 by Dyana Forester, President, Metro Washington Labor Council AFL-CIO
As we have worked to recover from the pandemic, unions have been the voice for all workers in unprecedented times. Union members have taken courageous actions to strike when denied quality-of-life benefits, and mobilized to the polls during a historic election season. For these reasons, we pause from the fight to recognize and celebrate our union leaders. Registration is now open for the 44th Annual Evening with Labor! Please join us on Friday, March 3. Join the Metro Washington Labor Council AFL-CIO and our affiliates for an evening to celebrate our exceptional leaders in the labor movement. Doors will open at 6:00pm for an evening of drinks, an award dinner, and dancing. Sponsors make this event possible. See all our available sponsorship opportunities, and secure your organization's sponsorship today. Our work is often incremental but significant and cause for celebration. Register to join this year's event and we'll see you on March 3!  On the 12th day of their strike, ATU Local 689 Loudoun County Transit members got a boost on the picket line Tuesday from a visit from International President John Costa, International Executive Vice President Yvette Trujillo, and International Secretary-Treasurer Ken Kirk.
“I am proud to be here with you today,” Costa told the strikers. “Your strength and solidarity is sending a strong message to Keolis, a French company, that we demand a fair and just contract that allows you to provide for your families. They called us heroes during the pandemic, but are treating us like zeroes. You have the full support of your International, and together we will ‘Hold the Line’ until we get what we deserve.” photo by ATU. PLUS: Keolis bus driver Sandra Vigil tells WPFW's Your Rights At Work radio show "Why we’re striking". Click here for the complete calendar and details. Got something to add or update? Email us at [email protected].
Union City Radio: 7:15am, WPFW-FM 89.3 FM 2-minute audio version of the Metro Washington Labor Council's Union City newsletter. Loudoun County Transit Strike Picket Line: Fri, January 27, 3:30am – 4:00pm 43031 Loudoun Center Place in Leesburg, VA (map) Catholic Labor Network Annual Conference: Sat, January 28, 9:00am – 1:30pm Hyatt Regency Washington On Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA (map) Online registration is now closed. Onsite registration will be available at the hotel. For assistance please contact [email protected] Virginia AFL-CIO Legislative Conference: Sunday, Jan 29, 2023 Contact [email protected] for details.  The global labor movement lost a bright light and a pioneering leader on January 16 when Myrtle Witbooi, general secretary of the South African Domestic Service and Allied Workers Union (SADSAWU) and president of the International Domestic Workers Federation (IDWF), passed away after a long and valiant battle with cancer. Read more from the Solidarity Center and in The New York Times.
photo: Witbooi with Solidarity Center Executive Director Shawna Bader-Blau in 2017. |
