This is Chris Garlock, with the latest labor news, updates and history from the Metro Washington Labor Council.

Vivian Obijekwu is a registered nurse who has worked at The Johns Hopkins Hospital her entire career. As a bedside RN, Vivian has always spoken up on behalf of co-workers and to improve patient care. On January 31st, she was blamed for a mistake that was not hers, and on February 4, she was fired. Rather than take responsibility for its practices, the hospital is scapegoating Vivian, and leaving a woman who is seven months pregnant with no insurance for herself or her unborn child.
This is just the latest example of Hopkins’ extensive culture of fear that silences front-line caregivers. Vivian is one of many nurses of color who have been disciplined or terminated by Hopkins in the past few months.
We have a petition to reinstate Vivian on our website, dclabor.org
As Vivian says, “Hopkins terminated me in an attempt to silence me and to provoke fear among fellow nurses who are also trying to create change. I will not be silenced, because advocating for my patients is my highest priority and should be Hopkins’ as well.”
Vivian has her co-workers’ and patients’ backs. Let her know that you have hers! Thanks for supporting Vivian and her co-workers. Johns Hopkins can and should do better.

On today’s labor calendar, the Metro Washington Council meets at 6:30 tonight at the AFL-CIO; complete details at dclabor.org, click on Calendar.

In today’s labor history, on this date in 1965, the Amalgamated Association of Street & Electric Railway Employees of America changed their name to the Amalgamated Transit Union, which now has over 200,000 members throughout the United States and Canada.

Today’s labor quote is by Amalgamated Transit Union president Larry Hanley, who said:
"We’ve been sold out by corporate interests that control the politicians."
 
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This is Chris Garlock, with the latest labor news, updates and history from the Metro Washington Labor Council.

​County workers on Wednesday announced a tentative contract agreement with Montgomery County. The one-year contract must still be ratified by the union’s membership; the workers are members of UFCW local 1994, the Montgomery County Government Employees Organization.
And over in Northern Virginia, contract bargaining between ATU and Alexandria’s DASH bus service finally commenced earlier this week after a bruising but successful fight against union-busting.
Check out our complete reports at dclabor.org, where you’ll also find the latest labor calendar postings.

In today’s labor history, on this date in 2018, some 34,000 public school teachers throughout West Virginia struck in protest of poor pay (they were ranked as the 48th worst-paid in the country) and concerns over health care costs. They returned to work on March 7 after scoring a 5 percent raise. The strike has inspired aggressive teacher action in a number of other low-wage states including Oklahoma, Kentucky, Arizona and California.

Today’s labor quote is from the preamble to the People’s Party platform; representatives of the Knights of Labor and the United Mine Workers met in St. Louis with 20 other organizations on this date in 1892 to plan the party’s founding convention, saying that:  
“We meet in the midst of a nation brought to the verge of moral, political and material ruin…The fruits of the toil of millions are boldly stolen to build up colossal fortunes, unprecedented in the history of the world, while their possessors despise the republic and endanger liberty. … We charge that the controlling influences dominating the old political parties have allowed the existing dreadful conditions to develop without serious effort to restrain or prevent them”
 
Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. Now is a great time to find a better deal on your auto insurance. To get a free quote and explore the best offers from national insurance providers, visit unionplus.org/auto.

This is Chris Garlock, with the latest labor news, updates and history from the Metro Washington Labor Council.

​The recent government shutdown provided a perfect example of the need for the Metro Washington Council Community Services Agency’s Emergency Assistance Fund, which provided critical assistance to federal workers in a financial crunch.
CSA Executive Director Sonte DuCote participated in a Combined Federal Campaign presentation earlier this week at the Census Bureau, speaking with members of AFGE Local 2782 and other Census Bureau employees about CSA’s role in aiding area workers.
“Through its Emergency Assistance Fund, CSA helps workers stay in their homes, keep the lights on and food on their tables," DuCote said.
In addition to the huge impact on federal workers, DuCote noted that since the extended government shutdown took place during the workplace giving season, “the number of workplace giving events was reduced, and we are working hard to make up for lost time."
Anyone interested in contributing to CSA through workplace giving campaigns can use the following designation numbers: 
19579 for the Combined Federal Campaign;
and 8253 for the United Way and DC One Fund. Find out more about CSA on our website at dclabor.org 
On today’s labor calendar, tune in for this week’s edition of “Your Rights At Work” starting at 1pm this afternoon here on WPFW 90.3FM, when we’ll take your calls on workplace rights and catch up on all the latest labor news.

In today’s labor history, on this date in 1868, a state law was enacted in California providing the 8-hour day for most workers, but it was not effectively enforced.  

Today’s labor quote is by Cesar Chavez, who co-founded the United Farm Workers of America, which was granted a charter by the AFL-CIO on this date in 1972. Cesar Chavez, who said:
“You are never strong enough that you don't need help."
                                                                       
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Broadcast on WPFW 89.3FM

Hosted by Chris Garlock and Ed Smith
DC’s call-in show about worker rights: those you have, those you don’t, how to get them and how to use them.
 
HOUR 1 
Spring membership drive: pledge now at 202-588-9739, 1-800-222-9739 or click here to donate online.

Guests: 
Amy Millar, UFCW 1994/MCGEO
MONTGOMERY COUNTY EMPLOYEES REACH AGREEMENT (2/21/2019)

Jon Shelton, Associate professor of democracy and justice studies at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.   
Teacher strikes made 2018 the biggest year for worker protest in a generation (2/14 Washington Post)
Shelton is the author of “Teacher Strike! Public Education and the Making of a New American Political Order.” He is a proud member of local 6511 of the American Federation of Teachers and serves as Vice President of Higher Education for AFT-Wisconsin.

HOUR 2
Spring membership drive: pledge now at 202-588-9739, 1-800-222-9739 or click here to donate online.
Listener calls, plus latest labor news with PAI News Editor in Chief MARK GRUENBERG:
• Recent recognition wins bolster Teamsters, Teachers, Natl. Nurses United, RWDSU 
• Following NYC Amazon rejection, Virginian working class tools up for fight with firm

CREDITS: Produced by Chris Garlock and Peter Pocock; engineered by Mike Nasella
Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus.