Workers at BWI continue to report feeling unsafe and have filed a second round of charges with the Maryland Occupational Safety and Health (MOSH) alleging that their employer has again violated safety regulations. Reggie Adams, a jetway maintenance worker says he doesn’t have a tie-off to connect his harness to while on a bridge up to 25 feet off the ground or while climbing an unstable ladder. “I’ve been afraid to fall off, especially when I’m right on the edge. I’ve never been trained on what to do when I fall, guess I’ll just pray on my way down,” Adams said. “I need my job, but I can’t keep risking my life to do it.” Adams works for Menzies Aviation, whose workers say that the company has yet to completely fix all of the MOSH violations reported in April and fined for in August. Baltimore City Councilman Bullock rallied with workers at the BWI contractor headquarters on Wednesday. 

Dozens of transit workers and their allies picketed the Fairfax Connector's West Ox garage Wednesday morning to protest the County's move to try and break the Cinder Bed Road strike by putting out WMATA routes with Connector buses. After a spirited protest that moved up to the main Fairfax Connector Operations Center, the group descended on the Fairfax County Government Center, where the activists -- members of ATU Locals 1764 and 689, the AFL-CIO and OPEIU Local 2 -- packed the office of County Board of Supervisors' Chairwoman Sharon Bulova. The workers demanded that the County immediately cease its union-busting. 

Stewards and activists from the Connector will meet Wednesday night to strategize on resisting Transdev management's continued attempts to force union members to drive the 306 scab route. On Saturday, November 9, the Connector members will be taking a strike authorization vote.

ATU locals 689 and 1764 are asking supporters to support the strike by calling County Board of Supervisors Chair Sharon Bulova at 703-324-2321 (or email; see below) and ask to leave a message telling her that the County should not be funding this egregious union-busting.
10/31 update: The Connector "scab" routes have been pulled, so no more calls/emails are necessary.

Email addresses for Bulova and the Board of Supervisors:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

- report/photos by John Ertl, ATU Field Mobilization Specialist

click here for latest listings

Transdev bus driver picket line (ATU 689): Wed, October 30, Thu, October 31, 3:30am – 5:00pm
Gates of the Cinder Bed Road Division, 7901 Cinder Bed Road, Lorton, Virginia

Union City Radio: 7:15a; WPFW-FM 89.3 

Fairfax Connector Workers Informational Picket: Wed, October 30, 9:30am – 11:00am
West Ox Bus Garage, located at 4970 Alliance Drive, Fairfax, VA

NoVA Retiree Phone Bank: Wed, October 30, 12pm – 2pm
4536 B John Marr Drive, Annandale, VA 

Rally for UFCW 27 members: Thu, October 31, 11am – 12pm
Safeway, 1017 York Rd, Towson, MD 21204

Union City Radio: Your Rights at Work: Thu, October 31, 1pm – 2pm
WPFW 89.3 FM or listen online.

​The deadline for the $135/night rate for the upcoming Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO 32nd Biennial Convention has been extended to this Friday, November 1. Call the Maryland Live! Casino & Hotel directly at (443) 842-7000, code AFL-CIO. The Convention runs Sunday, November 17 –Tuesday, November 19. If your Council/Local or Constituency group hasn't yet received credentials, call (410) 269-1940 or email [email protected].