 Hundreds of local union members laced up their bowling shoes on Sunday for the 26th Annual Bowling for Gold tournament, organized by the Metro Washington Council’s Community Services Agency. While strikes, fun and prizes abounded, the event’s bottom line was raising money for union families in need. “This shows the solidarity that exists in our local labor movement, with union members coming out in droves to support the Emergency Assistance Fund,” said CSA Assistant Director Sonte DuCote. Printcraft workers’ “Sunday Morning Rollers #1” outscored the other 80 teams with 3350 points, and team members Washington Wilkerson, Traci Morris, Anthony Jefferis, Brian Howze, and Michael Strickland will receive $150 each in prize money. Henry Allen of OPEIU 2’s “Metro Gents,” which won second place overall, was the highest scoring individual and will also receive $150. “Congratulations to our winners, and a very special Thank You goes to Fred Allen, retired Graphic Communications Conference/IBT member, who has provided guidance and helped organize this event from the very beginning,” said DuCote. The Community Services Agency is still accepting pledges and donations to support the Emergency Assistance Fund; donate online here.
Team photos are posted online: morning teams; afternoon teams photo: CSA staff Sonte DuCote and Sylvia Casaro-Dietert drawing tickets for a raffle prize; credit Chris Bangert-Drowns  Highlights in the wake of Sunday’s Virginia AFL-CIO Legislative Conference and Monday’s Labor Lobby Day -- A bill that allows workers to sue for unpaid wages with potential for triple back pay passed in subcommittee after the Carpenters came out in force to testify in favor of the bill (HB 515). A workers’ comp bill (HB 1245) that reforms the cancer presumption for firefighters and other workers passed the House committee. Also under consideration: HB 1543, which tackles one of the worst injustices of the Virginia workers’ comp system; HB 951, uniting environmentalists, labor and consumer advocates to ban the sale in Virginia of furniture and other items containing toxic, carcinogenic flame retardant chemicals; HB 1562 and SB 968 increase penalties that the Virginia Employment Commission can impose on companies committing payroll fraud. Labor advocates in Richmond are also lobbying to increase teacher pay, expand Medicaid, and fund Metro.
photo: Virginia AFL-CIO legislative conference attendees; courtesy NoVA Labor "Law! What do I care about the law? Ain't I got the power?"
Vanderbilt was an extremely wealthy American businessman and robber baron  Click here to check out this week's Today in Labor History, a new podcast produced by Union City Radio and the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor. Also available now on iTunes and Stitcher; search for Union City Radio!
Franklin Delano Roosevelt is born in Hyde Park, N.Y. He was elected president of the United States four times starting in 1932. His New Deal programs helped America survive the Great Depression. His legislative achievements included the creation of the National Labor Relations Act, which allows workers to organize unions, bargain collectively, and strike. - 1882 Compiled/edited by Union Communication Services |
