Just in time for the 2020 campaign season, the Metro Washington Council’s COPE committees have released a new online tool for area activists. The Labor Guide to Elected Officials lists all current elected officials in the Metro Council’s jurisdiction. “This guide is a helpful tool that will make sure that affiliates can easily identify all the legislative stakeholders with the click of a mouse,” said DC COPE co-chair Herbert Harris (BLET). “Being able to see all our representatives at the same time is so helpful in shaping our perspective on who the players are and who we need to hold accountable,” added Prince George’s and Montgomery County COPE co-chair Dyana Forester (UFCW 400). Metro Council Political and Legislative Director David Stephen, who manages the Guide, noted that he’s maintaining up-to-date contact information for the officials, which is available on an as-needed basis by contacting him directly: [email protected] “You are striking against God and nature.” An enraged judge, scolding some of the more than twenty thousand immigrants, mostly young women in their teens and early twenties, who launched an eleven-week general strike in New York City’s shirtwaist industry on November 23, 1909. Dubbed the Uprising of the 20,000, it was the largest strike by women in American history. The young strikers’ courage, tenacity, and solidarity forced the predominantly male leadership in the “needle trades” and the American Federation of Labor to revise their entrenched prejudices against organizing women. Although the strikers won only a portion of their demands, the uprising sparked five years of revolt that transformed the garment industry into one of the best-organized trades in the United States. Labor History Today (11/17): Remembering Lattimer, GINA and Newsies Click here to check out this week's Labor History Today podcast. Paul Shackel, author of “Remembering Lattimer,” on one of the largest labor massacres in U.S. history. Lewis Maltby on the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, the major workplace protection measure celebrating its’ 10th anniversary. Plus a sneak preview of “Newsies,” now at Arena Stage in DC. Last week's show: (11/10/19): Debs, Sanders, Socialism and 2020 November 22 The district president of the American Federation of Labor and two other white men are shot and killed in Bogalusa, Ala. as they attempt to assist an African-American organizer working to unionize African-American workers at the Great Southern Lumber Co. - 1919 November 23 Troops were dispatched to Cripple Creek, Colo. to control rioting by striking coal miners - 1903 Mine Workers President John L. Lewis walks away from the American Federation of Labor to lead the newly-formed Committee for Industrial Organization. The CIO and the unions created under its banner organized six million industrial workers over the following decade - 1935 History’s first recorded (on papyrus) strike, by Egyptians working on public works projects for King Ramses III in the Valley of the Kings. They were protesting having gone 20 days without pay -- portions of grain -- and put their tools down. King Ramses III died during the strike, and his son king Ramses IV decided to end this revolution by paying the salaries of the workmen and sent the food to every poor family. Read more here. November 24 Led by Samuel Gompers, who would later found the American Federation of Labor, Cigarmakers International Union Local 144 is chartered in New York City - 1875 Some 10,000 New Orleans workers, black and white, participate in a solidarity parade of unions comprising the Central Trades and Labor Assembly. The parade was so successful it was repeated the following two years - 1883 Teachers strike in St. Paul, Minn., the first organized walkout by teachers in the country. The month-long “strike for better schools” involving some 1,100 teachers—and principals—led to a number of reforms in the way schools were administered and operated - 1946 1,550 typesetters begin what is to become a victorious 22-month strike against Chicago newspapers - 1947 George Meany becomes president of the American Federation of Labor following the death four days earlier of William Green - 1952 Labor history courtesy David Prosten. Friday, November 22 marks 30 days of strike for ATU Local 689 Metrobus workers employed by Transdev at WMATA's Cinder Bed Road garage. "It looks like we’ll still be here in early December, and we may very well see the strike expand across Fairfax County before Transdev comes to its senses," reports ATU's Todd Brogan. "After two days of bargaining, we have made some limited progress, including TA’ing a few non-economic, but we do not have a deal yet. We are back at the table on December 4-5, which will be days 42 and 43 of the strike, respectively. No doubt the pace of bargaining would be better if WMATA opted to penalize Transdev for its failure to deliver service." At the Fairfax Connector, where ATU Local 1764 is bargaining with Transdev, the union says the company has refused to put an economic package on the table, despite contract expiration and a likely strike rapidly approaching. "If you know people who take a bus in Fairfax County, help them start making alternate arrangements for the first week of December," Brogan suggests. On Thursday, the WMATA Board room (photo) was filled to capacity with dozens of strikers and community supporters giving passionate testimony to the Board, which arrived 50 minutes late to it's own meeting. As the public comment period closed, activists from DC Jobs with Justice, the Sunrise Movement, and DSA disrupted the meeting, unfurling a banner that read “Equal Pay = Equal Work,” and effectively shutting down the meeting. They were forcibly removed by security, although no arrests were made. A fired-up group of strikers broke into chants and left the room in unison, taking to the streets for an impromptu march to 7th and H that shut down streets for half an hour. Despite this show of growing public discontent, Metro GM Paul Wiedefeld maintained his position that WMATA won’t get involved in the crisis the union says he created. Federal and local officials from Virginia, Maryland, and DC have now called on WMATA to intervene in the strike: o Congressmembers Beyer, Wexton, and Connolly sent a joint letter to WMATA. o Congressman Jamie Raskin sent a letter to WMATA demanding their intervention. o A letter from Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks is also on the way. o ANC Commissioners in DC are beginning to draft resolutions in support of striking workers, too! The union is rounding up turkeys for all the strikers to take home next week for the holiday. New rider leaflets are in circulation. If your group is looking to pick some up, contact Brogan or ATU Local 689’s Brian Wivell. Here’s how you can help: · Donate $: http://bit.ly/cinderbedstrike · Donate : http://bit.ly/cinderbedmeals · Picket in VA (daily): https://facebook.com/events/2310195405775260/ · Picket in DC (weekdays): https://facebook.com/events/553753515478162/ · Link up with DC JWJ to help with solidarity direct actions: [email protected]. · Firewood is still key as the weather gets cold. We’ve got two burn barrels now, and need kindling and logs. · Call out @wmata on Twitter and @metroforward on Facebook with words of support for the strikers. Remember to tag @atulocal689 and @atucomm on Twitter or @atulocal689group on Facebook so they can repost. |