If you get your health care coverage through work, it's time to start paying attention to what’s going on in Washington. Especially to the new plan to tax our health benefits.
Republican leaders in Congress are doing their best to keep this under wraps, but under the Republican plan being discussed, at least some of the cost of our health care benefits could be included in our taxable earnings. Employers may well react to this by cutting back on our health benefits through even higher deductibles and co-pays or even eliminating our health plans altogether.
Let your senators and members of Congress know what you think. Tell them not to tax your workplace health care benefits.
You might even want to do that in person. They are at home this week, hosting town halls, public appearances and other events with their constituents. To find an event near you, go to our website at dclabor.org

Here’s today's labor history,
On this date in 1938, members of the Chinese Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union in San Francisco’s Chinatown begin what is to be a successful four-month strike for better wages and conditions at the National Dollar Stores factory and three retail outlets.
In 1940, Screen Actors Guild member Hattie McDaniel becomes the first African-American to win an Academy Award, honored for her portrayal of “Mammy” in “Gone with the Wind”
And on this date in 1986, in response to the layoff of 450 union members at a 3M factory in New Jersey, every worker at a 3M factory in Elandsfontein, South Africa, walks off the job in sympathy.

Today’s labor quote is by Martin Luther King, who said
“In a real sense all life is inter-related. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be...This is the inter-related structure of reality.”

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Jibril Wallace has been working at the Safeway in Washington, D.C. for 28 years. She has worked much of that time with no paid sick days. “When you were sick, or the kids were sick, you went to work,” Jibril says. “You found a relative who worked in government and had sick leave if you could. Or I’d do the overnight shift and their dad would stay with them, and I’d be there during the day.”
Asked how she managed when she herself was sick, Jibril said, “I’m not quite sure what that is—you still had to go to work.”
Since the District of Columbia’s paid sick days law was expanded to include part-time workers, Jibril has a new peace of mind. “It’s very relieving to know if your kid or you yourself are sick, there will still be hours on your check,” she said. 
Unfortunately, there are now attempts to dilute the new paid sick days law; we’ll keep you updated as that story develops.
Meanwhile, you can read Jibril’s complete story – and see a great photo of Jibril and her way-cute kids -- on our website at dclabor.org

On today’s labor calendar,
there’s a protest against Wisconsin governor Scott Walker this morning starting at 9a in front of the Washington Post, and at 2pm this afternoon, author John DeSantis will discuss his book “The Thibodaux Massacre: Racial Violence and the 1887 Sugar Cane Labor Strike” at the African American Civil War Museum.
Complete details on these and all the local labor events are at dclabor.org, click on calendar.

Here’s today's labor history,
On this date in 1908, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld Oregon state restrictions on the working hours of women, justifying them as necessary to protect their health. A laundry owner was fined $10 for making a female employee work more than 10 hours in a single day.
In 1912, women and children textile strikers were beaten by Lawrence, Massachusetts police during a 63-day walkout protesting low wages and work speedups.
And in 1919, Congress passed a federal child labor tax law that imposed a 10 percent tax on companies that employ children. The Supreme Court ruled the law unconstitutional three years later.

Today’s labor quote is by Mother Jones
Mary Harris “Mother” Jones, who said
“In Georgia where children work day and night in the cotton mills they have just passed a bill to protect song birds. What about the little children from whom all song is gone?”

​Union City Radio is supported by UnionPlus. UnionPlus is committed to improving the quality of life of working families; find out more at unionplus.org.

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On today's show, David Cay Johnston, author “The Making of Donald Trump," and Russell Hebron, the NIH shuttle bus driver fired for wearing a union button on the job.

Labor Song: Aretha Franklin – Respect

Produced by Sid Dawson, engineered by Mike Nasella; Union City Radio is supported by UnionPlus. UnionPlus is committed to improving the quality of life of working families through their unique products and services. Find out more at unionplus.org.