Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO

Cesar Chavez Prep educators win union in historic vote

6/22/2017

Teachers at Cesar Chavez Prep Middle School have become the first educators at a District of Columbia charter school to unionize. On June 15, they voted 31 to 2 for the union, to help them win resources for kids, a real say in school decision-making, a consistent and high-quality curriculum, and job security. They will now immediately move to bargain a first contract with the school administration. Says science teacher Christian Herr: "We're excited for the opportunity to work alongside our school board and our principal to make a school that we're really proud of into the envy of the district. We've got a strong team in place already, and the best students and families in the city, and we're ready to get to work on a contract that makes our school an even better place to teach and learn." Read more here and see our previous report here.

New Baltimore law protects subcontracted workers

6/22/2017

Banquet server Angela Featherstone lost her job at Camden Yards in 2009, just because contractors changed. During the year it took her to find work, she almost lost her home. Horseshoe Casino cleaner Vonzella Barnes watched helplessly as nine of her coworkers were laid off when their subcontracted employer lost its contract. Now the jobs of thousands of Baltimore workers are safer, thanks to a new law protecting subcontracted janitors, security guards and food service workers by requiring worker retention for a 90-day transition period when contractors change. “This is a tremendous step forward for Baltimore” said Roxie Herbekian, president of UNITE HERE Local 7. "No one should be thrown out of their job just because one company replaces another to do the same work in the same location." The Baltimore City Council unanimously approved the Displaced Service Worker Protection Ordinance last week.
- UNITE HERE 7 Facebook page

Hands Off Our Healthcare: 1-888-865-8089

6/22/2017

Today is the National Call-In Day to let Congress know you stand against the attempt to strip healthcare coverage from working people. As mentioned at Monday’s delegate meeting by the Alliance for Retired Americans, the legislation now being crafted in secret by Senate republicans would drastically raise rates for seniors, end healthcare for 23 million Americans, and cut funding to Medicaid. Even worse, the legislation would give the wealthy massive tax breaks while creating new taxes on working people. Share this graphic and make a call for healthcare today!

Today’s Labor Quote: writer Karin Lowachee

6/22/2017

“Society has made it so I have to get paid in order to do basic things like eat and be indoors and not be naked. Once that's happened, morality's bound to get slippery.”

<<Previous