Flanked by members of President Joe Biden’s administration, Governor Wes Moore recently announced Baltimore’s commitment to its designation as one of the nation’s five Workforce Hubs through investments in career and technical education and training for local workers. “You’re not going to create a workforce system in President Biden’s America without making sure unions are at the table,” Acting Department of Labor Secretary Julie Su said in a telephone interview. Read more » Martire: Project labor agreements key to Maryland’s futureIn a letter this week to the Baltimore Sun, Dennis L. Martire, vice president and mid-Atlantic regional manager of the Laborers’ International Union of North America emphasized the significance of Biden and Moore's announcement earlier this month. "It is evident from these workforce announcements that Moore does not see this funding simply as a way to build a road or bridge. Instead, he sees an opportunity to create good-paying jobs that bring Maryland’s working families into the middle class without costing the taxpayers one additional cent." Read the letter » DC teachers union urges DCPS to come to the table on contract negotiations
ATU 689 blasts pay proposal as contract nears expiration
Georgetown students call on university to expel Starbucks
Contribute to the Community Services Agency's 2023 Family Holiday Program
Please mail contributions to Community Services Agency, 815 Black Lives Matter Plaza NW, Suite 1100, Washington DC 20006. Please send your contributions for the winter holidays no later than December 18. Questions? Email Letycia Pastrana at [email protected]. Hiring Hall: Union jobs in the DC regionAFL-CIO Tech Institute / Working for America: Program Manager Association of Flight Attendants, CWA, AFL-CIO: Communications Specialist Communications Workers of America: Senior Campaign Lead Communications Workers of America: Senior Campaign Communications Coordinator Good Jobs First: Administrator, Part-Time Nonprofit Professional Employees Union: Communications and Data Organizer Richmond Education Association: Labor & Community Organizer, Full-time Sheet Metal Workers National Pension Fund: Payroll Compliance Auditor International Transportation Training Center: Zero Emission Vehicle Program Specialist International Transportation Training Center: Event Planner Montgomery County Education Association: Organizational Specialist, Political Action Maryland State Education Association: Organizer Richmond Education Association: Labor & Community Organizer, Full-time SEIU Local 500: Contract Administrative Representative Richmond Education Association: Labor & Community Organizer, Full-time Sheet Metal Workers National Pension Fund: Payroll Compliance Auditor United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE): Project Organizer UFCW Local 880: Experienced Organizing Director Around the regionCongrats to AFSCME Local 3399 (Takoma Park) who after months of negotiations have secured major updates in salaries including retroactive FY24 salary boost of $3,000/yr, enhanced differentials, expanded benefits, increased meal allowance, fairer evaluations and wage studies! Share your newsDoes your local have actions, events, open positions, or other updates you want labor leaders in DC and Maryland to know about? Submit news items to [email protected].
Metro Washington Council's Committee on Political Education (COPE) meetings are a chance for members of our Affiliate unions to learn about your rights and what's happening in the local labor movement. The Tri-County COPE will meet tomorrow, Tuesday, November 28, in person starting at 6:00 PM at American Legion (6330 Crain Highway, La Plata, MD, 20646). The Montgomery and Prince George's County COPE will meet on Thursday, December 7, 2023 at 10:00 AM on Zoom. Save the link for December 7's meeting. Metro DC CLUW receives organizing award at 22nd Biennial CLUW ConventionMetro DC Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) is the proud recipient of the 2023 Joyce Miller Organizing Award, which it received at the 22nd Biennial CLUW Convention. Nearly a dozen Metro DC CLUW chapter members traveled to Minneapolis this month to attend the convention. Members have worked hard over the last two years to revitalize the chapter and welcome more union activists into the coalition. "We are truly honored to receive this prestigious award,” said Metro DC CLUW Chapter President Chelsea Bland. “Sister Joyce was a trailblazer in the labor movement, especially when it came to organizing and mobilizing women in the movement. We are elated to receive this recognition and inspired to continue to spread the word about the power we have when we come together to advocate for the issues that matter most to working women and femmes." Read more » Contribute to the Community Services Agency's 2023 Family Holiday Program
Please mail contributions to Community Services Agency, 815 Black Lives Matter Plaza NW, Suite 1100, Washington DC 20006. Contributions for the winter holidays must be made no later than December 18. Questions? Email Letycia Pastrana at [email protected]. Upcoming Actions + Events
Around the RegionLeft: International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers skilled craftworkers attended a glass panel training last week at the International Masonry Institute in Bowie. Right: Members of North America's Building Trades Unions will gather in Washington DC later this week for the Tradeswomen Build Nations national conference. Welcome to all our union sisters who will be visiting our region! Share your newsGot an action, event, open position, or other update you want labor leaders in DC and Maryland to know about? Submit news items to [email protected].
DC-area Kaiser Permanente therapists ratify first union contract
Union workers, consumer advocates, and competition policy experts urge FTC to block Kroger-Albertsons merger
Union leaders testify before CongressYesterday the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions held a hearing titled, "Standing Up Against Corporate Greed: How Unions are Improving the Lives of Working Families." Teamsters president Sean M. O'Brien, UAW president Shawn Fain, and Association of Flight Attendants-CWA president Sara Nelson testified at the hearing about how union workers have better wages and benefits than non-union workers, and how unions have helped workers across many industries push back again corporations. Read more » Explore apprenticeship opportunities with Metro Washington Council Affiliates
Hiring Hall: Union jobs in the DC region
AFL-CIO: Assistant Director of Growth Strategies AFGE: Six-Month Term National Representative AFSCME: Database Analyst I AFSCME: Data and Targeting Specialist AFSCME: Associate Director, Data & Analytics Air Line Pilots Association, International: Labor Relations Counsel APWU: Secretary ATU: IT Support Specialist Communications Workers of America: Data Specialist, Membership League of Conservation Voters: Compliance & Legal Associate Metropolitan Baltimore Council, AFL-CIO: Executive Director of Community Services of Central Maryland National Correctional Employees Union: Labor Relations Representative National Education Association: Temporary Staff Attorney (2 positions) Philadelphia Unemployment Project: Executive Director International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers: Administrative Assistant Solidarity Center: Program Officer I, Africa Virginia Education Association: UniServ Director Around the regionTop left: Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su visited Baltimore Carver House with Governor Wes Moore and Senior Advisor to the President Mitch Landrieu this week, and met with LIUNA Mid-Atlantic members while there. Top right: As part of National Apprenticeship Week, ATU Local 689 president Raymond Jackson joined two ATU members who received apprenticeship program certificates at a ceremony hosted by Secretary Su at the Department of Labor. Congratulations! Share your newsDoes your local have actions, events, open positions, or other updates you want labor leaders in DC and Maryland to know about? Submit news items to [email protected].
It's National Apprenticeship Week, a nationwide celebration where industry, labor, equity, workforce, education, and government leaders host events to showcase the successes and value of apprenticeships for re-building our economy, advancing racial and gender equity, and supporting underserved communities. Union apprenticeships are training programs designed to help anyone learn the skills it takes to work in the unionized trades. Apprenticeships usually include a mix of classroom instruction and on-the-job training, and are often a chance to earn money while you learn new skills. A number of the Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO's Affiliate unions offer apprenticeship programs. Explore all of our Affiliates' apprenticeship programs. Government shutdown once again threatens federally contracted service workersThousands of federally contracted service workers are facing financial uncertainties as Congress, for the second time in six weeks, brushes up against a deadline for passing critical funding legislation. These workers are some of the lowest-paid employees in and around government, typically earning between about $17 and $25 an hour as janitors, cooks, cashiers, catering workers and security guards, according to the unions that represent them. Most are Black or Latino, and many live paycheck to paycheck. Read more »
Community Services Agency's 2023 Family Holiday Program now open
Please mail contributions to Community Services Agency, 815 Black Lives Matter Plaza NW, Suite 1100, Washington DC 20006. Contribution deadlines are November 17 for Thanksgiving and December 18 for the winter holidays. Questions? Email Letycia Pastrana at [email protected].
Upcoming Actions + Events
Plumbers and Gasfitters Local 5 Apprenticeship Open House Friday, November 17, 2023 — 10:00 AM-6:00 PM 5000 Forbes Boulevard Lanham, MD 20706 To celebrate National Apprenticeship Week 2023, Plumbers and Gasfitters Local 5 is hosting an open house with food, drinks, vendors, and exhibits. Whether you are young adult looking for a career or an educator looking to learn about viable career paths beyond college, come and learn about trade apprenticeships in our region where graduates can earn $100,000 annually or more. Details and RSVP. Labor Day with the Commanders vs. NY Giants Sunday, November 19, 2023 — 1:00 PM Each union that brings out 50 or more people will be able to come onto the field after the game to take a photo. Email Ari Kwitkin-Close or call (301) 276-6406.
Around the RegionLeft: Members of SEIU from all over the country came to Reagan National Airport last week to call on Congress to pass the #GoodJobs for #GoodAirports Act and give airport workers fair pay and benefits. Right: AFSCME Maryland Council 3 held a Stewards in Action training last week! Congrats to the AFSCME members stepping up to protect the rights of you and your coworkers on the job. Share Your NewsGot an action, event, open position, or other update you want labor leaders in DC and Maryland to know about? Submit news items to [email protected].
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