... more...
- May 18, 2011 Labor College Launches Green Union Skills Course Seeking to equip labor leaders with the skills to become “effective advocates for sustainable workplaces,” the National Labor College recently announced the first course in the Green Workplace Representative Certificate Program, a four-week curriculum that will enable Green Workplace... more...
- May 18, 2011 Labor Passages CBTU-DC chapter President Gwend Johnson lost her daughter, Shelia C. Brown (Mazyck) last week. Cards and acknowledgements may be sent to Gwend at: 6871 Red Maple Court,District Heights, MD 20747. “Please keep Gwend in your thoughts and prayers,” says Metro Council President Jos Williams. more...
- May 17, 2011 Cheh Leads Charge To Freeze City Worker Pay DC city workers might be forgiven for thinking they now work for Wisconsin, where public workers continue to battle attacks on their livelihoods and rights. While Mayor Vincent Gray has proposed levying a small tax on residents making over $200,000 a year to help balance the budget, Ward 3... more...
- May 17, 2011 Excluded Workers Speak Out Last week, a diverse group of workers from across the country gathered in New York City for the 2011 annual Excluded Worker Congress, where people who have traditionally been denied labor rights and benefits – by law or practice – met to collaborate on expanding and enforcing workers’... more...
- May 16, 2011 UMD Students Stage Sit-In Against Daycon University of Maryland students staged a sit-in Friday to demand that the school dump Daycon, the local cleaning contractor that’s repeatedly been found guilty of violating federal labor laws. The 22 students – members of the UMD’s Drop Daycon coalition -- hung a banner reading "UMD Drop... more...
- May 16, 2011 Postal Workers Ratify Contract Members of the US Postal Service's largest union – the American Postal Workers Union – voted last Wednesday to accept a new contract that includes a 3.5 percent raise and cost-of-living adjustments over four years ( APWU, USPS Reach Tentative Agreement On New Contract , UC... more...
- May 16, 2011 Metro Council Delegate Meeting Tonight Don't miss tonight's Metro Washington Council delegate meeting, jam-packed with the latest updates on the local labor movement. Reports from the Community Services Agency, Union City and COPE highlight tonight's meeting. Draft minutes from the April Executive Board and Delegate meetings are... more...
- May 16, 2011 Operating Engineer Stewards Hone Skills Seventy shop stewards attended the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 99’s training at the National Labor College last Thursday, spending the day honing their skills and learning new ways to guide their coworkers on the shop floor. “We’re like a family that’s eager... more...
- May 13, 2011 Labor Radio Doubleheader Today Area labor leaders will be featured guests on both WPFW and WAMU today. Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO President Jos Williams will have his regular chat about the latest local labor news and updates with WPFW 89.3’s Gloria Minott at 9:45A this morning and then United Food and... more...
- May 13, 2011 DC Activists Applaud South Africa Scrutiny Of Walmart DC and South Africa are connected by the struggle to hold Walmart accountable. DC’s Living Wages, Healthy Communities Coalition will visit the Embassy of South Africa this morning at 11A to applaud the efforts of the South African Competition Commission and Competition Tribunal, two... more...
- May 13, 2011 Last Chance To Donate To "Books Behind Bars" Today at 5P is the deadline to donate books to area prison libraries through the Community Services Agency (CSA). The CSA’s effort will help overcome budget shortfalls and prepare inmates for re-entry into the community. Books can be dropped off at the CSA office (888 16th Street NW, Suite... more...
- May 13, 2011 Help Stamp Out Hunger Tomorrow You can help feed a hungry person tomorrow. And you don’t even have to leave your house. The 19th annual National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive is set for this Saturday, May 14. “This is the one day in the year when letter carriers take control of the conversation about hunger... more...
- May 13, 2011 Metro Council Delegate Meeting Monday Don't miss Monday's Metro Washington Council delegate meeting, jam-packed with the latest updates on the local labor movement. Reports from the Community Services Agency, Union City and COPE highlight Monday's meeting. Draft minutes from the April Executive Board and Delegate meetings are also... more...
- May 12, 2011 Letter Carriers Poised To Stamp Out Hunger Remember to leave your bags of non-perishable food by your mail boxes this Saturday as letter carriers conduct their annual food drive. “In every corner of this country, there are people and families who are hungry, including children,” says National Association of Letter Carriers... more...
- May 12, 2011 Post Newsroom Irate Over Exec Pay Hike Outraged Washington Post newsies are demanding raises after Post publisher Katharine Weymouth (right) collected a hefty 16.4 percent pay increase despite the company’s recent 66 percent plunge in profits. “It’s amazing how [Weymouth] can accept a 16.4 percent salary increase plus over a... more...
- May 12, 2011 "Books Behind Bars" Donation Deadline Tomorrow The deadline to donate books to area prison libraries ( Preparing Inmates For Re-Entry 4/27 Union City) is this Friday, May 6 at 5P. "We've had a great response so far," says Community Services Agency Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy (at right), "thank you to everyone who has already... more...
- May 11, 2011 Universal Health Care Revived In Congress Health care for every American got a boost yesterday when labor leaders and activists announced support for the American Health Security Act, a single-payer, universal health care system. “At a time when states and cities are seeking to cut workers’ hard won benefits, the American Health... more...
- May 11, 2011 MontCo Council Rejects Leggett's Budget Proposal The Montgomery County Council voted yesterday to reject County Executive Ike Leggett’s budget recommendations on healthcare and retirement, “sending us back to the bargaining table,” reports UFCW Local 1994/MCGEO. “All three of the Montgomery County Government unions (Local 1994, the... more...
- May 11, 2011 Washington Worker's Walking Tour Returns From the Labor Hall of Fame to Joe Hill’s ashes, worker’s history is around just about every corner in our nation’s capital, if you know where to look. Click here to sign up for the June 10 Washington Worker’s Walking Tour as Metro Washington Council Union Cities Coordinator... more...
- May 11, 2011 In Memoriam: Joe Flynn, Tireless Activist The D.C. area lost one of its most tireless fighters for social justice with the recent death of Joe Flynn (at left). Flynn, 88, has been a constant figure at demonstrations for decades, along with Rose Marie his wife of 59 years. An active member of the Gray Panthers of Metropolitan... more...
- May 10, 2011 Nurses Ratify New Contract At Washington Hospital Center Nurses at Washington Hospital Center voted Friday and Saturday to ratify a new contract with their employer. The new agreement, which covers 1,650 RNs in Washington’s largest hospital, includes a new staffing matrix that will increase the number of nurses at the bedside and a new... more...
- May 10, 2011 Teachers, Parents Oppose Attack On Public Education Charging that public education is under attack by “an unholy alliance of right-wing billionaires,” hundreds of teachers, students, parents and education rights activists rallied outside the Washington Marriott at noon yesterday, chanting “Say no to vouchers- save our schools” and... more...
- May 10, 2011 Nats Tix "Going Fast" America’s favorite pastime and the American labor movement combine for one of the local labor community’s most fun events of the year. Don’t miss out on this year’s annual Labor Night at the Nats, scheduled for Friday, July 29 at 7P. “Tickets are still available, however they’re... more...
- May 10, 2011 Giant & Safeway Stewards Prep For 2012 Bargaining Joining together to prepare for what will likely be a challenging round of bargaining with Giant and Safeway early next year, 330 stewards gathered May 5 to prepare for the upcoming negotiations and commit themselves to mobilizing members to join together in solidarity. “We’ve got to stand... more...
- May 9, 2011 Rally Against Rhee, Walker & Corbett Today Controversial former DC schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee, governors Scott Walker and Tom Corbett are the target of community and education activists from Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC at today’s 11:30A demo outside the Washington Marriott to protest and “expose the... more...
- May 9, 2011 SAMs Workers Continue Public Fight For Justice Downtown Safety/Hospitality and Maintenance workers are taking their fight for a union to the streets again this week, with noontime demonstrations planned for Tuesday and Wednesday outside Downtown BID’s headquarters on H street, NW. “Since the SAMs voted for the Machinists union in July... more...
- May 9, 2011 PG County Workers To Tell Council "Honor Our Contract" This Wednesday, area union members and community allies plan to pack the Prince George’s County Council’s hearing to support ratification of an agreement that would provide a 2% cost of living allowance to county workers. “After months of delays, the Prince George's County Council does... more...
- May 9, 2011 Free May Calendar Download The May calendar from labor artist and activist Ricardo Levins Morales is now available for free download. Click here now to get your free calendar – and to get April’s calendar featuring a commemorative poster for the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire - or... more...
- May 6, 2011 DC Labor Chorus' "Songs Of Struggle & Joy" Saturday This Saturday, you can enjoy an evening of soul-warming labor music while supporting homeless women. The DC Labor Chorus’ annual Spring Concert – “Songs of Struggle and Joy,” scheduled for 8P this Saturday at Luther Place Memorial Church - will raise funds for Bethany Women of... more...
- May 6, 2011 Rally Against Rhee, Walker & Corbett Labor, community and education activists will protest a “right-wing education trifecta” on Monday as former DC Chancellor Michelle Rhee (r), Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett appear at the American Federation for Children, an “ultra-right-wing... more...
- May 6, 2011 Labor FilmFest Earlybird Discount Extended The deadline for saving 20% on your ad in the DC Labor FilmFest Program Guide has been extended. Reserve space by 5P on Friday, May 20 in the popular FilmFest Guide and get a 20% Earlybird Discount. “We’re working on a great line-up of films for this year’s Labor FilmFest and your ad in... more...
- May 5, 2011 Tentative Pact For RNs At Washington Hospital Center Registered nurses at Washington Hospital Center, the District of Columbia’s largest medical center, reached a tentative agreement Tuesday night on a new contract with the hospital, National Nurses United, which represents the 1,700 WHC RNs, announced yesterday (UC Twitter followers got this... more...
- May 5, 2011 Labor Photo: May Day at the Ludlow Massacre Monument While on a family trip to Colorado last weekend, Union City Managing Editor Chris Garlock (l) and his labor historian dad Jon (r) visited the Ludlow Massacre Monument on May Day. Nineteen people – mostly women and children – were killed during an attack by the Colorado National... more...
- May 4, 2011 UFCW 1994 Applauds Council Action To Balance Allocations For Services & Education Saying that Montgomery County residents “should not have to choose between education and other vital services,” UFCW Local 1994 last week applauded the Montgomery County Council and President Valerie Ervin in not seeking a waiver under the state’s Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirement.... more...
- May 4, 2011 Annual Food Drive Set For May 14 Mark your calendar for the annual National Association Of Letter Carriers Food Drive. The Community Services Agency is encouraging union and community members to donate a sturdy bag of non-perishable items -- canned foods, pasta, rice, cereal, etc -- to be collected by letter carriers as they... more...
- May 4, 2011 Vote Now In Labor Video Contest A little girl making a mess out of cake baking. A cartoon with a menacing dog - and a lamb. And stirring images of the protests against anti-union laws in Wisconsin. What do these have in common? They're three of the five finalists in the second annual Labour Video of the Year... more...
- May 4, 2011 Union Voice, Readers Write: Clearing Casey's Name Was Casey Jones (r) a scab? That’s what a Union City reader wondered after seeing our March 11 UCS Today in Labor History item marking the birth of the fabled railroad engineer. The question arose because of Wobblie leader and songwriter Joe Hill’s song "Casey Jones–The Scab," which... more...
- May 3, 2011 Exploring The Intersection Of Labor, Arts & Culture Busboys and Poets is hosting its monthly “Bread & Roses” Labor Series at 6P tonight , an evening of labor-related poetry, film shorts from the finalists of the "LabourStart" Video Contest, and live music by the DC Labor Chorus. “Emcee Darryl Moch will teach and lead the... more...
- May 3, 2011 Giant Warehouse Workers Ratify New Agreement Workers at two Giant warehouses okayed a new contract last weekend. Workers at Giant’s fresh meat, poultry, seafood and produce warehouse – members of Teamsters Local 730 - voted 144 to 3 late last week to accept a new agreement that includes raises, a $50,000 buyout bonus payment for those... more...
- May 3, 2011 "We Are Watching" Theme At Annual NoVA Labor Dinner All three speakers at Friday night’s Northern Virginia Labor Federation Volunteer Recognition Dinner called on union members to pay attention to what elected officials and candidates say -- and do -- as Virginia heads into another election cycle. Noting that “Wisconsin is not an... more...
- May 3, 2011 DC Labor Chorus Spring Concert This Saturday This year, the DC Labor Chorus’ annual Spring Concert – scheduled this Saturday at 8P - will raise funds for the Bethany Women for Praise, a choral group affiliated with the Bethany Women's Center. “This concert features music in Spanish and English, music from the labor movement,... more...
- May 2, 2011 "Let The Union In" Demand Downtown Safety/Maintenance Workers “Hey hey, ho ho- union busting has got to go!” yelled dozens of Downtown Safety/Hospitality and Maintenance workers (SAMs) as they picketed outside the Downtown Business Improvement District Corporations office on H Street NW last Friday. Thumping water barrels and shaking rattle cans, the... more...
- May 2, 2011 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strikers Inducted Into Labor Hall Of Fame In an emotional ceremony, punctuated by several standing ovations, the U.S. Labor Department inducted into the Labor Hall of Fame 1,300 Memphis sanitation workers last Friday whose 1968 strike over the right to join a union and collective bargaining was Martin Luther King’s last campaign.... more...
- May 2, 2011 Berger-Marks Foundation Announces Edna Award The Berger-Marks Foundation has announced the Edna Award, which will award $10,000 to a young woman leader in the social justice movement. The new award will spotlight “significant contributions to social justice and bestow a significant honor to a young woman whose leadership has... more...
- Apr 29, 2011 SAMs Workers To Rally For Justice Today Citing frustration with pay and sick leave issues, Downtown Safety/Hospitality and Maintenance workers (SAMs) – who voted for a union nearly two years ago – will rally outside the Downtown Business Improvement District’s (BID) headquarters at 12P today . “Soon after the Downtown... more...
- Apr 29, 2011 Teamsters Keep Giant Jobs Local Truck drivers at Giant Food, represented by Teamsters Local 639, voted on Wednesday to endorse a new four-year contract by a 159 to 1 margin. The agreement, which covers nearly 200 drivers, maintains contract language that keeps the driving jobs in the Washington, DC area. “The work can not... more...
- Apr 29, 2011 International Workers' Day Celebrated Today At Labor College Labor leaders, union members and activists will celebrate International Workers Day at the National Labor College today and tomorrow. The event features “fun, free food, games, face painting and more,” says the Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO, which is organizing the... more...
- Apr 29, 2011 Mother Jones DVD Available A recent worksite screening of “Mother Jones: America’s Most Dangerous Woman” at Union Privilege “was a great success!” reports Jennifer Wright Dorr. The 20-minute film about legendary labor organizer Mary “Mother” Jones (right) -- whose birthday was May 1 -- “was very powerful... more...
- Apr 29, 2011 "Books Behind Bars" Deadline Extended The deadline to donate books to area prison libraries ( Preparing Inmates For Re-Entry 4/27 Union City ) has been extended to next Friday, May 6 at 5P. The Community Services Agency is coordinating the book drive to help overcome budget shortfalls and prepare inmates for re-entry into... more...
- Apr 28, 2011 Exploitation Of Tobacco Harvesters Exposed At British Embassy Labor activists brought the plight of Deep South tobacco workers to the doorstep of the British Embassy yesterday. Calling British American Tobacco (BAT) a “two-faced outlaw,” dozens of labor rights activists rallied outside the Embassy on Massachusetts Avenue NW Wednesday, chanting “Hey... more...
- Apr 28, 2011 Downtown BID Tries To Duck Workers If the BID won’t come to the SAMs, the SAMs will go to the BID. Bosses at the Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) tried to duck their workers by canceling this morning’s State of Downtown Report shindig, so the red-suited Safety/Hospitality and Maintenance workers, known as SAMs... more...
- Apr 28, 2011 Labor Helps Elect Orange To DC Council Labor contributed to Vincent Orange’s decisive election as an At-Large DC City Council member Tuesday. In addition to extensive District union voter identification efforts before the election, “more than 150 union members turned out to work the polls and get out the vote” for Orange on... more...
- Apr 28, 2011 Workers Memorial Day At The National Labor College A Workers Memorial Day Symposium on “OSHA after 40 Years; The Continued Fight for Safe Workplaces” is the focus of today’s Workers Memorial Day observance at the National Labor College. Beginning at 2P and keynoted by George Cohen, Chair, Federal Mediation and Conciliation... more...
- Apr 27, 2011 Farm Workers Protest British Tobacco “Horrific working conditions” for farm workers who harvest tobacco are sparking demonstrations at British Consulates across the country today (Wednesday 4/27), including a 12P demo at the British Embassy in DC. “The inhumane working and living conditions of these farm workers in... more...
- Apr 27, 2011 Preparing Inmates For Re-Entry Friday at 5P is the deadline to donate books to area prison libraries. The Community Services Agency is coordinating the book drive to help overcome budget shortfalls and prepare inmates for re-entry into the community. “Most people in prison usually get out someday and return to the... more...
- Apr 26, 2011 Song And Struggle Highlight Council Meeting Delegates at last night’s meeting of the Metro Washington Council were riveted by nurse Geri Lee’s (right) dramatic tale of how Washington Hospital Center management last week disrupted a union meeting in progress, banned the union from holding more meetings at the hospital and stopped... more...
- Apr 26, 2011 Solid Advice From A Cement Mason “Do what you love doing, be the best you can be in what you do, and make a career out of it. As simple as that” That’s the plain-spoken advice Rosella Scott (right) – a long time instructor at the Cement Masons Local 891 Training Center -- offered at a recent early-morning hands-on... more...
- Apr 26, 2011 Farmworker/SAMs Doubleheader This Week In two separate demonstrations this week, area labor rights activists will rally to raise the standards and working conditions for farmworkers and downtown Maintenance/Safety/Hospitality (SAMs) workers, who work for DC's Downtown Improvement District (BID). On Wednesday at 12P... more...
- Apr 25, 2011 Vincent Orange Endorsed For At-Large Councilmember Calling him “the kind of solid, well-tested and experienced leader our city needs in these challenging times," the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO has endorsed Vincent Orange in the DC At-Large City Council election, which will be held tomorrow in the District. Polls are open from... more...
- Apr 25, 2011 Metro Council Delegate Meeting Tonight Don't miss tonight's Metro Washington Council delegate meeting, jam-packed with the latest updates on the local labor movement. Reports from the Community Services Agency, Union City and COPE highlight tonight's meeting. Draft minutes from the March Executive Board and Delegate meetings are... more...
- Apr 25, 2011 Local Giant Workers Take Fight For Jobs To Amsterdam Royal Ahold shareholders got an earful from angry DC-area unionists and their supporters in Amsterdam last week. Ahold owns Giant Foods and is planning to outsource grocery distribution work to a notoriously anti-union wholesaler, which would cost nearly 500 local union jobs. The Teamsters... more...
- Apr 25, 2011 TSOs To Decide Union In Runoff Election Because neither union received a majority of the votes in the first union election for Transportation Security Administration officers - which wrapped up on April 20 – last week the FLRA called for a runoff election between AFGE and the NTEU, which is tentatively set for May 23-June 21 via... more...
- Apr 25, 2011 Got Punchline? What do you call a worker who enjoys all the benefits of the union but refuses to pay his fair share of dues? Send in your suggested punchline in this new contest from Union Communication Services and you could be a winner! UCS will put the best responses up for a vote next week and the winner... more...
- Apr 22, 2011 Friendly Sams Battle For Respect, Rights You’ve seen the SAMs around town. They’re the friendly folks in red caps who, seven days a week, offer directions, notify police when trouble arises, remove litter, trash and graffiti and more in the 138-block area between Union Station and the White House. But their boss isn’t so... more...
- Apr 22, 2011 District Residents Tell Walmart To "Put It In Writing" Citing concerns about Walmart’s plans to open several stores in the District of Columbia, dozens of residents and community activists rallied and held a press conference outside Walmart’s DC office in Chinatown yesterday afternoon, chanting “Put it in writing,” to the tune of Aretha... more...
- Apr 22, 2011 March Council Minutes Now Online Be the first to read the draft minutes from the March Metro Washington Council Executive Board and Delegate meetings! They’re now available for download on the Metro Council’s website; email corrections to us at Streetheat@dclaborarchives.org And be sure to mark your calendars for... more...
- Apr 21, 2011 DC Residents To Deliver Community Benefit Agreement To Walmart Today District residents and community allies will “up the ante in the battle over Walmart’s aggressive expansion plans in the District” today by delivering a proposal to Walmart’s Washington office at 2P that calls on the retail behemoth to negotiate a written citywide agreement... more...
- Apr 21, 2011 DC Labor Chorus' Spring Concert May 7 “Tis that time of year again- the voices of the DC Labor Chorus will raise on their own and in concert with the Bethany Women for Praise at Luther Place Memorial Church for our annual spring concert,” reports the DC Labor Chorus, noting that the concert begins at 8P sharp on Saturday, May... more...
- Apr 21, 2011 Labor Photo: DC CBTU's Gwend Johnson more...
- Apr 20, 2011 VA Ahold Workers Address Shareholder Meeting Today In Amsterdam Three Virginia grocery workers are in Amsterdam today to address the Ahold shareholders meeting. The workers will address the assembly on the unfair treatment they say employees at Ahold-owned Martin’s stores in Richmond, VA., are being subjected to and demand that management stop the... more...
- Apr 20, 2011 Trades Confront Wolf On Jobs More than 100 building trades workers turned out to boo Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA-10) at his press conference Monday afternoon opposing a Project Labor Agreement on Phase 2 of Metrorail construction to Dulles Airport. Chanting “Frank’s got to go” and “Cut Wolf’s pay,” the union... more...
- Apr 20, 2011 Reader's Voice: Developing Dispute At Giant “I read your comment about the rumored dispute at Giant in today’s issue ( Reader’s Voice: No Giant Boycott 4/15 ),” writes Gary Witlen of the Teamsters. “While you accurately reported that the UFCW does not have an active dispute with Giant, you should be aware of the... more...
- Apr 19, 2011 Young Activists Take To Streets To Link Environment, Labor Chanting “The youth are rising- no more compromising!” thousands of fired-up young environmental and labor rights activists rallied, marched and blocked the streets of the nation’s capital yesterday. “There’s a real connection between environ-mental injustice and economic injustice,... more...
- Apr 19, 2011 How To Clean A Labor Landmark Union City roving correspondent Con Carbon sent in this lively video postcard on " How to Clean a Labor Landmark ." more...
- Apr 19, 2011 Labor On The Move: Working America's Robert Fox Moves to Greenpeace Working America’s Robert Fox (right) is the new Chief Operating Officer at Greenpeace USA. “I am very proud of what Working America has accomplished,” said Fox, who served as Deputy Director of the AFL-CIO’s community affiliate from its founding in 2003 until this month. “I feel... more...
- Apr 18, 2011 April Council Meetings Rescheduled For 4/25 The Metro Washington Council’s April Executive Board and Delegate meetings – originally set for today, April 18 – have been rescheduled to Monday, April 25 to accommodate this year’s Passover observances; watch Union City for further details. more...
- Apr 18, 2011 DC Teachers Urge Boycott Of Washington Post Charging that the Washington Post is "burying the truth about education reform in the District," area teachers, parents and community allies rallied outside the newspaper’s head-quarters on 15th Street NW on Friday morning, chanting “We’re not buying until the Post stops lying!” “The... more...
- Apr 18, 2011 Trumka To Speak At Youth "Power Shift" Rally Today Thousands of young student activists on spring break will rally in Lafayette Park this morning. AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka will be among the speakers, and will address how workers and students can unite to create a powerful movement for change this year and beyond. Power Shift 2011 brings... more...
- Apr 18, 2011 Trades Urged To Join Protest Against Wolf Today The Laborers are mobilizing area trades workers to oppose an attempt by Virginia Congressman Frank Wolf (right) to derail a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) on the Dulles Rail Phase 2 project. Wolf -- who's holding a press conference today at 2P at 13873 Park Center Road, Suite 130, Herndon, VA... more...
- Apr 18, 2011 DC Early Voting Now Open Early voting is now open for the upcoming special election for the District’s At-Large race, set for Tuesday, April 26. Voters can also request an absentee ballot online; click here for details. more...
- Apr 18, 2011 CSA's "News You Can Use": Books Behind Bars “Most people in prison usually get out someday and return to the community,” says Community Services Agency Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy. “Anything we can do to help them prepare for re-entry while they are still inside is a worthwhile venture.” McKirchy – citing recent... more...
- Apr 15, 2011 Capitol Hill "Kochapalooza" Backfires “Wherever Scott Walker goes, he needs to know that we’re going to be there waiting for him,” said IFPTE President Greg Junemann at a demonstration outside yesterday’s House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing at which the controversial Wisconsin governor appeared. “The... more...
- Apr 15, 2011 Teachers Rally At Washington Post Today To Protest Coverage Rallying around the theme that "Biased Education Coverage Equals Corporate Profits” the Washington Teachers Union is mobilizing a Furlough Day Protest at the Washington Post today at 10:30A. “We are protesting at the Washington Post because they have buried the truth about education... more...
- Apr 15, 2011 Hands Off Medicare And Medicaid Progressive organizations and Members of Congress are staging a protest this morning against GOP plans to eliminate Medicare and Medicaid. Organizers are urging those concerned about the popular programs to join them at 11A in the House Triangle on the south side of the Capitol between the... more...
- Apr 15, 2011 Reader's Voice: Madison Update; No Giant Boycott; Why We Do This Where Are The Madison Protestors?: “I work near the Madison Hotel and noticed that there are no longer protesters,” writes UC reader Charles. “Is this because the dispute was resolved or because the workers have become disheartened?” ( Madison Workers Get Tentative Settlement... more...
- Apr 14, 2011 Scott Walker To Appear At "Kochapalooza" On Hill Today Worker and union allies plan to expose the money and influence connection between the Koch brothers and this morning’s 9:30A Capitol Hill appearance (Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2154) by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, who’s testifying before the House Oversight and Government Reform... more...
- Apr 14, 2011 AP Workers Rally Against Cuts Dozens of journalists, editorial and technical workers rallied outside the Associated Press’ DC office on 13th Street NW at noon yesterday, chanting “You can’t spell cheap without AP,” and “We keep AP working!” Since their contract expired in November 2010, the workers – members... more...
- Apr 14, 2011 DC Teachers To Protest At Washington Post Saying that the Washington Post is “burying the truth about education reform in DC,” Washington-area teachers, parents and community allies plan to rally at 10:30A this Friday to say “We’ll stop buying until you stop lying!” more...
- Apr 13, 2011 NABET-CWA 213 Merges With DC Local 31 NABET-CWA Harrisburg, PA Local 213 merged with Washington, DC Local 31 last week. NABET-CWA Local 31 President Carl Mayers (at right) called the merger "a great opportunity to better serve our members in Harrisburg. We look forward to actively working with these new Local 31 members, to... more...
- Apr 13, 2011 April Council Meetings Rescheduled For 4/25 The Metro Washington Council’s April Executive Board and Delegate meetings – originally set for Monday, April 18 – have been rescheduled to Monday, April 25 to accommodate this year’s Passover observances; watch Union City for further details. more...
- Apr 13, 2011 Labor Video Contest Deadline Friday Seen a great short labor video lately? Nominate it for LabourStart’s second annual Labour Video of the Year competition! Last year’s winner was the hilarious " What have the unions ever done for us? " which was also included in the 2009 DC Labor FilmFest’s Working Lunch... more...
- Apr 12, 2011 AP Workers To Rally For Contract Here’s a hot story that may not make the wire services: editorial and technical employees at The Associated Press will rally for a contract today at 12:30P at the AP’s DC offices at 1100 13th St. NW. The workers are members of News Media Guild, CWA Local 31222, which has “been in very... more...
- Apr 12, 2011 Stevenson University Cafeteria Workers Win Union More than 60 campus dining workers at Stevenson University have won union representation, choosing to join UNITE HERE Local 7. “I’ve worked at Stevenson for 4 years and am so happy to have been part of winning the union,” said Steven Golder, a cafeteria cook at Stevenson, which has two... more...
- Apr 11, 2011 Relieved But Wary Government Workers Stand Down, For Now Picketlines and rallies by government workers in DC and across the country today were called off after Friday night’s last-minute budget deal averted a threatened shutdown of the government. “This was just Round 1,” warned AFGE Political Director Bob Nicklas. “Bigger fights are ahead... more...
- Apr 11, 2011 Georgetown Dining Workers Organize Workers at Georgetown University’s Leo J. O'Donovan dining hall, Jesuit Residence Wolfington Hall, Cosi, Starbucks, and Dr. Mug – all run by Aramark -- have joined UNITE HERE. “We have a voice and we want to be heard,” said Cathy Anderson. “Now, we must stick together to push ahead... more...
- Apr 11, 2011 Record Turnout For 10th Labor Seder A record turnout of more than 330 celebrated Jews United for Justice’s (JUFJ) milestone 10th anniversary Labor Seder last night at Adas Israel Congregation in Northwest DC. While area workers still have far to go to achieve justice, worker advocates like UNITE HERE’s Tracy Lingo credited... more...
- Apr 8, 2011 Labor Seder Focuses On Joblessness Each year, the Labor Seder – set for this Sunday, 5:30P at Adas Israel Congregation - highlights a current workers' rights struggle and brings together the Jewish, progressive, and labor communities in shared commitment to social and economic justice. “This year's seder will focus... more...
- Apr 8, 2011 New Workers' Rights Manual Released The DC Employment Justice Center has just released the 5th edition of its Workers’ Rights Manual, the “most comprehensive resource” for DC employment law. “The 5th edition of the Employment Justice Center’s Workers’ Rights Manual is a comprehensive guide to employment law in the... more...
- Apr 8, 2011 Walmart's Global Chain Of Repression From Bangladesh to Illinois to Maryland, Walmart’s business model is based on a system that keeps workers in a cycle of low wages, no voice on the job, and dangerous working conditions, according to four Walmart workers who spoke at a “Truth Tour” forum at George Washington... more...
- Apr 7, 2011 Federal & County Workers Urge Support To Stop Furloughs, Cuts Facing a looming federal shutdown and significant pay cuts, federal workers and Montgomery County employees are urging area activists to take action immediately. “AFSCME Council 26 and other federal workers’ unions are fighting to stop hundreds of thousands of federal employees from being... more...
- Apr 7, 2011 Labor Night At The Nats Set For July 29 The Nats play the New York Mets at the fifth annual Labor Night at the Nats , scheduled for Friday, July 29 at 7P. The family event benefits the Community Services Agency's Emergency Assistance Fund, which helps area families in crisis. Tickets are $10 each; order 50 or more to get... more...
- Apr 7, 2011 April Council Meetings Rescheduled The Metro Washington Council’s April Executive Board and Delegate meetings have been rescheduled to April 25 to accommodate this year’s Passover. more...
- Apr 7, 2011 Labor Photo: New Officers Sworn In At OPEIU 2 more...
- Apr 6, 2011 Injured Workers Speak Out "The one good thing that's happened to me since my accident, aside from getting my ability to speak back, was my union,” said Ride-On bus operator Theresa D'Antoine (right) Monday afternoon at a “We Are One” event at the National Labor College organized by UFCW locals 1994 and 400 to... more...
- Apr 6, 2011 Labor Seder Celebrates Freedom & Works For Justice The Jewish, progressive, and labor communities will gather in shared commitment to social and economic justice at this Sunday’s Jews United For Justice Labor Seder . more...
- Apr 6, 2011 Union City Wins Front Page Photo Award Union City was among the winners at this year’s Front Page Awards, with Managing Editor Chris Garlock’s “Take Back Our Democracy” shot (right) at a March demonstration against banks winning a “Distinguished National News Photography” award. The Front Page Awards honor the “best... more...
- Apr 6, 2011 Loudoun County Votes To Limit Size Of "Big Box" Stores Loudoun County Supervisors voted Monday night to limit the size of future “Big Box” stores in the Northern Virginia county, capping a 3-year effort by local labor and community activists concerned about the detrimental effect of such stores on local jobs and businesses. More than two dozen... more...
- Apr 5, 2011 Ward 4 To Deliver Anti-Walmart Petition Today Ward 4 residents will present over 1,000 signatures to the DC City Council today from their neighbors opposing a Walmart in their community. Walmart’s plans for a store in Ward 4 are “insensitive to the damage it would do to this community," said Gerri Adams-Simons of Ward 4 Thrives, which... more...
- Apr 5, 2011 Guild Demonstrates Solidarity At BNA more...
- Apr 5, 2011 "I Am A Worker" Chanting “We are one!” over a thousand activists marched through the streets of downtown Washington Monday -- the 43rd anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. -- to show their solidarity with working people in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and other states “where... more...
- Apr 1, 2011 Labor Profile: Jim Lowery, Elevator Constructors Local 10 Elevator Constructor Local 10 Business Manager Jim Lowery started out as an asbestos worker. When Lowery's asthma prompted his doctor to suggest a career change in 1985, Lowery, who was 27 at the time, applied to the Elevator Constructors apprenticeship program. "My wife's dad was an elevator... more...
- Apr 1, 2011 DC "We Are One" Events: 17 & Counting! From a sermon to a major rally, book talk to teach-in and a whole lot more (17 events and counting!), the local labor movement is mobilizing around the national “We Are One” observances on Monday. Click here for the complete listing of local events. The “We Are One” movement has... more...
- Apr 1, 2011 Madison Workers Get Tentative Settlement After a 9-week struggle, workers at the Madison Hotel have finally achieved a tentative settlement. “Through the steadfast efforts of members at the Madison hotel and Local 25 members across the city, and with the support of the labor community and our allies, I am happy to announce that... more...
- Apr 1, 2011 Expanding AFGE 17 Re-Joins Council AFGE Local 17 re-affiliated with the Metro Washington Council this week. “Given the current wave of attacks on public workers, solidarity is more important than ever,” said Local 17 President Bill Preston (left). “The House of Labor is stronger today thanks to Local 17,” agreed Metro... more...
- Apr 1, 2011 In Memoriam: Sadie Holley Sadie Holley (right), mother of Council of School Officers Executive Vice President Barbara Childs, has passed. A member of the CWA Local 1180, Sadie Holley worked in New York City with the New York Administrative Employees from 1962 – 1991, retiring in 1991. Funeral arrangements are... more...
- Mar 31, 2011 Grocery Workers Rally To Save Good Jobs In DC Accusing Dutch-owned mega-corporation Royal Ahold, its subsidiary Giant Food, and its grocery supplier C&S Grocers of “destroying good, family-supporting jobs across the country,” hundreds of grocery workers, shoppers and community allies rallied outside the Hyatt Regency on Capitol... more...
- Mar 31, 2011 We Are One: Stand Up For The Dream Rightwing billionaires Charles and David Koch -- widely-known for bankrolling many of the anti-worker efforts around the country – are the target of a midday “We Are One” demo Monday at Koch Industries’ downtown DC office. Click here for details on this and over a dozen area... more...
- Mar 30, 2011 DC "We Are One" Event Update Increasing numbers of local April 4 “We Are One” events -- a dozen at presstime Tuesday -- are being organized across the metro area, including everything from a book talk to a major mobilization against right-wing funders the Koch brothers, as well as a film screening, interfaith service... more...
- Mar 30, 2011 Capitol Gift Shop Workers Vote Union Workers at the U.S. Capitol Gift Shop overwhelmingly voted union yesterday, scoring an 11-0 sweep in the 17-member unit. “By electing AFSCME, Gift Shop workers stood together to demand our rights and a voice on the job,” said gift shop clerk Les Thomas. The Gift Shop clerks, inventory... more...
- Mar 30, 2011 Teamsters Target $88 Mil Union-Buster C&S Wholesale Grocers’ CEO Rick Cohen is attracting a bigger – and much noisier -- crowd today than he expected. Cohen is receiving an award from the Food Marketing Institute and the National Grocers Association at the Hyatt Regency Hotel (400 New Jersey Ave., NW) and the Teamsters are... more...
- Mar 30, 2011 Women Walmart Workers Rally Support On Steps Of Justice Chanting “Walmart women deserve fair pay; hear their case without delay,” hundreds of workers, women’s rights activists and labor allies assembled on the steps of the US Supreme Court on Capitol Hill yesterday morning as Justices inside heard arguments on whether allegations of systemic... more...
- Mar 29, 2011 Singing Out At The Metro Council The DC Labor Chorus brought last night's Council meeting to its collective feet, as delegates joined hands and sang "We Shall Overcome" in honor of the ongoing struggles for justice by public workers across the community and country and to promote their upcoming Spring Concert on May 7.... more...
- Mar 29, 2011 Stand With The Women Of Wal-Mart Wal-Mart workers and their supporters will speak out against systemic pay discrimination at the world’s largest retailer at a rally this morning at 9:30A on the steps of the Supreme Court. The court is set to decide on whether to allow the workers’ class-action lawsuit to proceed. “Ten... more...
- Mar 29, 2011 Workers, Community To Protest Outsourcing At Giant As grocery executives meet to “plan additional attacks on working families,” area workers and community supporters will rally outside the Hyatt Regency Hotel at 2P tomorrow to protest Giant Foods’ warehouse operator C&S Wholesale Grocers’ plan to close a local warehouse,... more...
- Mar 28, 2011 April 4 "We Are One" Plans To Be Outlined At Council Meeting Tonight Following hard on the heels of last week’s commemorations of the centennial of the Triangle Factory Fire, the Metro Council and other organizations and local activists are planning We Are One events for next week around the anniversary of Martin Luther King’s assassination in Memphis where... more...
- Mar 28, 2011 Workshop Explores Power & Perils Of Online Media Nearly 50 local communicators for local unions and allied organizations turned out for Friday’s free “Tweet This” workshop on online and social media. The workshop focused on both the power and perils of online media, which offer exciting new communication tools at low or no cost, but... more...
- Mar 28, 2011 National Transit Conference Draws Top Leaders To Discuss Labor-Management Solutions Local and national labor leaders, academics, government officials, and private sector interests joined colleagues from 16 transit agencies and 18 transportation and workforce development organizations to learn from one another and foster innovative labor-management partnership solutions at the... more...
- Mar 25, 2011 County Workers Not Kidding Around With Leggett It’s not unusual to see kids at a union demo these days, but the four-legged one gamboling at last night’s UFCW 1994 MGCEO rally drew a lot of attention. Month-old Eddie and his mother Delilah were on hand to illustrate the frustration county workers feel at being “scape-goated by County... more...
- Mar 25, 2011 March Delegate Meeting Monday Don't miss Monday's Metro Washington Council delegate meeting, jam-packed with the latest updates on the local labor movement. Reports from the Community Services Agency, Union City and COPE highlight Monday's meeting. All are welcome: see you Monday, 6:30P at the AFL-CIO, 815 16th Street NW! more...
- Mar 25, 2011 Ward 4 Calls Latest Walmart Plan "Terrible" Walmart’s latest plan for a store in the District’s Ward 4 is "165 pages of terrible ideas," says Ward 4 Thrives member and community activist Virginia Leavell. "This plan does nothing to address our concerns about poverty wages, the driving out of small businesses, and the traffic... more...
- Mar 25, 2011 GOP Tries To Erase History Of Working People Once again, Republicans are trying to erase the history of America’s working people, reports Tula Connell on the AFL-CIO Now blog. In Maine, Republican Gov. Paul LePage has ordered the removal of a 36-foot mural depicting the state’s labor history from the Department of Labor. The... more...
- Mar 24, 2011 Union Voice: Readers Write: Navigating The "Uncharted Seas" Of The Guild's HuffPost Boycott “So here's a 21st century labor conundrum,” writes Andy Zipser of The Newspaper Guild. “One of your Street Heat pieces today ( Will Facebook Replace Labor Unions? 3/22/11 ) quotes Tom Hayes talking about labor unions having outlived their usefulness as organizing devices because... more...
- Mar 24, 2011 MontCo Workers To Protest "Outlaw" Leggett Saying that “County Personnel Won’t Be Scapegoats,” hundreds of members of UFCW Local 1994, MCGEO, will protest “outlaw” actions by Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett in a demonstration today at 4P in Rockville. Leggett recently notified the County Council that he intends... more...
- Mar 24, 2011 Free Workshop Explains Social Media Last chance to sign up for the free March 25 TWEET THIS workshop to help you understand what social media can -- and can't – do. Workers and their unions worldwide are using social and online media to communicate, organize and fight the boss. But which is best for your local? What... more...
- Mar 24, 2011 Union Voice: Readers Write: Navigating the "uncharted seas" of the Guild's HuffPost Boycott “So here's a 21st century labor conundrum,” writes Andy Zipser of The Newspaper Guild. “One of your Street Heat pieces ( Will Facebook Replace Labor Unions? 3/22/11 ) quotes Tom Hayes talking about labor unions having outlived their usefulness as organizing devices because the... more...
- Mar 24, 2011 Fired Workers Demand Integrity At Chipotle Chipotle’s “food with integrity" motto apparently doesn’t extend to its workers. When the federal government recently targeted the company with immigration warnings (known as "I-9 audits"), Chipotle began preemptively laying off entire stores full of workers, including in DC. At the... more...
- Mar 23, 2011 Triangle Fire Commemoration Draws Parallels With Today By Mark Gruenberg, PAI Staff Writer WASHINGTON (PAI)—A half-day-long Capitol Hill commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire in Manhattan – a fire that killed 146 young immigrant... more...
- Mar 23, 2011 STITCH Doubles Up For Women Workers STITCH, a DC-based feminist labor rights organization that supports women workers fighting to organize unions in Central America, has two events coming up. Tonight there’s a fundraiser starting at 7P featuring live mariachi bands and a silent auction at Haydees Restaurant in Northwest... more...
- Mar 23, 2011 Triangle Fire Commemoration Draws Parallels With Today A half-day-long Capitol Hill commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire in Manhattan - a fire that killed 146 young immigrant workers, almost all of them women - drew uncomfortable parallels with conditions facing workers today. Speakers, including Sally... more...
- Mar 23, 2011 Georgetown Labor Prof On Our Historic Moment “We have all been stunned by the level of passion and resistance that has welled up in response to Governor Scott Walker’s attempt to strip public workers of their rights to collective bargaining… Moments like this don’t happen all that often,” Joe McCartin (right) -- director of the... more...
- Mar 22, 2011 District Residents Mobilizing Against Possible Cuts After enduring more than $600 million in cuts to vital public services over the course of the recession, District workers, residents and community activists are now urging DC Mayor Vince Gray – who is preparing to unveil his 2012 budget on April 1 – to stop further cuts and consider... more...
- Mar 22, 2011 Remembering The Triangle Factory Fire In case you missed yesterday’s special WPFW radio broadcast commemorating the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire – featuring APRI activist Clayola Brown and CLUW's Joyce Miller – you can now listen online until Monday, April 4. In addition, there are four more upcoming events in the... more...
- Mar 22, 2011 Will Facebook Replace Labor Unions? “Like record stores and time-bound television, the labor union as an organizing device has outlived its usefulness,” writes Tom Hayes in a recent Huffington Post article. “People simply don't need intermediaries to organize them into groups anymore.” Find out what social media can --... more...
- Mar 21, 2011 Trades Rally In Annapolis Tonight Tonight it’s the building trades’ turn to rally in Annapolis, as the Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO and the MD/DC Building Trades Council hosts the Labor Night In Annapolis Labor Rally starting at 6p , bringing together union members, labor and political leaders to... more...
- Mar 21, 2011 "Justice At Giant" Website Launched “I’m a single mother, and if they take this job, and the benefits, and the pension away from me, I will be devastated,” says Giant worker Tanya Daley on the new Justice at Giant campaign’s just-launched website . The site features the latest updates on the “labor/community... more...
- Mar 21, 2011 2011 Labor Seder Focuses On Unemployment Each year, the Labor Seder highlights a current workers' rights struggle and brings together the Jewish, progressive, and labor communities in shared commitment to social and economic justice. This year’s seder – scheduled for Sunday, April 10 – will focus on “widespread... more...
- Mar 18, 2011 MORE DC SOLIDARITY DEMO VIDEOS POSTED More local and national video coverage of Wednesday's exciting solidarity action with Wisconsin workers is now available on the Metro Washington Council's website. more...
- Mar 18, 2011 EXPANDED EVENING WITH LABOR PHOTO ALBUM NOW ONLINE More photos from last Saturday's Evening With Labor awards dinner -- including reception snaps and more awards shots -- are now available online. more...
- Mar 18, 2011 Harry Shearer at Labor FilmFest screening of "The Big Uneasy" Photo of humorist and director Harry Shearer at the March 15 DC Labor FilmFest screening of "The Big Uneasy" more...
- Mar 17, 2011 APWU, USPS Reach Tentative Agreement On New Contract The American Postal Workers Union and the U.S. Postal Service have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract, reports local APWU President and Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO Executive Board member Dena Briscoe. “Our negotiators really pulled a rabbit out of the hat, given the... more...
- Mar 17, 2011 Labor Video Contest Returns Seen a great short labor video lately? Nominate it for LabourStart’s second annual Labour Video of the Year competition! Last year’s winner was the hilarious " What have the unions ever done for us? " which was also included in the 2009 DC Labor FilmFest’s Working Lunch... more...
- Mar 17, 2011 Got O'Malley Video? If you or someone you know captured video footage of Maryland governor Martin O'Malley's "Joe Hill" performance at last Saturday’s 34th Annual Evening With Labor awards dinner please email streetheat@dclaborarchives.org and let us know. - photo by Bill Burke/Page One more...
- Mar 17, 2011 Wisconsin Supporters Occupy Building At GOP Fundraiser Chanting "This is what democracy looks like!" hundreds of protestors -- fired up by the inspiring battles of workers in Wisconsin -- broke through security lines and took over the atrium of the downtown DC building where lobbyists were holding a fundraiser for Wisconsin GOP leaders. The... more...
- Mar 16, 2011 This Is (Not) What Democracy Looks Like In case you need another reason to attend today’s demo (5P, 601 13th St., N.W. near G Street, Metro Center) at the Wisconsin GOP fundraiser, consider that Wisconsin Sen. Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said Monday that the votes of state Senate Democrats won’t count, proving... more...
- Mar 16, 2011 Broadcast Workers Defend Public Media Facing defunding threats by Congressional Republicans, public broadcasting workers took to the steps of the U.S. Capitol yesterday afternoon to deliver petitions with 1.2 million signatures supporting “quality education, entertainment, public affairs, art, and news programming for... more...
- Mar 16, 2011 "Don't Shred The Safety Net" Chanting, “Public workers stand up and fight, the American Dream is our right” and “Don’t shred the safety net,” dozens of area workers rallied outside the Social Security Administration on M Street NW last night to preserve public programs threatened by the House GOP’s proposed... more...
- Mar 16, 2011 Community Benefit, Living Wage Bills Introduced In DC Council D.C. Councilmember Phil Mendelson (D-At Large) yesterday introduced bills to "give leverage" to the four communities in which Wal-Mart plans to open and the hundreds of employees it plans to hire, reports Michael Neibauer in the Washington Business Journal. The first requires large... more...
- Mar 15, 2011 15,000 Public Workers Demand Maryland "Keep The Promise" In a huge display of solidarity and political clout, public workers from across Maryland and metro Washington staged a massive march and rally Monday night in Annapolis to protect pensions and funding for public schools. After massing at the Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, thousands of... more...
- Mar 15, 2011 On The Line Today Spring is in the air and if it seems like labor rallies and demonstrations are popping up all over town that’s because they are. Here are a couple of events today we want to highlight: 1P: Rally to Save Public Media: Broadcast unions and public interest groups (Free Press, MoveOn, and... more...
- Mar 15, 2011 Wisconsin GOP Fundraiser Protest Set For Wednesday Republican members of the Wisconsin Senate, along with their Assembly co-conspirators, are coming to D.C. on Wednesday to collect their payoff from corporate lobbyists after the GOP lawmakers voted last week in the dark of night to strip teachers, nurses, snowplow drivers and others of their... more...
- Mar 15, 2011 Evening With Labor Award Winner Photos Now Online Photos of award-winners at Saturday’s 34th Annual Evening With Labor are now available for viewing online. Click here ; watch Union City for more photos later this week. more...
- Mar 14, 2011 Rockin' Out At Evening With Labor Long before the last notes of Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley’s impromptu a capella rendition of “Joe Hill” faded away, the more than 900 labor activists crowded into the Omni Shoreham’s ballroom knew they’d just attended one of the most memorable Evening with Labor dinners in... more...
- Mar 14, 2011 Giant Workers Rally Against Outsourcing Giant workers -- Teamster Locals 639, 730, 863, 922 and 264, and United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 -- turned out for a rally Sunday at the Beltway Plaza Giant in Greenbelt, MD to protest Giant’s plans to outsource its dry goods grocery distribution out of state. - photos... more...
- Mar 14, 2011 AP Workers "Under Assault" Charging that the Associated Press – the world’s biggest news organization – is launching an assault on workers’ health care, retirement and other union benefits, dozens of journalists and news media workers protested outside the Newseum on Pennsylvania Avenue Saturday morning, urging... more...
- Mar 14, 2011 Workers Say "Enough Is Enough" In Annapolis Tonight Wisconsin fever comes to metro DC area tonight as thousands of labor activists -- headlined by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka -- gather in Annapolis at the 6P Enough Is Enough Rally . “We work hard to provide vital public services,” say organizers. “We pay all the same taxes but... more...
- Mar 14, 2011 WHC "Wastes" $6 Mil On Nurse Lock-Out The $6 million the Washington Hospital Center spent on last week’s lock-out "was a complete waste," says NNU's Ken Zinn. "We're stronger than we ever were." The nurses walked off the job March 4 for a one-day strike ( Thousands Rally For Striking Nurses , 3/7/11 Union City ) but were... more...
- Mar 14, 2011 Harry Shearer Screens New Film Tomorrow Night Humorist and New Orleans resident Harry Shearer screens his film "The Big Uneasy!" at the AFI in Silver Spring tomorrow night at 7P as part of the DC Labor FilmFest’s Whistleblower Series. The evening includes a special post-screening discussion with filmmaker Harry Shearer, Maria... more...
- Mar 14, 2011 GOP Tries To Chop Big Bird What do Big Bird and Car Talk have in common? They’re on the GOP chopping block in Congress and supporters are rallying to their defense tomorrow at 1P on Capitol Hill. Area broadcast unions and public interest groups will present over 1.2 million signatures supporting public... more...
- Mar 14, 2011 Tweet This! Find out what social media can -- and can't – do at Tweet This , the Metro Council’s March 25 workshop on how local unions can use social and online media. Free but space is limited so click here to sign up now! more...
- Mar 11, 2011 Last Chance For Evening With Labor Tix Today’s your last chance to get tickets to labor’s biggest night of the year, as more than 850 area labor leaders, activists and friends gather for the 34th annual Evening With Labor awards dinner tomorrow night. U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Governor Martin O'Malley (D-MD), Mayor... more...
- Mar 11, 2011 Giant Protest Rally Set For Sunday Now you can rally and do your grocery shopping at the same time. The Beltway Plaza Giant in Greenbelt is the site of a rally Sunday from 9a to 12 noon (clocks spring ahead Sunday for Daylight Savings; be sure to adjust your clocks!) to protest Giant’s plans to outsource its dry... more...
- Mar 11, 2011 Maryland Public Workers To Stage Massive Rally Monday Thousands of Maryland’s public workers are planning to descend on Annapolis Monday for a massive 6p “Rally to Keep the Promise” against attacks by Maryland's elected officials on pensions and retiree health benefits and the proposed $100 million in education funding cuts.... more...
- Mar 11, 2011 Transit Workers Undaunted By Storm Rain doesn't stop Metro's trains and buses, so Thursday morning's downpour -- including the threat of a tornado -- didn't deter hundreds of transit workers from rallying outside WMATA headquarters in downtown DC to protest what their union, ATU 689, calls union-busting, with members working... more...
- Mar 11, 2011 Sun Workers OK 3-Year Contract Extension Members of the union representing most newsroom, advertising and other workers at The Baltimore Sun decided with a voice vote to approve a three-year contract extension Wednesday night that will freeze wages for the first two years while raising the company's contribution to 401(k) retirement... more...
- Mar 10, 2011 Helping TSOs Form A Union On the heels of the battle for collective bargaining rights for public workers in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and elsewhere, 44,000 Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) now have a chance to vote on whether or not to form a union. “AFGE has stuck with these dedicated employees since 2002,”... more...
- Mar 10, 2011 Time Running Out To Get EWL Tickets “With just two days left until our 34th Evening With Labor awards dinner, time is quickly running out to get your tickets,” says Community Services Agency Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy. “Hurry before it’s too late!” Tickets to Saturday’s dinner – which is set for... more...
- Mar 10, 2011 Labor FilmFest Hosts Harry Shearer & His Film On New Orleans Disaster Humorist and New Orleans resident Harry Shearer will screen his film "The Big Uneasy!" next week at the AFI in Silver Spring as part of the DC Labor FilmFest’s Whistleblower Series. Shearer (The Simpsons, etc.) gets the inside story from the people who were there when disaster struck... more...
- Mar 10, 2011 Labor On The Move: Katherine Morrison Katherine Morrison is the new Interim Executive Director of the DC Employment Justice Center. Morrison has more than 20 years experience as a nonprofit executive, spending the last five years as an interim for five different organizations, including two legal services organizations, and is the... more...
- Mar 9, 2011 Transit Workers To Rally Against Union-Busting Area transit workers will rally against union-busting tomorrow morning at 8:30A outside METRO headquarters in downtown DC (5th & F NW). The ATU Local 689 members will be joined by labor and community allies as they rally to “preserve final and binding arbitration, retain... more...
- Mar 9, 2011 Nurses, Hotel Workers Link Causes The mood was festive on the picket line yesterday as locked-out nurses at Washington Hospital Center celebrated a sunny, warm Fat Tuesday and looked forward to returning to work this morning. Sporting colorful Mardi Gras beads, feathers on their hospital scrubs, the nurses, who struck for 24... more...
- Mar 9, 2011 Cardin, O'Malley & Gray To Attend Evening With Labor Many appointed and elected officials will be on hand, including U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Governor Martin O’Malley (D-MD) and Mayor Vincent Gray (D-DC), who top the list of elected officials expected to attend this Saturday’s 34th annual Evening With Labor . Tickets are still... more...
- Mar 9, 2011 Free March Calendar Download The March calendar from labor artist and activist Ricardo Levins Morales captures “the spirit of the workers' rights uprising sparked by the latest attack on public sector unions,” and features a poster Morales just completed for the 20th anniversary of AFSCME Local 3800, clerical... more...
- Mar 9, 2011 March Council Meetings Rescheduled The Metro Washington Council’s March Executive Board and Delegate meetings have been rescheduled to March 28 to permit time for interviews for the DC At Large Special Elections. more...
- Mar 8, 2011 "We're All Working People" More than 50 locked-out nurses joined the hotel workers’ Madison Hotel picket line Monday afternoon after their own picket line at the Washington Hospital Center. “We’re here to show our solidarity with all workers,” said RN Joe Cassidy, a member of National Nurses United, surrounded... more...
- Mar 8, 2011 Celebrating Solidarity There was so much Streetheat last year that there are two 2010 Evening with Labor Golden Picket Award winners : National Nurses United, WHC Local and Teamsters 639. Celebrate Streetheat solidarity past, present and future at Evening with Labor this Saturday; click here to get your... more...
- Mar 8, 2011 Labor To Oppose "Right To Work" Bill In Annapolis Today Saying that “Labor needs to fill the House Economics Matters Committee” to oppose “yet another Right to Work bill, HB743,” Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Donna Edwards urged leaders and activists to meet at the State Fed headquarters (7 School... more...
- Mar 8, 2011 Respect DC Campaign Keeps Up Pressure On Walmart The Living Wages, Healthy Communities Coalition “continued to put pressure on Walmart this past week,” reports Michael Wilson, noting that “opposition is growing in Ward 5 , where Walmart submitted their Large Tract Review a few weeks ago.” At a community meeting last week in ANC... more...
- Mar 8, 2011 Online Shop-In At Powell's Books Today Union workers at Powell’s Books are organizing a shop-in today “to show Powell's that our brothers and sisters across the country are there for us and invested keeping good union jobs going,” says ILWU Local 5, which represents workers at Portland, OR-based Powell's, “the best... more...
- Mar 7, 2011 Nurses And Hotel Workers Walk Together Today Nurses locked out by the Washington Hospital Center will picket the hospital today from 12-2P and then join the Unite Here 25 picketline at The Madison Hotel from 2:30-4:30P. more...
- Mar 7, 2011 Evening With Labor This Saturday Just six days left to this year’s Evening with Labor Dinner-Dance ; get your ticket(s) now! Tickets are $125 each, tables of 10 for $1250. more...
- Mar 7, 2011 Thousands Rally For Striking Nurses Over 2,000 striking nurses and their supporters massed outside Washington Hospital Center at noon Friday in a strong show of support for the nurses’ one-day strike. “Your strike today is powerful,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka . “It’s like what our brothers and sisters... more...
- Mar 7, 2011 Steve Early On Labor's Renewed Solidarity “Things had certainly been looking pretty depressing when I wrote my book” laughs Steve Early, who appears at the 5th & K Busboys and Poets tomorrow night at 6:30P to discuss his new book “The Civil Wars in U.S. Labor: Birth of a New Workers' Movement or Death Throes of the... more...
- Mar 5, 2011 Talks Continue between NFL, Players The NFL and the player's union have agreed to a 1-week extension of contract talks, averting an immediate lockout.
- Mar 4, 2011 Nurses "Fight For Our Rights" In 1-Day Strike At WHC Today “We’re fed up. The nurses are tired. We’re going to take a stand,” says Lori Marlowe, a 12-year veteran nurse in the cardiac unit and a member of the negotiating team for the more than 1,600 nurses at Washington Hospital Center (WHC). Nurses at D.C.’s largest hospital -- who are... more...
- Mar 4, 2011 Evening With Labor Tix Still Available “Tickets are still available for this year’s Evening With Labor awards dinner,” reports Community Services Agency Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy, “but with just over a week to go, time is running out fast so don’t miss out!” This year’s awardees include: ATU 689's Jackie... more...
- Mar 4, 2011 Ehrenreich On Women, Workers And Walmart "I'm still waiting for my check" from Walmart, author Barbara Ehrenreich (at left) said at a panel discussion Tuesday night at Busboys and Poets on the first night of Women's History Month. Ehrenreich, author of "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By In America," said Walmart was "something of... more...
- Mar 4, 2011 Trumka To Head Up Nurse Strike Rally At Noon Today AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka will head up today’s noontime rally (First & Irving streets) at the Washington Hospital Center nurses’ strike. Metro Washington Council President Jos Williams will MC and the rally will also feature Plymouth Congregational Church Pastor Graylan... more...
- Mar 4, 2011 Nurses Strike Washington Hospital Center “Get your picket signs, get your red-hot picket signs!” Organizers distributing armfuls of picket signs were quickly left empty-handed as Washington Hospital Center nurses went on strike at the stroke of the clock at 7 a.m. this morning. As dawn broke, hundreds of nurses – including many... more...
- Mar 4, 2011 This Just In: NFL, Players Talk About Negotiators for the NFL and the players' union are discussing the possibility of postponing the deadline for a new labor deal, reports the Washington Post . At press time late yesterday, representatives from both sides were meeting with mediator George H. Cohen at the downtown... more...
- Mar 3, 2011 WHC Nurses Poised To Strike Friday “Join me Friday at Noon in DC as I, along with Laborer’s president Terrence O’Sullivan, walk the picket line with nurses as they strike for working conditions that put patients first,” urges AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka. 1,650 registered nurses at Washington Hospital Center - members... more...
- Mar 3, 2011 Walmart Shifts Burden By Ducking Taxes A new report reveals that retail giant Walmart shifts the burden for public services by ducking $400 million a year in state and local taxes. Saying this “sucks resources from local communities,” the Living Wages, Healthy Communities Coalition’s Mike Wilson vows that “We’re not going... more...
- Mar 2, 2011 Yes! Says No To Walmart "Once they get their foothold in D.C. we can never go back," Yes! Organic Market’s Gary Cha (right) told The Fight Back reporter Pete Tucker last week. "Washington is a very small city to have four Walmarts,” said Cha.”Having just one Walmart can have a devastating effect.” Cha owns... more...
- Mar 2, 2011 Ironworkers "Strikers" Top Bowling Pledges Members of the Ironworkers Local 5’s “Strikers” bowling team won the prize for most pledges collected for January’s annual Bowling For Gold tournament , which benefits the Community Services Agency’s Emergency Assistance Fund. The Strikers raised $1,526 for the fund, which... more...
- Mar 2, 2011 DC CBTU Reschedules Meeting The DC CBTU chapter programs originally scheduled for this Saturday have been rescheduled for Saturday, April 9. Notices regarding the elections will be mailed soon to members. If you have any questions, call Gwend Johnson at 301-735-1984 (h) or 202-974-8155 (w). more...
- Mar 2, 2011 DC Mayor Calls For "Fairness" At Washington Hospital Center With a 1-day nurses' strike just days away, DC Mayor Vincent Gray has called Washington Hospital Center CEO Ken Samet to express his concern about the strike. "We don't want to see this happen," Gray said in his weekly press conference Tuesday morning. "We want to see people treated fairly."... more...
- Mar 1, 2011 "We'll Be There" For Nurses, Delegates Pledge As TV cameras rolled, Metro Council delegates at last night's meeting pledged "We'll be there!" at Friday's nurse's noontime rally at Washington Hospital Center. Geri Lee (at right), who got her job back in December after being fired during the historic snowstorms last year, led a... more...
- Mar 1, 2011 Women, Workers & Walmart Tonight At Busboys & Poets In honor of Women’s History Month, Busboys and Poets is hosting a panel discussion at 6P tonight highlighting women in the workplace, and addressing the potential local impact of Walmart's move to DC. “The hope for this discussion is that attendees walk away with a greater... more...
- Mar 1, 2011 2011 Directory Of Local Unions Released The Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO has just released the 2011 Directory of Local Unions - a handy guide to the local labor movement listing nearly 200 Council affiliates representing a broad cross-section of 150,000 area workers, from athletes to writers, government workers to the... more...
- Mar 1, 2011 UMD Students Press For Action On Daycon Student activists called on University of Maryland President Wallace Loh last week to tell school contractor Daycon to abide by a federal judge’s order to rehire 55 employees it fired when they went on strike in April. About a dozen members of Feminism Without Borders entered the president's... more...
- Mar 1, 2011 Evening With Labor Ad Deadline Today The deadline for submitting ads for the Metro Washington Council's Evening With Labor adbook is 5P today, March 1. "Today's your last chance to show your support," says Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO President Jos Williams. more...
- Mar 1, 2011 It Takes A Movement The widespread demonstrations across the country sparked by the battle to protect collective bargaining rights in Wisconsin prove that organized labor works best from the ground up, said labor law professor and author Julius Getman (right) last week at the University of the District of... more...
- Feb 28, 2011 Governors Get Solidarity Message Governors from across the country got a loud and clear message of worker solidarity Sunday morning as well over a thousand activists noisily demon-strated their support for Wisconsin workers outside the annual conference of the National Governor's Association in downtown DC. Chanting "Kill the... more...
- Feb 28, 2011 Solidarity Actions Highlight Metro Council Delegate Meeting Tonight The ongoing Madison Hotel workers' picketing, upcoming Washington Hospital Center nurses' strike and local Wisconsin solidarity actions highlight tonight's Metro Washington Council delegate meeting . PLUS: latest details on Evening With Labor -- still time to place ads and get your... more...
- Feb 28, 2011 Trumka Announces Support For Washington Hospital Center Nurses AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka will keynote a strike rally of registered nurses in front of Washington Hospital Center next Friday, March 4 , National Nurses United (NNU), the nation’s largest union and professional association of registered nurses, announced Friday. The hospital’s... more...
- Feb 28, 2011 Evening With Labor Ad Deadline Extended The deadline for submitting ads for the Metro Washington Council's Evening With Labor has been extended through 5P Tuesday, March 1. “Act now, as time is running out,” warns Community Services Agency Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy. Tickets for the March 12 event -- now in its 34th... more...
- Feb 26, 2011 Workers To Tell GOP Governors "Hands Off Our Rights" Tomorrow State governors will be picketed tomorrow in DC at the annual meeting of the National Governor's Association. The 11a demo Sunday at the JW Marriott -- 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, corner of 14th & Pennsylvania -- follows hard on the heels of demonstrations at state capitals across... more...
- Feb 26, 2011 1,000 Rally For "Justice For All" In DC The crowd at Dupont Circle seemed to materialize out of thin air, swelling from a handful to hundreds in just a few minutes at noon yesterday. Chanting "This is what democracy looks like," nearly a thousand -- many wearing Wisconsin's red and black colors -- had gathered around the fountain by... more...
- Feb 26, 2011 "Maryland To Wisconsin, We Are One" As the fight against union-busting continues to swell across America, hundreds of workers galvanized support from local communities as they stood shoulder-to-shoulder outside Maryland’s State Capitol at noon today chanting, “Maryland to Wisconsin, we are one!” and “This is what... more...
- Feb 25, 2011 Wisconsin Solidarity Weekend With the Wisconsin-inspired battle for worker rights spreading like wildfire across the country, there are three local events in the metro Washington area this weekend, including one on Sunday targeting Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who will be in DC at the annual National Governor’s... more...
- Feb 25, 2011 Pressure Mounts On Hospital Center To Settle Contract Pressure on Washington Hospital Center (WHC) mounted yesterday when ten DC Council members urged WHC to settle its ongoing labor dispute and the National Nurses Union (NNU) filed new charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). In a letter to hospital president John Sullivan, the... more...
- Feb 24, 2011 "We Are All Wisconsin" The white Capitol dome, the colorful noisy crowd, and even a light dusting of snow all contributed to the sense that Wisconsin had come to Washington yesterday. Some 2,000 DC area workers, students, religious and community allies jammed the Hall of States courtyard on Capitol Hill and spilled... more...
- Feb 24, 2011 Nurses Prep For Strike Next Week The pungent smells of markers and glue sticks filled the basement room at Plymouth Congregational Church in Northeast Washington last night as dozens of nurses made signs in preparation for next week’s 1-day strike March 4 at Washington Hospital Center. “We feel let down by our... more...
- Feb 23, 2011 Wisconsin Protest Comes To DC Today Hundreds of DC-area workers, students, community and religious allies are expected to demonstrate support for embattled Wisconsin state workers today at 12:30P outside Wisconsin’s DC state offices near the U.S. Capitol. A similar demo was held Tuesday in Annapolis and is part... more...
- Feb 23, 2011 Nurses To Strike March 4 Nurses at Washington Hospital Center are going ahead with plans for a 1-day strike March 4 . National Nurses United has been negotiating with hospital management this week and the strike announcement follows negotiation sessions Thursday, Friday and Monday that the nurses say produced... more...
- Feb 22, 2011 Metro DC Wisconsin Support Demo Plans Growing Fast Word is spreading fast about plans for local demonstrations supporting the Wisconsin workers. “It’s going viral,” said one organizer Monday as news came that workers, community and religious allies are organizing across metro Washington to turn out for the Wednesday demo at 12:30... more...
- Feb 22, 2011 Labor On The Move: Lillian Walker Shelton, DC JWJ's New Organizer New DC Jobs with Justice organizer Lillian Walker Shelton’s (r) career as an activist was established early on, when her mother raised Shelton and her brothers to be active in their Philadelphia community. “I am so excited about working for Jobs with Justice," Walker Shelton tells... more...
- Feb 22, 2011 NNU And Teamsters 639 Win Golden Picket Award There was so much Streetheat last year that there are two 2010 Evening with Labor Golden Picket Award winners: National Nurses United, WHC Local and Teamsters 639. At the National Nurses United WHC Local, the nurses at the Washington Hospital Center were an inspiration throughout the year as... more...
- Feb 22, 2011 Sweeney Receives Medal Of Freedom Retired AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney (r) formally received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor, at a White House ceremony Feb. 15. Prior unionists who received the medal include late longtime labor lobbyist Evelyn Dubrow and late political cartoonist... more...
- Feb 21, 2011 Montgomery County Workers Pledge Fight-Back As their bargaining team met down the hall with Montgomery County negotiators, hundreds of fired-up UFCW 1994 MCGEO members jammed the ballroom in the Gaithersburg Hilton Friday afternoon. "The union's out there!" shouted MCGEO vice-president Yvette Cuffie, who took the stage in a robe and... more...
- Feb 21, 2011 "Daycon Violated Labor Laws" Says NLRB “It is time for Daycon to stop violating Federal Labor laws, return our members back to work and negotiate a fair contract,” said Teamsters Local 639 President Thomas Ratliff after Daycon workers won a resounding victory last week when Administrative Law Judge Joel P. Biblowitz ordered the... more...
- Feb 21, 2011 Williams: "Serious Systemic Service Delivery Problem At DOES" “Having outlined why labor cares so much about the Department of Employment Services, I say today that we are outraged by the legacy of the Fenty Administration and its gross mismanagement of many of the programs under the Department of Employment Services’ purview,” testified Metro... more...
- Feb 18, 2011 Frustrated MontCo Workers To Rally Today Frustrated with the county’s “failure to treat our proposals seriously,” members of UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO and their supporters will rally this afternoon at 2P in Gaithersburg to focus on the status of negotiations for a new contract covering Montgomery County workers. The rally... more...
- Feb 18, 2011 US Airways Flight Attendants Speak Out US Airways passengers received an unexpected welcome while checking in at Washington's National Airport yesterday as dozens of flight attendants circled the airport’s departure area at noon chanting “Hey hey ho ho - corporate greed has got to go!” The flight attendants – who have been... more...
- Feb 18, 2011 Young Trade Unionists Launch DC Chapter More than fifty young union members from the MD/DC area turned out Wednesday night for an evening of networking and brainstorming. The first meeting of the DC Young Trade Unionists (DC YTU) provided a chance for local union members to talk about how to get young people more involved in the... more...
- Feb 18, 2011 Stan Gordon Community Services Award Winner Stan Gordon (r), AFGE 65, is the 2010 Evening with Labor Thomas M. Bradley Community Services Award winner. Gordon, an original member of the Board of Trustees of CSA since its founding in 1991, “has been a stalwart and consistent supporter of the Agency and all of its programs for twenty... more...
- Feb 17, 2011 WHC Nurses Authorize Strike Registered nurses at Washington Hospital Center have voted overwhelmingly to authorize a one-day strike, National Nurses United, the largest U.S. nurses union and professional association, announced yesterday. No date has been set for a walkout at the District’s biggest hospital with 1,650... more...
- Feb 17, 2011 Activists Protest Abuse Of Mexican Workers Chanting “No more worker silence - no more thugs and violence,” well over 100 fired-up labor rights activists marched on the Mexican Embassy at noon yesterday, calling for an end to the Mexican government’s reported involvement in the ongoing intimidation and labor rights violations of... more...
- Feb 16, 2011 Marching For Mexican Workers Five years ago, 65 miners died in the Pasta de Conchos mine explosion in Mexico. Today at noon, area labor activists and leaders – including United Mineworkers President Cecil Roberts -- will march on the Mexican Embassy to deliver their demand that the Mexican government end the... more...
- Feb 16, 2011 Getting In On The Ground Floor "That's the heavy equipment I want to operate," said Joyce Boone enthusiastically, pointing at a bulldozer at work on the U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters site on St. Elizabeth’s West Campus in southeast Washington, D.C. Boone was one of a dozen GSA Building Futures Project students on a field... more...
- Feb 16, 2011 SRO At "Outsider" Screening; Advertising In UC Works “It was standing room only” at Monday’s noontime screening of “Brother Outsider” at the Library of Congress, enthusiastically reports AFSCME 2910 President Saul Schniderman, noting that one local – WTU 6 – brought half a dozen staff. “You just can’t advertise too much,”... more...
- Feb 14, 2011 STANDING STRONG IN DREAM CITY Last year, DC activists organized demonstrations, concerts, fundraisers, walkouts, speakouts, sit-ins, hoop-ins, know-your-rights teach-ins, workshops, parties, outreach days and breakfast meeting invasions. And they voted, too. For the fourth consecutive year, DC Jobs with Justice has produced a... more...
- Feb 14, 2011 CEMENT MASONS 891’S CARL CARSON DC COPE AWARD WINNER Cement Masons 891 President Carl Carson is the 2010 Evening with Labor DC COPE Award winner. more...
- Feb 14, 2011 "BEHIND THE KITCHEN DOOR" FOCUSES ON THOSE WHO SERVE Eatonville Restaurant's breakfast shift was packed to capacity yesterday, but not just with the usual Valentine's Day traffic. The crowd was there to attend the DC Restaurant Industry Summit, where the Restaurant Opportunities Center of DC released their long-awaited report Behind the Kitchen... more...
- Feb 11, 2011 NFL Lockout Could Cost DC Area $160 Million “Sorry I’m late,” said sportswriter Dave Zirin, “Dan Snyder had me locked in the trunk of his car.” Zirin -- who assured reporters he was "Just kidding: Snyder’ll probably sue me." -- joined Baltimore Ravens cornerback Chris Carr (l), former Washington Redskin Brian Mitchell (c),... more...
- Feb 11, 2011 Workers' Unhealthy Choice Every time one of Mario’s children is sick, he has to make a choice: “miss a day of pay or take care of my child.” The fifty-year old chef who worked his way up from dishwasher over the course of a 20-year career gets no sick days at the restaurant in Virginia where he works. And with... more...
- Feb 11, 2011 2 Chances To See Rustin Film Filmmaker Bennett Singer will screen "Brother Outsider: The Life of Bayard Rustin" twice in DC, on Sunday and Monday. The film about Rustin - who Time Magazine calls the "unknown hero of the civil rights movement" - and his global fight against injustice screens free at 8P this Sunday at... more...
- Feb 10, 2011 Union Feds March Against Scapegoating One thousand federal employees – led by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) – took their case to Capitol Hill Tuesday to put a face on the federal workforce, reports Federal News Radio’s Meg Beasley. "We are not these high-dollar paid people that a lot of people think... more...
- Feb 10, 2011 Rhee's Firing Of DC Teachers Ruled "Improper" 75 former DC public school (DCPS) teachers – summarily fired while on probation in 2008 by former DC Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee (below) – won a big victory Monday when Arbitrator Charles Feigenbaum ruled that DCPS “improperly terminated these 75 teachers by not providing an... more...
- Feb 10, 2011 DC Healthcare Worker Joins Actress Anna Deavere Smith Onstage At Arena Tonight Actress Anna Deavere Smith -- of HBO's Nurse Jackie and The West Wing – will interview 1199SEIU member Lashawn Covington tonight after the performance of her one-woman show " Let Me Down Easy " at the Arena Stage. Smith portrays nearly two dozen people dealing with the vagaries of... more...
- Feb 10, 2011 January Council Minutes Now Online Draft minutes from the January Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO Executive Board and Delegate meetings are now available for download on the Metro Council’s website . Mark your calendars for this month’s meeting , scheduled for Monday, February 28 at 6:30P at the AFL-CIO;... more...
- Feb 9, 2011 DC Residents Rally, Demand Walmart Respect DC Chanting “R-E-S-P-E-C-T, living wages in DC,” approximately 100 city residents gathered outside the District’s John Wilson Building Monday for a boisterous rally urging the DC City Council to require retail giant Walmart to sign an enforceable community benefits agreement (CBA) before it... more...
- Feb 9, 2011 AFSCME Council 26 Wins Organizing Award AFSCME Council 26 is the 2010 Evening with Labor Organizing Award winner. “Visitors to our nation's Capitol are now guided by union members, who organized in 2010 for the first time in the 134 years since Congress' Capitol Guide Service was created and just two years after the new Capitol... more...
- Feb 9, 2011 Sweet Solidarity Is union-made candy sweeter than non-union treats? The Bakery Workers, UFCW and UFW think so. Show your love – and solidarity – this Valentine’s Day by buying union-made candy. “When you're searching for something sweet for that special person for Valentine's Day, why not buy... more...
- Feb 9, 2011 Labor On The Move: Wise Succeeds Hunt As Ironworkers President Walter W. Wise (right) succeeded Joseph Hunt as the union’s president on Feb. 1. Wise, a Virginia native born in 1951, will serve the remainder of Hunt’s unexpired term, until the union convention in Chicago in mid-August. Wise has not said if he will seek election to a full 5-year... more...
- Feb 9, 2011 Labor Photo Quiz The year was 1995 and the picketers were singing “Rifmas” carols. What were they protesting? Email your answer to us at streetheat@dclaborarchives.org The winner, chosen at random from those answering correctly, will get a DC Labor FilmFest t-shirt. - photo by James Thresher/The... more...
- Feb 9, 2011 DC Joins Worldwide Call For Democracy In Egypt Their country's flags snapping in the frigid wind, Egyptian and American activists -- including more than fifty local trade unionists -- gathered Tuesday night in front of the White House to support the Egyptian people's ongoing struggle for freedom and democracy. "Egypt Egypt will be free,"... more...
- Feb 9, 2011 Madison "Rich And Rude," Say Hotel Workers Face-numbing winds didn’t deter more than 100 hotel workers from walking the picket line outside the Madison last night, shouting “Madison management is rich and rude – we don’t like your attitude,” as they thumped drums and rattled tambourines for several hours. “We are all facing... more...
- Feb 8, 2011 DC Unionists Call For Democracy In Egypt Local labor activists are joining Egyptian American organizations and the AFL-CIO today at 6:30P to demonstrate their support for the people and workers of Egypt as they peacefully call for a transition to genuine democracy. Millions of Egyptian citizens have been demonstrating for an end to... more...
- Feb 8, 2011 Chamber Picketed As Obama Visits Chanting “1-2-3-4, Chamber of Commerce makes us poor” and “Hey hey ho ho, union-busting’s got to go!” some two dozen protesters – organized and led by National Nurses United – picketed outside Chamber of Commerce headquarters in downtown DC Monday morning as President Obama... more...
- Feb 8, 2011 Drink With Labor This Thursday The next Drink With Labor is this Thursday, February 10 (not the 17th, as previously reported). Join metro area union members and friends for a drink in a happy hour starting at 6p at the Big Hunt in Dupont Circle. “We are back from a partial winter hibernation and ready to convene the... more...
- Feb 8, 2011 Bargaining Rights Finally A Reality For TSOs After a nine-year battle to gain a voice in the workplace, more than 40,000 transportation security officers (TSOs) finally can become union members and bargain for a contract. In a major victory for working people, John Pistole, administrator of the Transportation Security Administration,... more...
- Feb 7, 2011 Influential House GOP Group Uses 'Budget-Cutting' As Excuse To Attack Union Reps An influential Right Wing group among the House’s new GOP majority, the 170-lawmaker so-called Republican Study Committee (RSC), is using “budget cutting” as an excuse to attack federal worker union reps. The RSC’s endorsement of a bill by Rep. John Gingrey, R-Ga., to ban the reps from... more...
- Feb 7, 2011 Save On Flowers This Valentine�s Day, say it with flowers while supporting your local florist. Union members save when ordering flowers and gifts through the Union Plus Flower Delivery Service. more...
- Feb 7, 2011 DC Residents Demand Walmart Community Benefits Agreement In dozens of one-on-one conversations, District residents shared their concerns over the weekend about Walmart's plans to open four stores in DC. more...
- Feb 4, 2011 NEA Pulls Madison Bookings The National Education Association has canceled all union bookings for the month at the nearby Madison Hotel, which is being boycotted by UNITE HERE Local 25 ( Madison Hotel Workers Call For Boycott 2/1 UC ). “This is hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost business,” UNITE HERE... more...
- Feb 4, 2011 Respect DC Advocacy Day Rescheduled For Monday The community advocacy day organized by the Living Wages, Healthy Communities Coalition, postponed due to last week's snowstorm, has been rescheduled for next Monday, February 7. Coalition canvassing also continues this weekend. "In just four days we have collected nearly 500 cards in... more...
- Feb 4, 2011 Printcraft "Deaf" Team Tops Bowling Tourney Winners The Printcraft "Deaf" team (at right) took top team honors in last Sunday’s Bowling for Gold tournament, which raised funds for the Community Service Agency’s Emergency Assistance Fund. Bernie Irby of the "Teamsters Retirees" team took first place in the individual category, while in other... more...
- Feb 4, 2011 ATU 689's Jackie Jeter Trade Unionist Of The Year This year’s Evening with Labor (EWL) -- set for March 12 -- award-winners have been announced and include ATU 689’s Jackie Jeter (at right) as the 2010 JC Turner Outstanding Trade Unionist of the Year. “In addition to visibly and vocally leading her own local union during very... more...
- Feb 4, 2011 Are Catholic Hospitals Respecting Worker Rights? Today’s the deadline to register for the upcoming Catholic Social Ministry Gathering, which will discuss whether Catholic hospitals are ‘Respecting the Just Rights of Workers’. On Saturday Feb.12 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, the Catholic Labor Network will bring together... more...
- Feb 3, 2011 Maryland State Workers Ratify Contract Calling it a “clean sweep,” more than 89% of Maryland state employees recently voted “yes” to ratify their contract, reports AFSCME Maryland . "This is a clean sweep of every bargaining unit by huge margins,” said Department of Health and Mental Hygiene employee Moe Said.... more...
- Feb 3, 2011 Union Plumbers Ready To Help Is wintry weather wreaking havoc on your pipes? The union-partnered Washington DC Service Plumbing Contractors is there to help, providing 24-hour service for plumbing, gasfitting, drain cleaning, and sewer cleaning ( Union Plumbers At Your Fingertips , 11/10/2010 Union City). “Whether... more...
- Feb 3, 2011 Free February Calendar Download The February calendar from labor artist and activist Ricardo Levins Morales is now available for free download. Click here now to get your free calendar or click here to check out Morales’ website for his other artwork, including bookmarks, posters, notes and photographs. more...
- Feb 2, 2011 AFGE Circulates Petition Against Attacks On Federal Workers Calling attacks on federal workers' wages and benefits “cheap, cynical political theater," AFGE is planning a Day of Action on Capitol Hill next week and urging support for an electronic petition that will be presented to Congress. "Federal employees' pay and benefits are only a... more...
- Feb 2, 2011 Working Sick In DC When bartender Woong Chang came down with the swine flu, he kept on pouring drinks. Not because he wanted to expose hundreds of customers to the dangerous virus, but because the 28-year-old worker had no sick leave and needed the paycheck to stay out of debt. According to the Restaurant... more...
- Feb 2, 2011 Online Directory Updated IATSE Local 22 and Elevator Constructors Local 10 have new contact information, which has been updated in the Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO's online directory of local affiliates. Click here now to search for contact information for IATSE 22's new president, Chuck Clay, and for... more...
- Feb 1, 2011 Bowling Tourney Photos Now Online Team photos from the 2011 CSA Bowling for Gold Tournament are now available for viewing and download on the Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO’s website . Simply click on the photo gallery link under the “DC Labor News Archives” tab to view slideshows and download photos from... more...
- Feb 1, 2011 Labor On The Move: Tim Ryan's Novel Approach to Globalization “ The Sisters: A Fable of Globalization ,” is a new novel just out – and available on Amazon -- by Tim Ryan, Regional Program Director-Asia/Europe at the Solidarity Center. A “chronicle of culture clash and revolution,” “Sisters” is the story of twin sisters “and their... more...
- Feb 1, 2011 Madison Hotel Workers Call For Boycott Madison Hotel patrons got an unusual wake-up call early Monday morning when more than fifty hotel workers gathered in front of the downtown hotel and urged them to “Check out!” The hotel, which has long been unionized, changed hands on January 19 and the new, German-based owners have... more...
- Jan 31, 2011 Top Calif. Official: States Using Budget Woes As Smokescreen For Anti-Public Union Drive State officials around the country are using state and local budget woes as a smokescreen for campaigns against public unions and their workers, a top California state official says. In a Jan. 24 telephone press conference, hosted by the Economic Policy Institute, California Treasurer Bill... more...
- Jan 31, 2011 Students Condemn "Labor Rights Violations" At Sheraton Chanting “HEI, you’re no good; treat your workers like you should,” dozens of university students from across the country walked the picket line in solidarity with hotel workers outside the Sheraton Crystal City on Saturday night, expressing outrage over labor rights violations allegedly... more...
- Jan 31, 2011 Bowlers Roll For Area Needy Strikes, spares and the occasional gutterball were the order of the day at yesterday's 19th annual Bowling for Gold tournament. Leading the way was Bennie Irby (at right) of Teamsters 639, who bowled a perfect 300 game in the afternoon session at Crofton Bowling. The tournament raises funds... more...
- Jan 31, 2011 Food And Commercial Workers Join BlueGreen Alliance The United Food and Commercial Workers has become the latest large union to formally join a broad union coalition with environmental groups, the BlueGreen Alliance. "From farm to dinner table, we must have a food supply chain that benefits consumers, improves public health, improves the... more...
- Jan 31, 2011 Top Calif. Official: States Using Budget Woes As Smokescreen For Anti-Public Union Drive State officials around the country are using state and local budget woes as a smokescreen for campaigns against public unions and their workers, a top California state official says. In a Jan. 24 telephone press conference, hosted by the Economic Policy Institute, California Treasurer Bill... more...
- Jan 31, 2011 Labor On The Move: Castel-Branco Heads to Durban Fellow activists gathered Friday to send off Jobs with Justice DC organizer Ruth Castel-Branco (at left), who's heading to Durban, South Africa to work with the Center for Civil Society -- a project of the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal -- on a one-year research masters focused on the recent... more...
- Jan 28, 2011 Washington-Baltimore Guild Considers York Merger The Washington-Baltimore Newspaper Guild (WBNG) Local 32035’s reach may soon extend to York, PA. The WBNG Executive Council voted at its January 13 meeting to explore the possibility of merger with the local, which represents two dozen workers at the York Dispatch, and more than 50 at the... more...
- Jan 28, 2011 Proposed Safety Standards Unsafe For Window Cleaners Testifying last week at an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) hearing on window cleaners’ safety, SEIU Local 32BJ – the largest building service workers union in the country, including about 16,500 workers in the metro Washington area – sounded an alarm over the... more...
- Jan 27, 2011 Union Members Play Key Role In New Kaiser Med Center Union members played a key role in planning and developing a new state-of-the-art medical center in the nation’s capital. “I am extremely proud of the role Local 400 members played in the planning, development, design and implementation” of the new Kaiser Permanente Capitol Hill Medical... more...
- Jan 27, 2011 CSA's "News You Can Use": Help For Striking Or Furloughed Workers Workers facing financial difficulty due to strike or furlough may be eligible for two new grants from Union Plus. The Union Plus Job Loss Grant has also been expanded to help even more members. Union Plus Credit Card holders who are on strike or locked out for 30 or more consecutive days may... more...
- Jan 26, 2011 Metro Council Joins "Respect DC" Campaign A spirited discussion about the campaign to make Walmart “Respect DC” dominated Monday night’s Metro Washington Council Delegate meeting. Council President Jos Williams had convened a meeting earlier in the day of the unions most affected by Walmart’s plans to open four stores in the... more...
- Jan 26, 2011 Nigerian Hotel Workers Visit Nigerian trade unionists Eniojukan Leke Success (center, in sweater vest), Augustine Gyuse Mbavough (4th from r) and Josiah Habu Kato (3rd from r) met with the Metro Washington Council’s Jos Williams (at far r), Rick Powell (far l), Alya Solomon (2nd from l) and DC Jobs with Justice’s Ruth... more...
- Jan 25, 2011 Walmart Coalition To Lobby City Council Thursday Community activists are taking their campaign to “Make Walmart Respect DC” to DC's City Council this Thursday with a day of advocacy with Council members about Walmart’s efforts to open four stores in the District. "Join us to tell your City Councilmembers to demand that Walmart... more...
- Jan 25, 2011 Union Women Unite Against Cervical Cancer The Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) DC Chapter and Tamika & Friends are hosting a party at tonight’s monthly CLUW meeting to teach people how to prevent cervical cancer, as cervical cancer awareness month draws to a close. “Cervical Cancer is nearly 100% preventable,” report... more...
- Jan 25, 2011 Safety And Health To Be Factors In MontCo Construction Contracts Worker health and safety will now be a factor in awarding County construction contracts, Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett announced yesterday. The move was welcomed by the Metro Washington Council and other union allies, including CASA de Maryland, which were involved in the... more...
- Jan 24, 2011 Recession Takes Toll On Unions Union membership and density both declined last year for the second straight year, more than erasing the gains of the previous two years. The nation’s unions had 14,715 million members in 2010, or 11.9% of all workers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported; union membership was down by... more...
- Jan 24, 2011 County Workers Strategize For "Fight Of Our Lives" Over 100 stewards, bargaining team members and leaders of UFCW 1994/MCGEO gathered for a daylong leadership summit Friday at the National Labor College. "We're in the fight of our lives," warned 1994 President Gino Renne (at right), who briefed the county workers on the latest bargaining with... more...
- Jan 24, 2011 Metro Council Delegate Meeting Tonight Don't miss tonight's Metro Washington Council delegate meeting , jam-packed with the latest updates on the local labor movement. Reports from the Community Services Agency, Union City and COPE highlight tonight's meeting. Draft minutes from the December Executive Board and Delegate... more...
- Jan 24, 2011 Labor On The Move: Marta David Marta David, a senior Congressional leadership staffer and political strategist, is joining the AFSCME legislative team. “Marta David’s legislative, outreach and political skills will add to AFSCME’s vigorous campaign to defend public service workers under attack from right-wing... more...
- Jan 21, 2011 Politicians Have Given Up On Country, Workers, Jobs Many politicians in both major parties have given up on the country, workers and creating jobs, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (at right) says – but the labor movement hasn’t. In a wide-ranging speech at the National Press Club on Wednesday, the federation leader challenged those... more...
- Jan 21, 2011 Coalitions Forming To Battle Budget Cuts Yesterday’s meeting of the Metropolitan Washington Alliance for Progressive Solutions (MAPS) featured a thorough briefing by AFSCME’s Michele Lewis and Sian Lewis from AFSCME 67 on the statewide coalition forming around budget cuts. The dozen MAPS attendees discussed the coalition’s... more...
- Jan 21, 2011 Workers Speak Out On DC Walmarts “If Walmart comes (to DC) and they don’t raise standards it’s going to affect the community by closing a lot of the Mom and Pop shops, as well as taking a lot of business away from Safeway, where I work,” said Lawan Fletcher (second from right) -- a UFCW Local 400 member who lives and... more...
- Jan 21, 2011 JwJ Concert Features Grammy Nominee Local hip hop artist and Grammy nominee Christylez Bacon (r) performs at a Jobs with Justice fundraiser tonight. Bacon is performing at Uptown Friday, a weekly showcase and fundraiser for progressive artists and organizations. Christylez is a multi-instrumentalist from Southeast,... more...
- Jan 21, 2011 Union Voice: Readers Write: No Rioting After All “Rioting?” writes Nick Unger in response to an item in Tuesday’s Labor History referring to “Twenty rioting strikers shot.” “In boss-speak, rioting is a synonym for demonstrating. It might be a poor choice of words.” Further research in the New York Times archives by David... more...
- Jan 20, 2011 Workers Confront Homebuilder Bellowing “Where is the money…where are the jobs?!” through bullhorns as they burst through the JW Marriott’s Grand Ballroom doors, almost 200 residential construction workers interrupted a shocked crowd of bankers at yesterday’s Mortgage Bankers Association Summit. “What have you... more...
- Jan 20, 2011 Labor Internships Update In response to our recent call for internships and programs at metro-area labor organizations ( Union Internship Programs? 1/13/2011 Union City ), AFSCME and the National Whistleblowers Center report that they’re running active internship programs and are looking for participants.... more...
- Jan 20, 2011 Grammy Nominee Christyles Bacon At JwJ Fundraiser Catch local hip-hop artist and Grammy nominee Christyles Bacon (at left) at a DC Jobs with Justice fundraiser this Friday. Bacon is performing at Uptown Friday, a weekly showcase and fundraiser for progressive artists and organizations. Christyles is a multi-instrumentalist from... more...
- Jan 19, 2011 IBEW Conference Delegates Plug Into DC Surging to their feet, the 400 delegates at the IBEW Minority Caucus’ Leadership Conference responded enthusiastically to Metro Washington Council President Jos Williams’ exhortation Saturday to “’Get up, stand up, don’t give up the fight,’ in the immortal words of Bob Marley!”... more...
- Jan 19, 2011 Neighbors Organize To Demand Respect From Walmart A local community coalition is counting on the power of neighbor-to-neighbor communication to counter efforts by retail giant Walmart to open four stores in Washington. Living Wages, Healthy Communities, a coalition of labor, faith, environmental, and community groups, is kicking off a... more...
- Jan 19, 2011 New Labor Calendar Posts: Two Screenings Have Just Been Posted NoVa Immigration Debate: 9500 Liberty will be screened next Thursday, January 27: the award-winning film tells the story of a Northern Virginia county’s explosive debate over immigration and will be followed by a discussion with director Annabel Park. Brother Outsider: Busboys and... more...
- Jan 18, 2011 DC Special Election Tops DC COPE Agenda The upcoming Special Election and DC legislative initiatives highlight tonight's Metro Washington Council Committee on Political Education (COPE) monthly meeting . Sekou Biddle (r) has been tapped by the DC Democratic State Committee to fill Kwame Brown's seat as an At-Large City Council... more...
- Jan 18, 2011 Homebuilder's Flaws Exposed Where did $900 million go? That's what residential construction workers want to know tomorrow when PulteGroup -- the nation's largest homebuilder - comes to town. PulteGroup scooped up almost $900 million in tax refunds that were supposed to help create jobs but has instead laid off workers.... more...
- Jan 18, 2011 Bowling...Not Just A Game! Bowling is the perfect Great Recession activity: it's inexpensive, a ton of fun and raises desperately-needed funds for local needy families. So grab a couple of colleagues, friends or family members for your team and sign up for the Community Service Agency's 19th Annual "Bowling For Gold"... more...
- Jan 14, 2011 MLK Linked To DC Walmart Campaign Invoking Dr. Martin Luther King, the Living Wages, Healthy Communities coalition is calling on Walmart to “Respect DC.” A full-page ad in The Informer on Monday, Martin Luther King Day -- recalls Dr. King's final campaign supporting striking sanitation workers in Memphis and connecting... more...
- Jan 14, 2011 WV Mine Wars Tour Revives Labor History If you’d like to see the streets of Matewan where ten men died in a running gun battle in 1920 when Police Chief Sid Hatfield and striking miners fought the notorious Baldwin Felts Detectives, you’ll want to sign up for the inaugural West Virginia Mine War Tour coming on June 16-18.... more...
- Jan 14, 2011 Supporting DC's Strike Fund “We are considering donating some money to an area strike fund,” wrote a local union recently, “If there is one run by the metro AFL-CIO that would be ideal. Does the metro AFL-CIO have such a program?” Yes! The Metro Council's Community Services Agency has an Emergency Assistance Fund... more...
- Jan 13, 2011 Ward 4 Residents Mobilize Against Walmart Saying that hundreds of residents in Ward 4 are opposed to the planned construction of a Walmart in their neighborhood, Ward 4 Thrives – a recently formed community group – is seeking volunteers to canvass the neighborhood this weekend to “gather support for their campaign to bring... more...
- Jan 13, 2011 Threatened BG&E Workers Turn Down Union Worried about keeping their jobs, Baltimore Gas & Electric workers voted down union representation in mid-December. The vote against joining IBEW 1900 was the fourth time the local had tried to organize non-supervisory employees at the Baltimore-based utility ( BG&E Workers To Vote On... more...
- Jan 13, 2011 Union Internship Programs? DC is well-known as a mecca for interns looking to gain work experience and build contact and relationships. We’ve recently received inquiries about internships or programs at labor unions in the metro Washington area, whether at internationals or local unions. If your union or local has... more...
- Jan 12, 2011 MD Unions Strategize, Prepare For "More Attacks" "In light of today's economic losses in the state and around the country we will face not only more attacks on working people and their unions, but we will face more serious attacks on formerly blue or purple states that are now controlled by Republicans,” said Maryland State and District of... more...
- Jan 12, 2011 Labor In The News: AFSCME 2027's Chad Jeremy Profiled in the Post AFSCME Local 2027 member Chad Jeremy often thought about the importance of public service, but the idea of a career in government really did not take shape until he spent two years as an AmeriCorps volunteer involved in activities that ranged from restoring a YMCA camp to building houses for... more...
- Jan 12, 2011 Union Voice: Readers Write Nick Unger at the AFL-CIO’s Strategic Campaign Center sent along a few more details about our January 4 labor history item about the 1966 NYC transit strike, led by Transport Workers Union leader Mike Quill (r). “Quill said at a press conference, tearing up the injunction: ‘I don't care... more...
- Jan 11, 2011 MD General Assembly Legislative Conference Today The Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO 2011 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Conference will begin at 9A today and is scheduled to conclude at 12P - not 9:30A to 3:30P as previously reported. "All local unions are encouraged to send a representative to this important... more...
- Jan 11, 2011 Online Directory/Website Updates The Metro Council’s Online Directory of Affiliates and list of local websites have been updated with new contact information. AFGE Local 3548 – which represents Peace Corps employees – has been added to the Council’s list of almost 90 affiliates and allies with websites.... more...
- Jan 11, 2011 Labor Passages: IBT 67's Smith Noel Smith (r), retired Secretary Treasurer, Business Agent and Principal Officer of Brewery and Beverage Drivers Teamsters Local 67, passed away on Wednesday January 5. Smith joined the Teamsters in 1970 when he became a driver salesman for the Pepsi Cola Company and later became a shop... more...
- Jan 10, 2011 Tweeting Reporter Wins Job Back With so many people now using social media like Facebook and Twitter to communicate about all facets of their lives, the line between professional and private is increasingly blurry. A recent case in which a local reporter fired for “inappropriate” tweeting won reinstatement may be helpful... more...
- Jan 10, 2011 Watching The NFL Lockout Clock The NFL Players Association’s Lockout Watch provides a clock ticking down the seconds to the threatened player lockout and the latest inside facts, numbers and stories behind the ongoing NFL negotiations, including nuggets like “Despite the world's worst economic crisis since the... more...
- Jan 10, 2011 Sweeney To Receive Presidential Medal Of Freedom The White House has named AFL-CIO President Emeritus John Sweeney (r) as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the nation’s highest civilian honor – for his lifelong service to America’s working people. Sweeney is among 15 recipients who President Obama praised as having... more...
- Jan 7, 2011 UFCW 400 Urges Supermarkets To Cure "Corporate Schizophrenia" Split personalities are just as bad for business as they are for people. That’s the message from UFCW 400 President Tom McNutt, who reports that supermarket giants Royal Ahold, Safeway and Supervalu are exhibiting signs of Dr. Jekyll-Mr. Hyde “corporate schizophrenia” by operating both... more...
- Jan 7, 2011 Labor On The Move: CWA's Boarman New Public Printer William J. “Bill” Boarman -- former CWA vice president, president of the union’s Printing, Publishing & Media Workers Sector and former Metro Council Executive Board member -- has been sworn in as the 26th Public Printer of the United States ( Obama To Tap CWA's Boarman For Public... more...
- Jan 6, 2011 NLRB Files For Injunction Against Daycon After determining that Upper Marlboro cleaning supplies company Daycon has committed a “series of unfair labor practices” against striking workers, the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) General Counsel has “taken the rare step of filing a petition before a U.S. District Court... more...
- Jan 6, 2011 Hundreds Find Relief In CSA Holiday Basket Project “The Community Services Agency’s 2010 Holiday Basket Project provided hundreds of struggling area families with much-needed assistance over the holiday season,” reports CSA Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy. “Thanks so much to everyone who donated food and funds; this project... more...
- Jan 5, 2011 "Bowling For Gold" Registrations Open “Don’t miss out on your chance to ‘bowl for gold’ at the upcoming Community Services Agency’s bowling tournament,” says CSA Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy. “There’s just a few weeks left to register you team and lanes are filling up fast!” Now in its 19th year, the... more...
- Jan 5, 2011 Correa Wins LabourStart "Photo Of The Year" Contest Gerardo Correa is the winner of LabourStart’s 2010 Photo of the Year contest. Correa’s submission depicts “farmer workers early in the morning, waiting to start the Pilgrimage for Freedom, around 50 km to walk from Leamington to Windsor in Ontario, to claim for rights, on Thanksgiving... more...
- Jan 5, 2011 Electrical Worker Gravesite Added To Labor Map National Brotherhood of Electrical Workers founder Henry Miller’s grave in NE Washington’s Glenwood Cemetery has just been added to the online DC Labor Map . Miller was a local lineman who, as President of the AFL’s Electrical Wiremen and Linemen's Union, No. 5221 traveled the... more...
- Jan 4, 2011 Health And Retirement On The Chopping Block About 10 percent of the cost of healthcare may soon be pushed onto state workers in Maryland if Governor Martin O’Malley accepts recent recommendations proposed by the Commission on the Sustainability of Public Employee and Retiree Health and Pension Benefits, reports AFSCME Council 67... more...
- Jan 4, 2011 Free January Calendar Download The January calendar from labor artist and activist Ricardo Levins Morales is now available for free download. Click here now to get your free calendar or click here to check out Morales’ website for his other artwork, including bookmarks, posters, notes and photographs. more...
- Dec 23, 2010 Talkin' Union For The Holidays Here’s a familiar holiday scenario: everyone’s gathered around the dinner table and good old Uncle Louie – who’s been hitting the spiked eggnog hard -- starts in on how unions are run by big, overpaid bosses, workers are lazy, and unions are bad for business. It’s easy to tune out the... more...
- Dec 23, 2010 In Memoriam: Franklin Wallick, Editor & Writer Franklin Wallick, 87, the editor of Washington Report, a weekly United Auto Workers newsletter, from 1963 to 1987, died Dec. 3 at Riderwood Village retirement community in Silver Spring. Wallick wrote often about workplace safety and was the author of the book "The American Worker: An... more...
- Dec 23, 2010 Union Shop Goes Online If you’ve been wondering where to get your “Kicking Ass for the Working Class” t-shirt, the AFL-CIO’s Union Shop has moved online, where you’ll also find a more seasonal hoodie emblazoned with the “Union Made” label, the “Got a Boss, Get a Union!” coffee mug and more. more...
- Dec 22, 2010 Changing Lives, One Return At A Time "This tax season you can be a part of a tremendous effort that brings over $9 million into the homes of DC's low-income working families each year," reports the DC Earned Income Tax Credit Campaign . "Volunteer as a Tax Preparer or Savings Promoter with the DC EITC Campaign and make a... more...
- Dec 22, 2010 Why Metro's Escalators Break Down “Metro’s escalators keep breaking down because they were built for indoor use only, not outdoor exposure,” says ATU 689 President Jackie Jeter on the union’s website . “And years of spotty upkeep have taken a toll. It’s only been within the last few months that Metro brought... more...
- Dec 22, 2010 2011 Directory Update Just in time for the New Year, the Council's Online Directory of Affiliates -- searchable, quick and easy-to-use -- has been completely updated, with new info for most of the Council's affiliates. The new hard-copy 2011 Directory is in production now and is expected out early in the New... more...
- Dec 21, 2010 Snow Nurse Wins Job Back Geri Lee (r), the longtime Washington Hospital Center nurse fired earlier this year ( Nurses Prepared For Battle At Washington Hospital Center ), has won her job back. The National Nurses Union (NNU) reported last night that arbitrator Roger P. Kaplan had found that the Washington Hospital... more...
- Dec 21, 2010 CVC Gift Shop Workers Push For Union Tourists won’t find “Union Yes” keychains for sale at the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) Gift Shop, but workers there want their union cards. AFSCME Council 26 filed a petition yesterday asking the Office of Compliance to conduct an election among the fifteen employees at the CVC Gift... more...
- Dec 21, 2010 DC Worker Notches Win In Battle Against Wage Theft Oscar Ramirez’ holidays got considerably brighter last week when DC Jobs with Justice helped him collect a check for $2,914 for back wages. “This is a major victory in the battle against wage theft,” said JWJ DC’s Arturo Griffiths. Ramirez and four other workers worked on renovating... more...
- Dec 21, 2010 CSA's "News You Can Use": New Credit Clinic from Union Plus Union Plus has a new Union Plus Credit Clinic that’s a good resource for area union members wondering exactly how healthy their credit is or who want to reduce their debt. The Clinic includes expert advice from Gerri Detweiler, a nationally-known consumer credit advisor and Union... more...
- Dec 21, 2010 Safe Toys And Made-In-America Holiday Gifts If news stories of tainted toys imported from China have you thinking twice about what you’re putting under the tree, the Alliance for American Manufacturing ( AAM ) suggests parents take a look at the wide range of toys and games offered by NMC Toys , reports Mike Hall on the... more...
- Dec 21, 2010 Savoy Wins Claus Quiz Although beardless IUOE 99 Business Manager Mike Murphy (center) got as many votes, the Santa pictured in Friday's Claus Quiz was actually CWA 2108 President Les Evans (r), ho-ho-ho-ing at his local's recent holiday party. Runner-up AFSCME Council 26 Executive Director Carl Goldman's (l) beard... more...
- Dec 20, 2010 Contreras & Collins Among PM "Champions" SEIU 32BJ Capital Area Director Jaime Contreras (r) and CWA District 2 Vice President Ronald Collins (l) were named Progressive Maryland’s (PM) 2010 “Champions of Working Families” at PM’s 9th annual awards dinner last Wednesday night. Other honorees included U.S. Senator Barbara... more...
- Dec 20, 2010 Labor Heritage Foundation Holiday Specials Looking for something for the activist in your life? Save up to 40 percent on books, CDs, DVDs, posters, note cards, poetry and more with the Labor Heritage Foundation's holiday catalogue special. "Prices listed are marked down - get yours while supplies last," says the LHF. Click here... more...
- Dec 20, 2010 Labor On The Move: Two AFGE Officials Named to Federal Salary Council President Obama has named two American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) representatives to the Federal Salary Council, which advises the White House and executive branch on federal pay issues. J. David Cox (r), national secretary-treasurer, and Jacqueline Simon, public policy... more...
- Dec 17, 2010 Area Unions Gather To Map Strategy Leaders and staff from half a dozen area unions gathered at the National Labor College yesterday to begin mapping out a strategy to counter attacks on public sector workers. “Your fight is our fight,” said SEIU 722 President Dan Fields, noting that “the major attack on private sector... more...
- Dec 17, 2010 SEIU 500 MontCo School Employees Celebrate Quality Award SEIU Local 500’s 8,500 bus drivers, maintenance workers, para-educators, and other dedicated school workers celebrated Montgomery County Public Schools’ (MCPS) recent win of a Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. MCPS was one of just seven winners of the national presidential award... more...
- Dec 17, 2010 Washington Gas Unions Donate $4,000 In Toys Washington Gas, Teamsters Local 96, IBEW Local 1900 and OPEIU Local 2 teamed up for this year’s Washington Gas Phil Alter Toys for Tots project, collecting and delivering four thousand dollars worth of toys to families at Bolling Air Force Base. Local 96’s Darryle Madison arranged for... more...
- Dec 17, 2010 Labor Cares, Labor Shares The Metro Council’s Community Services Agency (CSA) is the union choice for charitable giving, helping union members in need throughout the year. You can support CSA through your worksite United Way, Combined Federal, DC ONE Fund and Maryland Charity Campaigns; “with payroll deduction it's... more...
- Dec 17, 2010 Claus Quiz Santa Claus has his hands full bringing joy and gifts to kids of all ages the world over, but this particular jolly fellow’s day job is leading a metro-area local union and battling various Scrooge-like employers. Click here now to let us know if this Santa’s also known as AFSCME... more...
- Dec 16, 2010 IBEW 26 Annual Food Drive Underway “IBEW Local 26 is currently collecting donations for our fifth annual food drive,” reports Local 26’s Kim Tyrrell. “This year, the Food Drive donation will go to the Capital Area Foodbank. All non-perishable food items can be brought in to any Local 26 office through December 21.” A... more...
- Dec 16, 2010 MD General Assembly Legislative Conference Rescheduled The Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO’s 2011 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Conference – originally scheduled for Monday, December 20 – will be held on Tuesday, January 11 at 9:30A at the MD/DC AFL-CIO office located at 7 School Street, Annapolis, MD 21401. “All... more...
- Dec 16, 2010 Lend A Hand To Workers At Ikea-Owned VA Plant “Nearly all of us have spent time in a sprawling IKEA store, marveling at all the furniture options,” writes Mike Hall on the AFL-CIO’s blog. A struggle by some 350 workers to form a union with the Machinists (IAM) at Danville, VA-based Swedwood, an IKEA furniture plant subsidiary,... more...
- Dec 16, 2010 Video Shows Union Activists Fighting Wage Theft Hear the voices and see the faces of local workers and activists battling wage theft in a brief December 8 video news report on the Machinists News Network. “In the midst of this grave recession, the practice of wage theft is robbing workers, especially immigrants, and ultimately... more...
- Dec 15, 2010 MontCo Bargaining Rights Protected Hundreds of county workers -- a sea of gold-shirted union members -- jammed the Montgomery County Council chambers Tuesday morning in a show of force supporting UFCW 1994's opposition to proposed changes they said would undercut collective bargaining rights ( Unions Blast Ervin Plan to Dilute... more...
- Dec 15, 2010 Labor Steps Up Giving In Time Of Need When times get tough, labor digs deeper. In addition to the Metro Council Community Services Agency’s annual Holiday Basket program (email Kathleen McKirchy at kmckirch@dclaborarchives.org for details and to contribute) for area needy families, other area locals and labor groups are also... more...
- Dec 15, 2010 Labour Photo Of The Year Contest The third annual LabourStart Labour Photo of the Year contest is now underway. Click here to make your choice from the five finalists, selected from hundreds submitted from around the world. You can also see the 2009 and 2008 winners. Deadline for voting is midnight December 31. –... more...
- Dec 14, 2010 Washington Hospital Center Nurses Return To Table "We're ready, we're able, we're going to the table!" The nurses' chant filled the hall outside Washington Hospital Center CEO John Sullivan's office early Monday morning. Over 100 nurses garbed in red scrubs - National Nurses United members have been wearing red in solidarity for the last... more...
- Dec 14, 2010 Rockin' The House Of Labor “Labor’s house is shakin’ tonight, baby!” shouted Street Dogs lead singer Mike McColgan (second from left) last night as the AFL-CIO headquarters reverberated to the punk rock band’s working-class anthems. Hundreds – including Metro Council delegates who had just attended... more...
- Dec 14, 2010 CBTU-DC Collects Cash, Food & More For Needy Over a thousand dollars - $1,145 to be exact - worth of union gift cards, as well as non-perishable food items, were collected for the Metro Washington Council’s Community Services Agency at CBTU-DC’s annual year-end reception and shoe box gift wrapping party last Saturday, December 11.... more...
- Dec 13, 2010 Labor Council Meetings Rock! Immediately following tonight’s Council delegate meeting (which will start at 6p), the Street Dogs band will bring their hard-driving working class politics to the AFL-CIO. The 7p concert , hosted by AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler, features Mike McColgan, former front... more...
- Dec 13, 2010 Reader Survey Deadline Midnight Tonight “More on federal unions”…”more profiles of locals and local rank and file leaders”…”feature ‘union shop of the month’ and highlight the work that they do”…”more social media and video”…”weekend edition!” Those are just a few of the nearly 300 suggestions so far... more...
- Dec 13, 2010 DC JwJ's Isaiah Toney Honored At Washington Peace Center Awards DC JwJ Student Labor Action Project coordinator Isaiah Toney was honored at the Washington Peace Center (WPC) Award Gala last Wednesday. “Isaiah has impressed us with his ability to organize students across area campuses to support workers’ struggles, inspiring us at the One Nation march... more...
- Dec 10, 2010 This Just In The Washington Ballet’s decision to use canned music instead of live union musicians is the cover story in this week’s Washington City Paper, which hit the streets last night. “You can’t quite say that there was absolutely no live music at last weekend’s opening performance of... more...
- Dec 10, 2010 Holiday Time Is Union Time! Shopping takes on a lot of meanings during the holidays, but UFCW Local 400 President Tom McNutt – whose members work at many area retail stores – likes to keep it simple. “Union members should buy union whenever possible,” McNutt says. “The economy needs spending that supports... more...
- Dec 10, 2010 "She Was One Of Us: Eleanor Roosevelt And The American Worker" Discussed Today Author – and National Writers Union member -- Brigid O’Farrell discusses her new book, “She Was One Of Us: Eleanor Roosevelt And The American Worker” at a 1p talk today hosted by the AFL-CIO. “Eleanor Roosevelt was a committed, lifelong advocate for workers and a proud union member... more...
- Dec 10, 2010 CBTU Shoebox Gift Wrapping & Reception Tomorrow The DC chapter of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) is hosting its annual shoebox gift wrapping and reception event tomorrow from 11a to 4p at CWA headquarters. Bring gift cards of $10 or more from area unionized grocery stores (Safeway, Giant, Shoppers, etc); cash contributions... more...
- Dec 9, 2010 Rally Set To Expose Corruption At Chamber Of Commerce Local activists will rally in Lafayette Square at 11:30A today to mark the United Nations International Anti-Corruption Day and “expose the US Chamber of Commerce.” Event organizers charge that over the past year the UC Chamber of Commerce has “disguised foreign money used to buy... more...
- Dec 9, 2010 CSA Lands Another Grant For Job-Training Efforts In recognition of the Community Service Agency's (CSA) successful ongoing job training work, CSA has received a second grant from the MARPAT Foundation of $27,500 to continue its Building Future's work preparing DC Ward 7 and 8 residents for jobs in the construction industry. "Combined... more...
- Dec 9, 2010 Holiday Savings For Union Families “Stretch this year's holiday budget with money-saving discounts and special deals exclusively for union families,” says Union Plus. “Check out Union Plus discounts on everything from flowers and laptops to wireless phones, movies, car rentals and a lot more. Save hundreds of dollars on... more...
- Dec 8, 2010 Canned "Nutcracker" Controversy Continues To Rage “The Nutcracker with recorded music? No thanks,” wrote wiles05 in response to Sarah Kaufman’s December 5 Washington Post review of the Washington Ballet’s performance of The Nutcracker. The review generated universally negative responses to the Ballet’s decision to use canned... more...
- Dec 8, 2010 On The Line In December From charity drives to “hard-driving working class” concerts, December is shaping up to be a busy month jam-packed with solidarity. On Friday, December 10 at 1P, hear from author Brigid O’Farrell on her new book, “She Was One Of Us: Eleanor Roosevelt And The American Worker”... more...
- Dec 8, 2010 Free December Calendar Download The December calendar from labor artist and activist Ricardo Levins Morales is now available for free download. Click here now to get your free calendar or click here to check out Morales’ website for his other artwork, including posters, notes, holiday cards and photographs. more...
- Dec 7, 2010 Activists To Rally For Progressive Taxes At DC Council Today With the DC City Council set to decide how to close the city’s $188 million budget gap today, community activists – led by DC Jobs with Justice, Empower DC and Save Our Safety Net – will rally on the steps of the Wilson Building at 9A to “demand that the City Council make the better... more...
- Dec 7, 2010 AFSCME Fights Back With "Stop The Lies" Campaign “At a time when public services are under attack from right wing politicians and political talking heads, AFSCME is fighting back with ‘ Stop the Lies ,’ an aggressive campaign that will expose right wing lies by using social media, videos, paid advertising and ground events... more...
- Dec 7, 2010 Holiday Basket Project Underway Preparing for record demand this year from struggling families in the metro area, the Community Services Agency’s annual Holiday Basket Project is underway and looking for help. “Working families have been hit especially hard this year,” says CSA Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy.... more...
- Dec 6, 2010 "Raise My Taxes, Please" "I am one of the District's high-income earners, one of the thousands of professionals with a household income of more than $200,000 a year," says Barbara Kagan. "A moderate increase in my taxes is no more than a daily cup of coffee. But it will mean a lot more to this city." In her recent... more...
- Dec 6, 2010 Chamber Prez Donohue Named 2010 Scrooge Of The Year Thomas Donohue, president and CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce, won DC Jobs with Justice's 2010 Scrooge of the Year Award Friday night, edging out the Washington Hospital Center and followed by Walmart in third place. Donohue received a resounding chorus of "boo’s" from a packed room at... more...
- Dec 6, 2010 Rockin' The Council Labor Council meetings rock! Immediately following the December 13 Council delegate meeting (which will start at 6p), the Street Dogs band will bring their hard-driving working class politics to the AFL-CIO. The 7p concert, hosted by AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler, features Mike... more...
- Dec 6, 2010 "We Want More" "Like Sam Gompers said, WE WANT MORE," writes Jeff in response to our ongoing Union City Reader Survey . "More stories, more photos, more action and spirit for the labor activists and union members. If information is ammunition, Union City is the heavy artillery of our union movement.... more...
- Dec 4, 2010 Brassed Off At The Nutcracker Members of the Musician’s union welcomes activists to join them tonight as they return to musically picket another canned-music Washington Ballet performance of The Nutcracker: Saturday 6 to 7p at the Warner, 13th and E Streets NW. ( Musicians Provide Missing "Nutcracker" Music... more...
- Dec 4, 2010 Evening Of Favorite & Sacred Songs Tonight Catch up with old friends and make some new ones tonight enjoying the DC Labor Chorus’ annual evening of favorite and sacred songs ; 7:30P at the National Labor College. The popular annual holiday concert features songs from many cultures and traditions, plus singalongs for the whole... more...
- Dec 4, 2010 Unemployment Caroling Sunday Local activists, detecting a lack of the holiday spirit in Congress, which this week cut off unemployment benefits to millions of jobless while considering extending tax cuts for the rich, will gather in front of the White House Sunday at 2p (1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) to "sing songs about... more...
- Dec 4, 2010 Jobless Workers Speak Out In New Video “Without the unemployment, I probably wouldn’t have a home….We’re waiting for our home to be taken….All I see in my future is living in my car…We can get by on very little, but we can’t by on nothing...We just have to say a prayer, because I have no idea if the benefits are not... more...
- Dec 4, 2010 Gage Calls Pay Freeze "Political Gimmick" Calling President Obama’s proposed two-year federal worker pay freeze “a political gimmick that will save peanuts but inflict economic pain on hard-working, patriotic government employees,” AFGE President John Gage is asking union members and supporters to immediately contact their... more...
- Dec 3, 2010 Musicians Provide Missing "Nutcracker" Music Patrons of the Washington Ballet's presentation of "The Nutcracker" got a taste of the live music they're missing as a brass ensemble performed festive holiday selections outside the Warner Theatre last night (r). "Although more than 500 supporters have written over 2,000 emails to management... more...
- Dec 3, 2010 Hand Dancing For Justice Who's the 2010 Scrooge of the Year? Find out at tonight's DC Jobs with Justice's Winter Cabaret , complete with hand dancing lessons, the Scrooge of the Year announcement, music by DJ Stankfoot, signature Scroogedriver cocktails and homemade deserts. "What good is sitting alone, in your... more...
- Dec 3, 2010 Unemployment Caroling Returns "Unemployment caroling," popular during the last Great Depression, is back. Local activists, detecting a lack of the holiday spirit in Congress, which this week cut off unemployment benefits to millions of jobless while considering extending tax cuts for the rich, will gather in front of the... more...
- Dec 2, 2010 Jobless Workers Urge Congress To Extend Unemployment “This is about basic survival- putting food on the table, keeping the house warm at night, making sure there is a house,” said Silver Spring resident Edrie Irvine (r) at a press conference yesterday on Capitol Hill. “We are jobless through no fault of our own. We don’t have to and... more...
- Dec 2, 2010 DC CBTU Reception & Shoe Box Gift Wrapping Set The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists DC Chapter will host its annual reception and shoe box gift wrapping on Saturday, December 11 from 11A to 4P at CWA headquarters (501 3rd Street NW), reports DC CBTU President Gwend Johnson. “The shoe box donations will be distributed to area... more...
- Dec 1, 2010 BG&E Workers To Vote On Union Baltimore Gas & Electric Co. workers will vote on whether to join IBEW Local 1900 later this month. "All the employees are looking for is a written contract for their jobs," Local 1900 President John Holt told the Baltimore Sun recently. A contract would provide "a place at the table" for... more...
- Dec 1, 2010 Smith Elected To Lead DC Firefighters Edward Smith has been elected President of Firefighters Local 36 , which represents DC firefighters. The rest of the newly-elected 2011-2012 Local 36 Executive Board: Charlie Hottinger (1st VP); Dabney Hudson (2nd VP); Joe Chisholm (3rd VP); James "Gordo" Gordon (Secretary); Larry... more...
- Dec 1, 2010 Walmart Leading Candidate For 2010 Scrooge Of The Year Walmart, the mega-retailer infamous for wiping out community stores across the nation and now trying to slip into DC and other cities with smaller stores, is the leading candidate for DC Jobs with Justice's 2010 Scrooge of the Year award, with more than 500 votes already cast for it. Last... more...
- Dec 1, 2010 December Delegate Meeting Rescheduled To 12/13 The December Metro Washington Council's delegate meeting - originally scheduled for Monday, December 20 - will be held on Monday, December 13 at 6:30P at the AFL-CIO (815 16th Street, NW). Click here for draft minutes from the November meeting; watch Union City for updates. more...
- Dec 1, 2010 "Bring Back The Trainings" "Bring back the (communications) trainings you did with ILCA," suggests Korey in our annual Reader Survey . "Give more locals and affiliated organizations the tools to contribute to Union City and to do their own communications efforts." Adds Peter, "How about an article or two about... more...
- Nov 30, 2010 It's Up To Us - Together By Richard Trumka, President, AFL-CIO Before signing the Declaration of Independence, Ben Franklin immortalized one of my favorite quotes: “We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately.” I don’t think that’s too melodramatic a... more...
- Nov 30, 2010 Celebrate Decade Of Activism At DC JwJ Cabaret DC Jobs With Justice started in 2001 as a small grouping of labor unions and community members supporting organizing by parking garage attendants. Over the last decade, DC JwJ has blossomed into a broad-based coalition of 40-plus groups that cuts across all sectors of the labor movement. This... more...
- Nov 30, 2010 Half-Price FilmFest Tees! That’s right, the gorgeous 2010 DC Labor FilmFest t-shirts are now just $10! We’re clearing out old inventory for the New Year so these great tees – featuring original artwork by movement artist Ricardo Morales Levins – are on sale for just $10. Email awright@dclaborarchives.org to... more...
- Nov 30, 2010 "Love The Local Info" "I really like looking at Union City," writes Elaine in our annual Reader Survey . "It's short, yet very informative. It only takes a minute or so to read and the information keeps me informed of things going on that I may not otherwise read about or see on the news." Adds Cindy, "I love... more...
- Nov 29, 2010 Unemployed Workers Wanted For Congress Lobby Day With two million jobless Americans facing an imminent and devastating loss of unemployment benefits, the AFL-CIO is seeking unemployed workers in the metro DC area to help lobby Congress next Wednesday. “Unless Congress reauthorizes the current program before it expires on November 30th,... more...
- Nov 29, 2010 Labor Art At Foundry UMC One of Washington’s most beautiful examples of labor art is hidden in plain sight. A stained glass window (r) in the vestry of the Foundry United Methodist Church portrays John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, proclaiming his burning message to those who toiled in the coal pits. The... more...
- Nov 24, 2010 Musicians Petition Ballet Board To Bring Back Live Music To The Nutcracker Members of the Washington Ballet’s orchestra are now appealing directly to the ballet’s board of directors to evaluate the company’s decision to use recorded music for The Nutcracker, reports Musicians Local 161-710 President John Cusick. “Washington merits and needs live music for its... more...
- Nov 24, 2010 Walmart Out Of DC, Buying Congress And Shopping Union Several new stories have been posted on UFCW Local 400's website. In Coalition Demands Walmart Change Or Stay Out Of D.C ., Local 400 reports on how there's a concerted effort to raise the standard of living and keep small businesses alive in Washington, D.C. by a broad coalition of... more...
- Nov 24, 2010 In Memoriam: Iron 201's Gaither Musgrove; Kevin Bruffy, AFL-CIO Iron 201's Gaither Musgrove: Former Business Manager, President, and Apprentice Coordinator of Ironworkers Local 201 Gaither Musgrove died November 16th in his retirement home in Longs, SC. "He was a huge man of imposing presence and a staunch unionist who was very active in the local DC... more...
- Nov 23, 2010 SOS DC Urges Progressive Tax To Save DC Services With the DC Council deciding in the coming weeks how to fix a $175 million budget shortfall, SOS DC says that “Rather than more cuts, it is time for a balanced approach that includes progressive revenue.” The community coalition is urging city leaders to create a new tax bracket of 9.5%... more...
- Nov 23, 2010 "Scrooge" Award Voting Opens Who’s the biggest Scrooge of all? You decide! Voting is now open for the 2010 DC Scrooge of the Year. Last year’s Scrooge was Adrian Fenty, now the former DC Mayor, so this year’s nominees -- Walmart, Washington Hospital Center and the Washington Ballet – are likely not looking for a... more...
- Nov 22, 2010 Sheraton Workers Keep Battling For Justice It was just another Saturday night in Arlington. Except for the giant “Boycott” illuminating the side of the Sheraton Crystal City high above the steady stream of traffic on Jefferson Davis Highway. “Sheraton you’re no good, treat your workers as you should!” chanted dozens of hotel... more...
- Nov 22, 2010 Union City Wins Labor Media Award International Labor Communication Association (ILCA) President Steve Stallone (center) presented Union City Managing Editor Chris Garlock (l) and UC Assistant Editor Adam Wright with the 2010 first-place award as Best Electronic Newsletter in ILCA’s annual Labor Media Awards luncheon last... more...
- Nov 22, 2010 Crossing The Language Divide Do workers in your workplace speak different languages? Does language serve as a barrier to organizing in your community? For those interested in building multilingual capacity in your union or organization, DC JwJ is hosting "Crossing the Language Divide, Creating Multilingual Spaces for... more...
- Nov 19, 2010 Community Questions Wal-Mart's DC Plans Community, religious and labor activists reacted warily to Wednesday's announcement that big-box retailer Wal-Mart plans to open four stores in the District. "Wal-Mart has a proven track record of wage fraud, job discrimination, worker abuse, and demanding large government handouts," said Rev.... more...
- Nov 19, 2010 Virginia Hotel Workers To Rally Saturday Workers at the Sheraton Crystal City – who have been fighting for a “fair, democratic and neutral process to unionize” since February 2009 – will rally this Saturday at 5:30P in Arlington, Virginia to say “no to the jobless recovery and yes to workers’ rights,” reports DC... more...
- Nov 19, 2010 Providing Relief For Struggling Families Families struggling to make it through the current financial crisis can count on the Community Services Agency (CSA) of the Metro Washington Council, says CSA Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy. “From pre-apprenticeship job training to emergency financial assistance to prevent evictions... more...
- Nov 18, 2010 Hospital Center Returns To Table With an imminent 1-day strike by their nurses looming next week, the Washington Hospital Center (WHC) yesterday agreed to return to the bargaining table with the National Nurses United (NNU). WHC also agreed to recognize NNU as the collective bargaining representative of the hospital’s... more...
- Nov 18, 2010 Day Of Action Focuses On Wage Theft "Crime Wave" Employers who don’t pay their workers are breaking the law and should be prosecuted, said DC Mayor-Elect Vince Gray at a recent town hall. So workers and faith leaders are gathering at DC Metropolitan Police Headquarters at 9:30 this morning as part of the national Mobilization to... more...
- Nov 18, 2010 Musicians Urge Gray To Promote Live Music Local musicians yesterday reached out to DC Mayor-Elect Vince Gray to ask for support in restoring live music to this year’s “Nutcracker” at the Washington Ballet. “We appreciate your concern for employment and good union jobs throughout our city’s economy and sincerely hope that... more...
- Nov 17, 2010 Redskins Reaffiliate With Council The newest affiliate of the Metro Council has just 53 local members, but their names are known across Washington. Names like Donovan McNabb and Clinton Portis, quarterback and running back for the Washington Redskins, whose players have re-affiliated with the Metro Washington Council as part... more...
- Nov 17, 2010 Teaism "Mobbed" By Sick Leave Supporters Local hotspot Teaism was “mobbed” Saturday by nearly 100 area supporters of paid sick leave. Teaism was the winner of DC’s First Carrotmob, a community organizing event organized by the Employment Justice Center and Restaurant Opportunities Center-DC to mark the... more...
- Nov 17, 2010 Screeners To Choose Union The folks keeping airports safe now get to vote on who will protect them. The Federal Labor Relations Authority ruled last week that transportation security officers (TSOs) can vote on union representation. “It is no secret that the morale of the TSO workforce is terrible as a result of... more...
- Nov 17, 2010 Wage Theft Day Of Action Set For Thursday Workers and faith leaders are taking the fight against wage theft to an unlikely location this Thursday: DC Metropolitan Police Headquarters. "When workers put in weeks on a job and then receive absolutely no pay, that's criminal behavior," said Arturo Griffiths, a day labor organizer with DC... more...
- Nov 16, 2010 Farmworkers Protest "Modern-Day Slavery" Almost 50 farmworkers’ rights activists and community allies rallied outside the Columbia Heights Giant supermarket during rush-hour last night, brandishing signs that read “1¢ more per pound!” and chanting “Exploitation ain’t the way, farmworkers deserve fair pay!” Damara Luce... more...
- Nov 16, 2010 "Scrooge-Of-The-Year" Nomination Deadline Extended The deadline to submit nominations for DC Jobs with Justice's "Scrooge-Of-The-Year" has been extended to midnight this Wednesday, November 17. "Perennial favorite Wal-Mart has once again been nominated," reports DC JwJ's Ruth Castel-Branco. The Washington Hospital Center, Daycon, US Security... more...
- Nov 16, 2010 Labour Photo Contest LabourStart's Labour Photo of the Year contest recognizes the talents of worker-photographers around the world, while encouraging them “to tell the stories of our struggles in photos.” Deadline for submission for the 2010 contest -- the third annual -- is December 1. Click here... more...
- Nov 15, 2010 Ashland Nursing & Rehabilitation Workers Join UFCW 400 On November 2, over 60 “certified nursing aides, restorative aides, activity aides and maintenance employees of the Ashland Nursing and Rehabilitation Center took their first step towards a fair and equal workplace,” reports UFCW Local 400. “It all started this past winter when Certified... more...
- Nov 15, 2010 Farmworkers To Protest Exploitation At Giant Today Farmworkers and members of the Food Chain Workers Alliance and the Georgetown Solidarity Committee will demonstrate outside Giant Supermarket in Columbia Heights at 5P today to protest the company’s alleged involvement in farmworker exploitation. “Ahold, Giant's parent company,... more...
- Nov 15, 2010 Metro Council Delegate Meeting Tonight Don't miss tonight's Metro Washington Council delegate meeting , jam-packed with the latest updates on the local labor movement, including the upcoming strike by nurses at the Washington Hospital Center. Reports from the Community Services Agency, Union City, COPE and updates on the DC... more...
- Nov 15, 2010 Union Plus Scholarship Applications Now Available “Applications are available for the 2011 Union Plus Scholarship Program , which provides $150,000 in scholarships to union members, their spouses and dependants,” reports Union Plus. “Since 1992, the Union Plus Scholarship program has provided more than $2.8 million to help... more...
- Nov 12, 2010 District Hotel Workers Demand "Shot At American Dream" Charging that District hotels are attempting to force a “recessionary” contract on employees, more than 400 workers and community allies rallied in Farragut Square chanting “The people united will never be defeated” during rush-hour Wednesday night. “I’m demonstrating tonight to... more...
- Nov 12, 2010 WHC Nurses Plan 1-Day Strike Washington Hospital Center nurses are planning a one-day strike on November 24 in an effort to bring the hospital back to the bargaining table. “We’re ready for action!” said National Nurses United yesterday, noting that the strike vote won 90% approval by the frustrated nurses and... more...
- Nov 12, 2010 Labor Arts Org Honors Trumka, Lucy & Nussbaum Calling for “a new era of art celebrating working people,” AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (at right) Tuesday night was among the honorees at the annual Labor Heritage Foundation’s “Evening of Labor Honors” fundraiser. Also receiving awards were longtime labor leader and... more...
- Nov 12, 2010 Washington Ballet Leads Scrooge-Of-The-Year Nominations The Washington Ballet, which has axed live music at performances of Romeo and Juliet and The Nutcracker, is leading the contest to be named Scrooge of the Year . "The behavior of Ebeneezer Scrooge in Dickens' story very much parallels the behavior of The Washington Ballet management and... more...
- Nov 10, 2010 Building Futures Honors 7th Graduating Class Shaun Reese (r), chosen by his fellow graduates to deliver remarks at the Building Futures Project seventh graduation ceremony on Monday, praised building trades workers for their hard work and devotion to the trades. Reese singled out Rosella Scott of Cement Masons Local 891, who supervises... more...
- Nov 10, 2010 DC Hotel Workers Rally For Justice Today Workers from the Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, Starwood and several other District hotels will rally in Farragut Square at 5P today and march through downtown DC to demand a fair contract. "Management is proposing a recessionary contract even after the hotels have returned to their pre-recession... more...
- Nov 10, 2010 Union Plumbers At Your Fingertips Union plumbers are just a call away now, thanks to the recently-launched Washington DC Service Plumbing Contractors . (WDC SPC) Randomly choosing a plumbing contractor for residential or commercial services can be "a risky proposition and potentially, a dangerous one," warns the SPC.... more...
- Nov 10, 2010 2010 Catalog Offers Books For Union Activists, Leaders A new, 56-page catalog of books for union members, activists and leaders is being offered by Union Communication Services . The 2010 edition of the UCS Labor Books Catalog includes scores of classic and new titles on topics ranging from negotiating and grievance handling to organizing,... more...
- Nov 9, 2010 "Romeo" Stumbles Without Live Orchestra “Losing live music is a heavy sacrifice,” wrote dance critic Sarah Kaufman in Saturday’s Washington Post review of the Washington Ballet's production of "Romeo and Juliet." The Ballet’s decision to use taped music this season -- including upcoming performances of "The Nutcracker" -- is... more...
- Nov 9, 2010 2011 Affiliate Directory Updates Leaders of Metro Washington Council affiliates should be on the lookout for emails about the upcoming 2011 Directory of Affiliates. The Council is currently updating contact information on nearly 200 area unions for the new edition of the Council's Directory of Affiliates. Please follow the... more...
- Nov 9, 2010 AFI European Union Film Showcase: Labor FilmFest Picks The ongoing AFI European Union Film Showcase at the American Film Institute in Silver Spring includes several films with a worker or labor interest. Here are some picks from DC Labor FilmFest Director Chris Garlock: ALL THAT I LOVE (Tue, Nov 9, 8p) Set in 1981, just as Poland's... more...
- Nov 8, 2010 2010 "Scrooge Of The Year" Nominations Open DC Jobs with Justice isn't saying that former DC Mayor Adrian Fenty's selection as ‘ Grinch of the Year ,’ last year cost him his job but community group says it did expose Fenty's "disregard for the District's working people and kick-started two years of mobilization to protect the... more...
- Nov 8, 2010 DC Hotel Workers To Rally Wednesday District hotel workers – represented by UNITE HERE Local 25 – will rally and march in Downtown DC on Wednesday at 5P to demand a “fair and just contract,” reports Local 25. Click here for location details and watch Union City for updates. more...
- Nov 8, 2010 Free November Calendar Download The November calendar from labor artist and activist Ricardo Levins Morales is now available for free download. Click here now to get your free calendar, or click here to check out Morales’ website for his other artwork, including posters, notes, holiday cards and photographs. more...
- Nov 8, 2010 Lorne Bair Rare Books Donates Council History The Metro Council recently acquired a rare copy of the Illustrated History of the Washington Central Labor Union, thanks to a generous donation from Lorne Bair Rare Books . Published in 1900, the history is in excellent condition and includes a wealth of fascinating information, from... more...
- Nov 5, 2010 New Union Contract Boosts Wages For DC School Security Officers “A three-year contract has been reached between Securitas, a DC public schools security contractor, and 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union,” reports SEIU 32BJ. The union says the new agreement will provide a 15 percent increase in wages and benefits for nearly 180 security... more...
- Nov 5, 2010 CWA Urges NLRB To Act On CNN Case The Communications Workers of America recently filed a motion with the National Labor Relations Board calling on the Board to immediately hear the case involving CNN/Team Video and 250 technicians in New York and Washington, D.C., who have been harmed by CNN’s illegal actions. “This case... more...
- Nov 5, 2010 Lucky Dub Plays DC JwJ Benefit Tonight Local reggae band Lucky Dub joins artist-in-residence Tarica June for a benefit concert tonight to support the work of DC Jobs with Justice. "We come from all walks of life, and musical influences, from reggae, funk and world to ska, rock alternative, and hip/hop to create a sound to... more...
- Nov 4, 2010 7th Building Futures Class To Graduate Monday Fifteen graduates will take the stage next Monday as the Building Futures Project pre-apprenticeship training program hosts a graduation to honor the accomplishments of it's seventh graduating class. Each graduate will be awarded certificate of completion, which includes OSHA 10 and CPR First... more...
- Nov 4, 2010 Helping Families Avert Crises "When financial crisis hits home for local union members, the Community Services Agency of the Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO is there to help," says CSA Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy. "CSA assists with evictions, utility shut-offs, empty cupboards and more. But without your... more...
- Nov 4, 2010 Election About Jobs, Not Republican Mandate Tuesday's election "was about jobs, plain and simple," AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said yesterday. "It was a mandate to fix the economy and create jobs." But the election wasn't a mandate for the policies most Republicans campaigned on, Trumka said, pointing to an election night survey of... more...
- Nov 4, 2010 Labor On The Move: Isaiah Toney DC JWJ's Student Labor Action Project Coordinator Isaiah Toney, DC Jobs with Justice's new Student Labor Action Project coordinator hails from Oakland, California, where he got his start in organizing by re-assembling the fractured citywide student government. After a four-month crash course in community organizing from Oakland ACORN, Isaiah... more...
- Nov 3, 2010 Lucky Dub To Play DC JwJ Benefit Local reggae band Lucky Dub joins artist-in-residence Tarica June for a benefit concert to support the work of DC Jobs with Justice this Friday . Nominated for multiple Washington Area Music Awards and Virginia Reggae Awards, “Lucky Dub plays the feel good influence that stems from the... more...
- Nov 3, 2010 Labor Hits Field And Phones Across Region For Pro-Worker Candidates The first glimmers of dawn were barely beginning to appear as union volunteers headed out Tuesday morning in Prince Georges County. After grabbing donuts and coffee at the IBEW 26 union hall in Lanham, newbies Gene Berrill and Anthony Pierce (top right) collected their Labor-to-Labor packets... more...
- Nov 3, 2010 "Nutcracker" Campaign Continues Hear the Washington Ballet orchestra’s brass sextet performing at last week’s musician’s union “Nutcracker” demonstration in WPFW reporter Pete Tucker’s report, “ The Nutcracker as Grim Reaper .” Plus, click here to join the nearly 400 area activists who have already... more...
- Nov 2, 2010 Labor 2010 Goes Down To The Wire Today The future of workers is on the line today as voters go to the polls in races up and down the ballot at the local, state and national levels. Here's where and how to plug in: VOTING: Click here for general voter information, to find your polling place and for the list of local... more...
- Nov 2, 2010 Election Update: Two Key Ballot Initiatives The Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO urges your support for the following ballot initiatives in the District and Maryland: District Of Columbia: Proposed Charter Amendment IV Vote FOR the Charter Amendment tha t would allow voters to elect the Attorney General for a 4-year term of... more...
- Nov 2, 2010 Election Day Coverage Union City will be reporting live from around metro Washington today as local labor gets out the vote; check our website for updates throughout the day and follow us on Twitter! more...
- Nov 2, 2010 Nurses Issue Report Documenting Unsafe Patient Care At Washington Hospital Center National Nurses United (NNU) filed a report Monday morning with the DC Department of Health detailing dozens of instances of unsafe patient care at Washington Hospital Center, and requested that the DC government investigate and take action. Hundreds of WHC nurses, together with community... more...
- Nov 2, 2010 DC Hotel Contract Extended 6 Months As Negotiations Continue Five thousand area hotel workers got some breathing room recently when UNITE HERE Local 25 and the Hotel Association of Washington extended their October 8 contract expiration until March 15. 2011. The 6-month contract extension follows two previous extensions and was necessary because the... more...
- Nov 1, 2010 Workers At Individual Development, Inc Join SEIU 500 “In a union election covering 150 employees who provide services for people with developmental disabilities at Individual Development, Inc. (IDI), workers [last Tuesday] voted overwhelmingly to join SEIU Local 500, a union of 18,000 human service, education and child care workers across... more...
- Nov 1, 2010 COPE Pick Of The Day: PG County GOTV Walk Area union members and labor allies will distribute literature door-to-door in Prince George’s County beginning at 10A today to help get out the vote for labor-endorsed candidates on the final day before tomorrow's elections. Call Rick Powell at 202-744-2885 or email... more...
- Nov 1, 2010 Williams Honored By Civic Associations Metro Council President Jos Williams was awarded the George H. Richardson Award – Leadership in Civil Rights at last Saturday’s D.C. Federation of Civil Associations’ 80th annual awards luncheon. Photo: Williams (2nd from right) with DCFCA President Robert V. Brannum (r), 2nd... more...
- Nov 1, 2010 Labor On The Move: David Borer New AFGE General Counsel David Borer (r) is the new General Counsel at the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the country’s largest federal employee union, representing 600,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia. “I plan to lead the General Counsel’s... more...
- Nov 1, 2010 UFCW 400 Launches Redesigned Website UFCW Local 400 today launched a new, state-of-the-art website designed to put all the information its members need “right at your fingertips, with a cleaner look, clear navigation and easy interaction.” The new website includes a special members section with pages on collective... more...
- Oct 29, 2010 Musicians Play To Save Live "Nutcracker" Local musicians put their unique spin on demonstrating yesterday when a brass sextet performed on a picketline set up outside the Washington Ballet’s Wisconsin Avenue headquarters by AFM Local 161-710. Instruments glinting merrily in the bright fall sunshine, the musicians performed... more...
- Oct 29, 2010 MontCo Voters Urged To Support Public Safety Montgomery County public employee unions and other allies are urging a “Yes” vote for the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Transport Fee (County Question A) in next Tuesday’s elections. Under the law -- passed in May -- the County would be allowed to recover ambulance transport costs... more...
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