“How very disappointing we can no longer ‘email (Union City to) a friend,’” says Judith D. “Please help us try to figure out where else to turn in getting the word out on mission-critical labor matters.”
Absolutely! You can use the "Forward to a Friend" button at the top left of Union City; thanks so much for helping spread the word! This week’s Labor History Today podcast: The St. Vincent Hospital Strike. Last week’s show: A cold wind and a hot summer sit-down. August 12 Coal company guards kill 7, wound 40 striking miners who are trying to stop scabs, Virden, Ill. - 1898 With the news that their boss, Florenz Ziegfeld, was joining the Producing Managers’ Assn., the chorus girls in his Ziegfield Follies create their own union, the Chorus Equity Assn. They were helped by a big donation from superstar and former chorus girl Lillian Russell. In 1955 the union merged with the Actor’s Equity Assn - 1919 The North American Free Trade Agreement—NAFTA— was concluded between the United States, Canada and Mexico, despite protests from labor, environmental and human rights groups. It went into effect in January, 1994 - 1992 August 13 Newspaper Guild members begin three-month strike of Hearst-owned Seattle Post-Intelligencer, shutting the publication down in their successful fight for union recognition - 1936 August 14 Members of the upstart Polish union Solidarity seize the Lenin shipyard in Gdansk. Sixteen days later the government officially recognizes the union. Many consider the event the beginning of the end for the Iron Curtain - 1980 ATU Local 689 MetroAccess Workers Reach Tentative Agreement with Transdev, Ending Nine-Day Strike8/11/2022
Forestville, MD - After a unified and strong nine-day strike, ATU Local 689 MetroAccess workers have reached a tentative contract agreement with private contractor Transdev.
The more than 200 paratransit drivers, utility workers, dispatchers, maintenance workers, and road supervisors, who walked off the job on August 1 after months of intense negotiations, are expected to vote to ratify the contract in the coming days. On Tuesday, ATU International President John Costa joined more than 100 strikers, elected officials, disability advocates, and other supporters at a rally outside of contract talks at the local union hall and spoke directly to Transdev negotiators to give members the contract they deserve. After the rally, the workers packed the negotiations room as both sides began to bargain. “Our members stood strong and united throughout this process. They braved the heat and the company’s tactics to try and divide us,” said Local 689 President Raymond Jackson. “This strike shows that our members are willing to lay it all on the line for justice. I want to thank the elected officials, all our allies, and our International for coming out and standing with us.” The new three-year contract with Transdev includes substantial wage increases and improved benefits, including better sick leave, a more secure retirement plan, additional holidays, and other improvements. The workers successfully fought off the company's proposal to offer members less than what their counterparts in Baltimore make and their refusal to enter into a three-year agreement. “We must still address the issue of privatization of our most vital services like paratransit,” Jackson continued. “WMATA needs to reconsider its relationship with private contractors. It’s not working, and transit workers and riders are being left behind.” Last year, Local 689 MV Call Center workers went on a one-day strike and were successful in winning a fair contract that helped improve their wages, benefits, and rights on the job. Three weeks ago, Local 689 members at the MetroAccess Hubbard Road facility also voted to strike, if necessary, to win a fair contract. The Local believes that privatization is a misguided approach to public transit, especially for vital services like MetroAccess. “I am proud of our MetroAccess members. When I visited the picket line, I saw firsthand their strength, unity, and solidarity,” said ATU International President Costa. “The result was a strong contract that recognizes the commitment and dedication of these frontline heroes to provide safe and reliable transportation for our seniors, people with disabilities, and others who rely on MetroAccess. Our members now have a pathway to the middle class for the essential public service they provide. It was an honor to hold the line with you. Together we fought, and together we won!” This week’s Labor History Today podcast: The St. Vincent Hospital Strike. Last week’s show: A cold wind and a hot summer sit-down. August 10 Hundreds of Transport Workers Union members descend on a New York City courthouse, offering their own money to bail out their president, Mike Quill, and four other union leaders arrested while making their way through Grand Central Station to union headquarters after picketing the IRT offices in lower Manhattan – 1935 I.W. Abel, president of the United Steel Workers of America from 1965 to 1977, dies at age 79 – 1987 Pres. Barack Obama signs a $26 billion bill designed to protect 300,000 teachers, police and others from layoffs spurred by budgetary crises in states hard-hit by the Great Recession – 2010 August 11 Federal troops drive some 1,200 jobless workers from Washington D.C. Led by unemployed activist Charles "Hobo" Kelley the group's "soldiers" include young journalist Jack London and William Haywood, a young miner-cowboy called "Big Bill" – 1884 One hundred "platform men" employed by the privately owned United Railroads streetcar service in San Francisco abandon their streetcars, tying up many of the main lines in and out of the city center – 1917 International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union receives CIO charter – 1937 |