Labor in the News: AFSCME & WTU

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Federal Union Workers Join Occupy Protesters: “Most federal employees consider themselves to be part of the 99 percent,” Saul Schniderman (at right, with raised first), president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Library of Congress Guild told the Washington Post last Thursday at the big “Tax Wall Street” rally. “And many of us believe in the principles of social justice, just like the protesters in Occupy D.C. Everyone needs to pay their fair share, and this includes Wall Street corporations with their record profits and their CEOs with their skyrocketing salaries. I rallied today with other federal workers and unions to protest the influence that today’s modern-day robber barons have on our economy.” Click here for Joe Davidson’s report – plus dozens of great DC occupation photos -- in Friday’s Post
D.C. Educators Rated ‘Effective’ Can Still Lose Jobs: “D.C. public schools ought not be firing effective and highly effective teachers,” Washington Teachers Union President Nathan Saunders told the Washington Post last week. WTU has filed grievances on behalf of members like Jacqueline Sutton, who’s now out of work despite meeting or exceeding standards the District says are more rigorous than ever. Click here for Bill Turque’s report.