The Metro Washington Council’s Community Services Agency last Thursday received the 2022 United Planning Organization (UPO) Partnership Recognition Award. “It was an honor to be presented with this award and the opportunity to meet amazing community builders,” said CSA Executive Director Letycia Pastrana (at right in photo). UPO is one of CSA’s major Building Futures program funders. This week’s Labor History Today podcast: Working People’s Hidden Histories; Last week's show: Labor history at the AFL-CIO & Labor Notes. June 27 Emma Goldman, women's rights activist and radical, born in Lithuania. She came to the U.S. at age 17 - 1869 The Industrial Workers of the World, also known as the "Wobblies," is founded at a convention in Chicago. The Wobblie motto: "An injury to one is an injury to all." - 1905 A 26-day strike of New York City hotels by 26,000 workers – the first such walkout in 50 years – ends with a five-year contract calling for big wage and benefit gains - 1985 June 28 Birthday of machinist Matthew Maguire, who many believe first suggested Labor Day. Others believe it was Peter McGuire, a carpenter - 1850 President Grover Cleveland signs legislation declaring Labor Day an official U.S. holiday - 1894 The federal government sues the Teamsters to force reforms on the union, the nation's largest. The following March, the government and the union sign a consent decree requiring direct election of the union's president and creation of an Independent Review Board - 1988 - David Prosten Statement from AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization: Today’s decision by the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade is a devastating blow to working women and families across this country. We strongly believe that everyone should have control over their own bodies, including decisions over their personal reproductive health care. At a time when we should be focused on expanding equity for all working people, particularly for marginalized communities disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, this ruling will only deepen racial and economic disparities. The burden of this decision will undoubtedly fall on low-income women and gender-oppressed people, and no one should be forced into financial insecurity because they have been denied reproductive health care. Our government also must prioritize overdue and necessary investments in our child care system, and family and medical paid leave; it must end the gender wage gap and increase access to jobs with high wages and good benefits. This is just the latest in a harmful string of attacks on our fundamental rights, including the right to vote and to collectively bargain in the workplace, and points to an alarming trend that other well-settled rights like marriage equality may be taken away. The current conservative majority of the Supreme Court is bent on limiting bodily autonomy, freedom and self-determination to a select few, and that is fundamentally undemocratic. America’s unions remain committed to the fight for gender justice and economic equity for all people. NoVA Labor Rally for Arlington County Board Member Matt de Ferranti: Sun, June 26, 3pm – 5pm
800 South Buchanan Street, Arlington VA Please join NOVA Labor Federation and a growing list of hosts, co-hosts, supporters and friends at the Barcroft Community House in support of Matt de Ferranti's re-election to the Arlington County Board. 800 South Buchanan Street, Arlington. Metro Washington Council Delegate meeting: Tue, June 28, 5pm – 7pm REGISTER HERE Last meeting before the summer break! Your Rights At Work: CLICK HERE to hear yesterday’s show: After months of delays by the boss, Union Kitchen workers have finally won union recognition; UFCW Local 400 organizer Travis Acton reports. Then, it’s Back To The Way Things Were, a brand-new musical from our friends at the San Francisco Mime Troupe; Resident Playwright Michael Gene Sullivan joins us for a preview. Plus, Kathy M. Newman wonders what the Van Gogh Immersive Experience can tell us about the relationship between art, social class, and work. |