Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO

Study: Metro workers’ pay and benefits are typical

7/21/2017

A new study shows Metro workers’ pay and benefits are in line with those of other major transit systems, blunting long-standing criticism of the agency’s labor costs, the Washington Post reports. “Basically what we’re finding is both wages and benefits [at Metro] are average for the transit industry,” said WSP consultant Roy Kienitz, who conducted the study for the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. Kienitz presented the results Wednesday evening at a public committee meeting of the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission in Arlington. Click here to read the rest of Robert McCartney’s report in The Washington Post.
photo by Katherine Frey/The Washington Post

AIL and Bank of Labor help feed the hungry

7/21/2017

“There is a child, a laid off worker, a struggling family who is able to eat a nutritious meal today because the labor community did not forget them,” says Kathleen McKirchy, executive director of the Metro Washington Council’s Community Services Agency. With hunger a continuing problem in the metro DC area, even among union members, the CSA “is lucky to have generous and caring friends collecting food and gift cards for us to distribute to our needy clients,” McKirchy adds. “This week’s food donations collected by staff at the Bank of Labor and staff from American Income Life are a godsend.” If you or your local want to help too, send gift cards from union grocery stores Giant, Safeway or Shoppers or collect non-perishable food at your shop and contact CSA when it’s ready for pick-up or delivery. CSA also takes tax-deductible financial contributions at any time, by check, cash, or via their secure on-line donation site. For more info email[email protected] or [email protected].
photo: (l-r) CSA Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy, CSA Asst. ED Matt Losak, Union City intern Mack Miller and AIL’s George Farenthold; photo by Chris Garlock

“The Trotsky” screens next Tuesday

7/21/2017

RSVP now for your seat at next Tuesday's screening of “The Trotsky,” at the Takoma Busboys and Poets. In this 2009 "inspired, often-dangerously-funny" comedy, Leon Bronstein (Jay Baruchel) believes that he is the reborn incarnation of the socialist revolutionary Leon Trotsky. Shortly after he starts to work in his family's clothing factory, he attempts to unionize the workplace with such actions as a hunger strike. FREE but you must RSVP here.

Union Voice/Readers Write: Nabisco doc released

7/21/2017

The plight of Bakery union members at the iconic Nabisco/Mondelēz bakery in Chicago is the focus of a new short documentary, “Made in America,” reports Danny Lopez, who works in the Trust Funds office of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) in Kensington where he’s also OPEIU Local 2 Chief Shop Steward. James Earl Jones introduces the 6-minute video, which updates the story of how Nabisco transformed hundreds of good union jobs into low-wage jobs in Mexico, devastating families and communities. BCTGM urges consumers to boycott Nabisco snacks made in Mexico.Click here for more information on how to check the label and only buy American-made

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