Service workers at National Airport walked off the job yesterday, on strike against their employer, Eulen America, a Delta contractor at DCA. The workers, members of SEIU 32BJ, who are protesting health and safety concerns and belittlement by supervisors, joined other Eulen workers on strike yesterday at four of the nation’s busiest airports including Miami, JFK and Fort Lauderdale. The Spanish-owned contractor has an alarming history of claims filed against it by it’s almost exclusively immigrant workforce for wage theft, discrimination and sexual harassment.
"We're striking today for respect and decency," said Theresa Boyd on WPFW's "Your Rights At Work." Boyd is a checkpoint agent for Eulen. photo: Boyd at DCA click here for latest listings Union City Radio: 7:15a M-F; WPFW-FM 89.3 Baltimore Symphony Musicians picket line: Fri, June 27, 7:30am – 10:30am Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, 1212 Cathedral St, Baltimore, MD 21201 UFCW 400 Week of Action at Shoppers: Franconia, VA: Fri, June 28, 11am – 1pm Shoppers #2628/2346 (7005 Manchester Lakes Blvd, Franconia, VA) DC Just Pay Coalition Outreach Blitz (Anacostia): Fri, June 28, 4pm – 7pm The Black Worker Center: 2500 MLK Avenue SE UFCW 400 Week of Action at Shoppers: Alexandria, VA: Fri, June 28, 4pm – 6pm Shoppers #2641/2358 (7660 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA) UFCW 400 Week of Action at Shoppers: Dumfries, VA: Fri, June 28, 4pm – 6pm Shoppers #2674/2381 (4174 Fortuna Center Plaza, Dumfries, VA) UPCOMING DC Just Pay Coalition Outreach Blitz (Chinatown): Sat, June 29, 1pm – 4pm Atrium of the Art Gallery Museum DC Just Pay Coalition Outreach Blitz (U Street): Sun, June 30, 1pm – 4pm U St/African-American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo Station, 1020 U St NW, Washington, DC 20001 photo: Alexandria Shoppers' customer signs petition supporting workers Today is Day 12 of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Lockout. This morning’s picketing, from 7:30 to 10a (see Calendar), will be the last for the month. “We hope for a large turnout of not only our own members but many of our sisters and brothers from other unions in the area, many who have already turned out in support of us in big numbers,” said Mary Plaine, Secretary-Treasurer of the Musicians' Association of Metropolitan Baltimore, AFM Local 40-543. While the lockout continues, the BSO musicians did receive news yesterday that the BSO will continue the musicians’ medical, dental, vision and life insurance coverages through August, instead of discontinuing them on July 1. “The Baltimore Symphony Musicians appreciate the tremendous support of organized labor in our fight for a fair contract,” said Blaine. “Your efforts on our behalf have helped pressure the BSO to do the right thing by its employees.” Stay tuned for updates on picketing in July. photo: Bredhoff & Kaiser interns on the BSO line On July 1st, the minimum wage for hourly workers in DC will increase to $14.00; $4.45 for tipped workers. That’s also the first day of business tax collection for the Paid Family Leave benefits program, so the DC Just Pay Coalition has planned an Outreach Blitz June 28-30 to make sure workers know their rights. “We’re looking for 150 people to come out and hit the streets with us this weekend,” says Jobs with Justice DC Executive Director Elizabeth Falcon. “We'll have outreach events from Friday to Sunday across DC's neighborhoods.” The Coalition will be doing outreach to workers about the new minimum wage, wage theft and resources for victims of sexual harassment, as well as engaging managers on the Paid Family Leave tax collection and their responsibilities. RSVP here. |