“A union movement in America will always be a scandal...the subversive thing about labor is not the strike, but the idea of Solidarity.” Geoghegan is an American labor lawyer and author Click here to check out this week's Labor History Today podcast. Workers stage a general strike—believed to be the nation’s first—in St. Louis, in support of striking railroad workers. The successful strike was ended when some 3,000 federal troops and 5,000 deputized special police killed at least eighteen people in skirmishes around the city - 1877 New York garment workers win closed shop and firing of scabs after 7-month strike – 1890 (No Contract, No Peace: A Legal Guide to Contract Campaigns, Strikes, and Lockouts: This book is a must-have for any union or activist considering aggressive action to combat management’s growing economic war against workers. No Contract, No Peace! references recent union activities and NLRB decisions that have affected the labor relations environment. Schwartz’s familiarity withlabor and employment law combines with his activist spirit to provide innovative yet practical tips for mounting and maintaining meaningful campaigns designed to build union and workers’ power.) Fifteen “living dead women” testify before the Illinois Industrial Commission. They were “Radium Girls,” women who died prematurely after working at clock and watch factories, where they were told to wet small paintbrushes in their mouths so they could dip them in radium to paint dials. A Geiger counter passed over graves in a cemetery near Ottawa, Illinois still registers the presence of radium - 1937 The Teamsters and Service Employees unions break from the AFL-CIO during the federation's 50th convention to begin the Change to Win coalition, ultimately comprised of seven unions (4 by 2011: SEIU, Teamsters, UFCW and the UFW). - 2005 Compiled/edited by Union Communication Services ATU Local 689 reported a “productive” negotiation meeting on Monday between the union’s leadership and designees of WMATA General Manager Paul Wiedefeld. The next negotiation meeting is set for Monday, July 30, but WMATA and Local 689 will continue to confer via email and teleconference throughout the week. “The union looks forward to a formal agreement in the very near future,” Local 689 said in a statement Monday night. Frustrated Metro workers recently approved a strike.
Local unions once again lived up to the "labor cares, labor shares" motto, as thousands of area members packed the stands last Friday night at Nationals Park to raise money for the Community Services Agency's Emergency Assistance Fund. "Thank you to every union member and local that made our 12th Annual Night at the Nats such a success," said CSA Executive Director Sonte DuCote. "Coming together to support members experiencing hardship shows that our labor movement is alive and well." Members from AGMA, ATU Local 689, Ironworkers Local 5, IUOE Local 99, AFGE, IAFF Local 2068, UFCW 1994 MCGEO, and NoVA Labor participated in on-field ceremonies, from singing the national anthem to calling "play ball." CSA is already gearing up for its next big fundraiser, the 23rd Annual Golf Tournament on September 24; click here for details. Gino Renne (UFCW 1994 MCGEO), Ginny Diamond (NoVA Labor), Sonte DuCote (CSA Executive Director), and Kathleen McKirchy (former CSA Executive Director) were honored before the start of Labor Night at the Nats; report/photo by Chris Bangert-Drowns |