Metro Council meeting affiliate highlights

It was a “good news/bad news” night at Monday night’s Metro Washington Council delegate meeting. At IATSE 22, for example, Chuck Clay reported winning the “best ever” contract at Strathmore, yet the local is about to launch picketing against MGM, which earlier this year went non-union. And while the Washington Teachers Union finally got their contract after more than five years, they’re concerned about clean approval by the DC City Council. At IATSE 868, Barbara Churchill said the union filed four grievances at Strathmore but was happy to report they’ve all been settled to the union’s satisfaction. AFGE 2741’s David Brooks reported winning the union’s fight to prevent contracting out, and DCNA and OPEIU 2 reported on a number of recent contract wins. The biggest looming battles are at WMATA and the Washington Post. Talks between ATU 689 and WMATA have reached an impasse and president Jackie Jeter said the local plans to significantly step up its campaign for a contract. Similarly, off-the-record talks at the Washington Post failed recently and the Metro Council on Monday passed a resolution supporting the Washington-Baltimore News Guild’s ongoing effort to reach a fair contract. An informational picket at the Post is scheduled for next Wednesday, September 27 at 12:30p.
photo: Rick Ehrmann, Baltimore-Washington News Guild; photo by Chris Garlock

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