The Federal Labor Relations Authority on Wednesday formally proposed a rule AFGE President Everett Kelley called “just another in a series of activist steps the FLRA has taken to advance this administration’s goal of busting unions.”
Kelley said the proposed rule -- which would make it easier for federal employees to cancel their union dues -- is contrary to both settled law and Congressional intent and would make it even harder for rank-and-file federal employees to speak up, defend their rights, and serve the American people. “That they would push forward with this kind of union busting in the midst of a pandemic, while front-line federal employees like VA caregivers, airport screeners, food inspectors, and other personnel are being forced to fight the administration for basic safety protocols and personal protective equipment, is truly disgraceful,” said Kelley. The Metro Washington Council's Community Services Agency has released “Resources To Help Survive the Economic Impact Of Coronavirus,” posted on our website at dclabor.org. The guide includes links on where to file for unemployment throughout the metro area, details on where financial assistance is available, mortgage and rental assistance, emergency shelter, healthcare and food, as well as help working with creditors and other hardship benefits. That’s the Community Services Agency’s “Resources To Help Survive the Economic Impact Of Coronavirus,” posted at dclabor.org In today’s labor history, on this date in 1865, Michigan authorized formation of workers’ cooperatives. Thirteen were formed in the state over a 25-year period. Labor reform organizations were advocating "cooperation" over "competitive" capitalism following the Civil War and several thousand cooperatives opened for business across the country during this era. Participants envisioned a world free from conflict where workers would receive the full value of their labor and freely exercise democratic citizenship in the political and economic realms. Today’s labor quote is by UFCW Local 400 president Mark Federici. He wrote this in a message to his members, but it applies to all of us in the metro Washington area. Mark Federici, who said: “You are not alone. We are one union family, and we are in this together.” Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus, which stands up for union members and their families. At unionplus.org you’ll useful links to coronavirus resources from the AFL-CIO, how to stay informed through the CDC, as well as Union Plus Hardship Help Benefits. Check it out at unionplus.org
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Local political leaders, including D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, Montgomery County Executive Mark Elrich, Arlington County Board Member Katie Cristol, and Baltimore City Council President Brandon Scott, yesterday warned commercial building owners not to lay off or cut benefits to cleaners on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic.
The leaders said in a statement that “32BJ members are the office cleaners and security officers, among others who are on the frontlines of the Coronavirus crisis, keeping buildings clean and safe for everyone. The work they do every day is invaluable and now more than ever, their hard work can literally save lives. These men and women are the unsung heroes of the Coronavirus pandemic and they can least afford to lose wages and benefits during this crisis.” Noting that the metro Washington area has the healthiest real estate market in the country and tenants continue to pay the highest rents, the leaders said that the owners and their contractors have a responsibility to their cleaners and officers. “These men and women have performed their jobs admirably under extraordinarily difficult circumstances,” said the local leaders, “(yet) at the same time that cleaners and security officers have stepped forward to do their jobs during this outbreak, they are now being threatened with layoffs and reductions…Building owners can and must ensure the well-being and health of workers and their families.” With more than 175,000 members in 11 states, including over 20,000 in the metro D.C. area, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country. In today’s labor history, on this date in 1981, five Rockwell International workers were asphyxiated during a nitrogen purge of the engine compartment while setting up a ground test for the space shuttle Columbia. Two of them died. The technicians had been cleared by NASA safety supervisors to enter the compartment and a NASA board of inquiry concluded that a last-minute change in testing procedures, along with a breakdown in communications at the space center, caused the incident. Today’s labor quote is by chef Jose Andres, who posted this video earlier this week from a local Giant supermarket, where UFCW Local 400 members were re-stocking shelves: “So here it is one, two o'clock in the morning and all the amazing people here at Giant (are) working hard, restocking everything. These people are going to be feeding America, so I hope this serves as an homage to every man and woman who’s going to be helping to keep the supermarkets full, to feed everybody in this moment of uncertainty. Thank you to all of them.” Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus, which stands up for union members and their families. At unionplus.org you’ll useful links to coronavirus resources from the AFL-CIO, staying informed through the CDC, as well as lots of discounts for union members. Check it out at unionplus.org DC’s call-in show about worker rights: those you have, those you don’t, how to get them and how to use them. Broadcast on WPFW 89.3FM
Hosted by Chris Garlock and Ed Smith Today’s guests: ELISE GOULD (EPI): Senate coronavirus bill is crucial—but it’s a fraction of what’s needed DAMON SILVERS (AFL-CIO): American labor movement and the COVID-19 pandemic HAMILTON NOLAN (In These Times): Unions Across America Are Screaming For Paid Sick Leave and Healthcare Music: "Ever Since The World Ended"; Mose Allison Case Closed, with DAVID SCHLOSS Produced by Chris Garlock; engineered by Chris Bangert-Drowns As businesses continued to shut down throughout the region in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus, area political leaders took steps to ease the financial burden on local workers.
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan announced that utilities will not be allowed to cut off services, including phones, cable TV, gas or water, and evictions will not be allowed until the emergency is over. And though the Maryland General Assembly will shut down today, they’ll focus on their highest priorities: passing a state budget and coronavirus legislation to protect the jobs of people who are quarantined, as well as temporary unemployment benefits to people who lose pay because of the pandemic. In the District of Columbia, the City Council was expected to pass legislation yesterday that expands the definition of unemployment to those temporarily unemployed because they’re quarantined, or if they cannot work because their employer stopped or reduced operations. The legislation also included funding for a Small Business Grant Program, a ban on price gouging and prohibitions on utility disconnections and evictions. Meanwhile, in Congress, the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which passed with bipartisan support in the House last weekend, had bogged down on its way to a vote in the Senate. The bill includes paid sick days, emergency paid family and medical leave. We’ve got a link at dclabor.org to the campaign to put pressure on the Senate to pass the bill immediately. In today’s labor history, on this date in 1970, a strike against the Post Office – the first in nearly 200 years -- began in Brooklyn and Manhattan and spread to over 200,000 of the nation’s postal workers. Mail service was virtually paralyzed in several cities, and President Nixon declared a state of emergency. A settlement came after two weeks. You can hear more about this historic strike on the Labor History Today podcast; search for Union City Radio on your favorite podcast app. Today’s labor quote is by Barack Obama, who, earlier this week, said: “Not everybody can stay home, and we owe a big debt of gratitude to health professionals, transit and airport workers, first responders, and everyone keeping our communities going. Leaders have to step up to support people whose lives and livelihoods take a hit in the weeks ahead.” Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus, which stands up for union members and their families. At unionplus.org you’ll useful links to coronavirus resources from the AFL-CIO, staying informed through the CDC, as well as lots of discounts for union members. Check it out at unionplus.org |
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