Yanely Perez (l) is the new administrative assistant at DC Jobs with Justice. A rising sophomore at Georgetown University, Perez is originally from Covadonga, Guanajuato, Mexico, moving to Oklahoma with her family in 2000. “I feel like I have so much to learn about some of the serious issues affecting DC and working at DC JWJ will help me not only become more informed but also channel that information into action.” As a student she’s worked on issues around the homeless and animal rights; her family’s long history of immigrant work led to her passion for advocating for workers rights. Professional support specialists employed at NASA’s Washington DC headquarters voted overwhelmingly on August 12 to form a union. The vote was 97% in favor of partnering with the NASA Headquarters Professional Association, Local 9 of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE); 320 NASA workers were eligible to vote. “This successful vote will allow us to work with management to improve working conditions for NASA support and administrative staff here at NASA headquarters, thereby improving operations, saving money, and retaining an engaged and professional workforce,” said Tifarah Thomas, a program specialist within NASA’s Office of the Chief Health & Medical Officer. Professional support specialists at NASA headquarters include budget analysts, policy analysts, administrative specialists, secretaries, and others. As part of “an intensive strategic planning process taking a hard look on how to strengthen Virginia’s labor movement,” the Virginia AFL-CIO is holding four regional two-day activist trainings, including the NOVA Labor 2014 Boot Camp on September 9th and 10th at the newly renovated NOVA Labor Office (4536-B John Marr Drive Annandale VA 22003). “The nature of what we do- yearly elections, legislative battles and fights to protect our members - requires that we keep developing strong labor activists,” says Julie Hunter of the Virginia AFL-CIO. “The goal is to train a small group on essential skills like volunteer recruitment and workplace mobilizing as well as the ins and outs of our political program.” To RSVP or get more info: [email protected]
The Metro Washington Council is helping the Maryland and District of Columbia AFL-CIO establish an Organizers’ Roundtable to foster support for organizing by establishing a forum where Organizing Directors and LeadOrganizers can come together to discuss challenges, strategize, analyze and popularize best practices and gain practical support for campaigns. To ensure that your local is represented at the Organizers’ Roundtable please click here to let us know who your local’s Organizing Directors and/or Lead Organizers are.
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