Summer interns from the AFL-CIO and Solidarity Center learned about DC’s rich labor history in a Washington Worker’s Walk on Wednesday led by Metro Council Union Cities Coordinator Chris Garlock. The event was the latest organized for the new DC Labor Intern Network – which now includes nearly 100 metro-area labor interns -- being coordinated by Sivan Rosenthal, the Metro Washington Council’s summer intern, who’s also working as a writer for Union City while Garlock heads off for his Wales Walk (click here for details on how to support the MWC Community Services Agency's Emergency Assistance Fund). Rosenthal, a rising junior at Rutgers, came into the labor movement through United Students Against Sweatshops, where she’ll be starting as a regional organizer in the fall. “USAS has connected me with other students from around the country who are passionate about social justice and fighting hard where they live to make positive change,” said Rosenthal. “I hope I can put together a similar experience for the young people working in the DC labor movement this summer by letting them know about interesting labor events as well as hosting some fun events and parties. Hopefully they will build relationships that will carry on past the summer, and across the country.” Any DC-area labor interns interested in joining or getting involved should email [email protected] photo: Rosenthal at the June 6 COSH demo at the Chamber of Commerce; photo by Chris Garlock Already enjoying City Fund support for the Building Futures Construction Pre-Apprenticeship program, the Community Services Agency in June won a continuing grant to help support low-income DC residents entering apprenticeship programs and jobs in construction. “We are very gratified to be chosen to continue this work with the help of The City Fund, and the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region,” said CSA Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy. “The Building Futures program provides job readiness and occupational skills training and job placement to those needing a boost into good-paying stable careers.” The City Fund was created in 2013 with unanimous support from the Mayor and DC City Council and is funded by the District government. Through program support and capacity building grants, the Fund supports effective nonprofits working to make the District of Columbia a more healthy, stable, and vibrant place to live for all its residents.
The AFL-CIO has asked followers on their blog to share their labor-friendly tattoos on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #InkMasterUnion to show solidarity with employees on the hit TV show "Ink Master." Workers at "Ink Master" voted overwhelmingly for a union last year. Since then, Original Media, the company behind "Ink Master," has refused to bargain in good faith with the Writers Guild of America, East. See the rest of the tattoos here. photo courtesy of Twitter user @Elana_Brooklyn Cumberland City Police have reached a tentative contract agreement “after three very long weeks of negotiations!” reports UFCW/MCGEO Local 1994, which represents the cops. “The Cumberland City Police bargaining team and membership have displayed remarkable solidarity in the face of serious upcoming challenges,” said Local 1994 in a Facebook post earlier this week (Cumberland Cops Back UFCW 1994 5/22 UC) photo: Cumberland City Police primary bargaining team members Tony Tringler, JW Yarnall and Eric Bonner (team member Jeremy Hedrick is not pictured). |