Pride at Work, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) constituency group of organized labor, has selected Jerame Davis as the Executive Director for the organization going forward. Davis will continue his responsibilities at Pride at Work's headquarters in Washington, DC after a successful period as the organization's interim Executive Director (Jerame Davis Appointed Pride at Work Interim Executive Director 6/19 2014 UC). Saying that “your actions and your vote matter!” the Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO is urging support for labor-endorsed candidates throughout the metro area. The state fed’s 10-Point Plan includes recruiting key leaders at locals and worksites, building a rapid response network at worksites, maximizing communications from union leaders, conducting member to member phone calls, increase union member voter registration, recruiting members to volunteer for Labor Walks and GOTV and “Building total commitment to massive GOTV program for endorsed candidates.” Click here to see the state fed’s endorsements. Robert E. Poli, the president of the nation’s air traffic controllers union whose striking members were fired and replaced by President Ronald Reagan in 1981 in a high-stakes showdown pitting organized labor against federal law, died Sept. 15 at his home in Meridian, Idaho. He was 78. The strike by PATCO (Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization), Reagan’s subsequent breaking of the union and the hiring of replacement workers were among the most significant job actions of their time, said Joseph A. McCartin, a professor at Georgetown University and a specialist on labor and social history. - Bart Barnes, The Washington Post; photo by George Tames/The New York Times Union volunteers walked neighborhoods in Virginia's 10th Congressional District Saturday knocking on union doors to get out the vote for labor-endorsed candidate John Foust. Members from 11 international unions walked in precincts from Oakton to Winchester, while others got on the phone to get out the word. "With summer coming to an end, union members are turning their attention to the November 4 elections and the fact we could be the difference to flip the 10th," noted NoVA Labor President Dan Duncan. Walks continue next Saturday and phone banks are taking place daily at the NoVA offices. photo: Joe Short of UA 5 (left) and Colin Flanigan of IAFF 2068 prepare their walk book Saturday. photo courtesy Dan Duncan, NoVA Labor |