Last Wednesday, members of National Nurses United commemorated National Nurses Week with visits to multiple members of Congress.
A large delegation of RNs – including nurses from DC and Maryland -- called on Senate Finance Committee chair Orrin Hatch to reject the American Health Care Act recently passed by the House. They called for Senator Hatch to instead support real reform, an improved and expanded Medicare for all. NNU members, led by co-presidents Deborah Burger and Jean Ross – both nurses themselves -- delivered a letter calling the AHCA “a mortal threat to the health and well-being of our patients, and to the health security of our country” that would result in the loss of existing health coverage for tens of millions of people without any restraints on healthcare industry pricing practices. On today's labor calendar, Get the latest local labor news at tonight’s meeting of the Metro Washington Council, 6:30pm at the AFL-CIO, 16th and I Street NW Then at 7 we have two great LaborFest films at two separate venues: At AFI in Silver Spring, catch No God No Master, starring David Strathairn in a re-telling of the story of anarchists Sacco and Vanzetti that explores the disintegration of civil liberties during times of social unrest. IATSE local 22 hosts. At the New Deal Café in Greenbelt, Maryland, the Prince Georges County Peace and Justice Coalition will host a free screening of Quest, which follows the Raineys, a working-class Black family living in North Philadelphia, over the course of eight years. A beautiful and gently-paced depiction of race and class, “Quest” premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival. Both films start at 7pm and complete details on all labor events is at dclabor.org, click on Calendar. Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 1891, Pope Leo the Eighth issued the revolutionary encyclical 'Rerum novarum' in defense of workers and the right to organize. Forty years later to the day, Pope Pius the Sixth issued 'Quadragesimo anno,’ believed by many to be even more radical than Leo’s. In 1906, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Samuel Gompers and other union leaders for supporting a boycott at the Buck Stove and Range Company in St. Louis, where workers were striking for a 9-hour day. A lower court had forbidden the boycott and sentenced the unionists to prison for refusing to obey the judge’s anti-boycott injunction. In 1917, the Library Employees’ Union was founded in New York City, the first union of public library workers in the United States. A major focus of the union was the inferior status of women library workers and their low salaries. In 1920, the first labor bank opened in Washington, D.C., launched by officers of the Machinists. And in 1942, IWW songwriter T-Bone Slim died in New York City. Today’s labor quote is by T-Bone Slim, who said: "Wherever you find injustice, the proper form of politeness is attack." IWW songwriter T-Bone Slim, who also said "Tear Gas: the most effective agent used by employers to persuade their employees that the interests of capital and labor are identical." Union City Radio is supported by UnionPlus, which is committed to improving the quality of life for all working families; find out more at unionplus.org.
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In response to President Trump’s abrupt firing of FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday, American Federation of Government Employees president J. David Cox Senior said that “Now more than ever, we must uphold the principle that there be strong safeguards protecting the civil service from politically motivated firing.”
Cox noted that “a strong, enforceable union contract is what stands between workers and politically motivated managers and political appointees.” Public sector unions warn that a bill passed by the House would strip away civil service protections and union rights and the Senate is about to consider similar legislation. “Under the legislation being considered,” Cox said, “nurses, housekeepers, and cemetery workers at the VA could be fired with the same ease that President Trump fired Mr. Comey. The case against them can be as weak and ‘trumped up’ as the reasons cited in the president’s termination notice to Mr. Comey.” Cox said that “We must stand up to those who would undermine due process, objectivity, and fairness in the administration of our government.” On today's labor calendar, Today’s free noontime film “Sista In The Brotherhood” explores race and gender in a male-dominated industry through the journey of a young black tradeswoman who faces discrimination on a new job site and must choose between making a stand or keeping her job. “Sista In The Brotherhood” screens free at noon at the AFL-CIO as part of the DC LaborFest. Tonight at 7:30, join Pete Rafle, Bob Carr and Bob Hatfield for “There Is Power In A Union: A Labor Songs Vespers” at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax in Oakton, Virginia. And there’s still time to get tickets for tomorrow’s Labor Night at DC United at RFK Stadium; tailgate party starts at 5 and the game kicks off at 7. Complete details, as always, at dclabor.org, click on Calendar. Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 2008, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided the Agriprocessors slaughterhouse and meat packing plant in Postville, Iowa, arresting nearly 400 immigrant workers. Some 300 were convicted on document fraud charges. The raid was the largest ever until that date. Several employees and lower and mid-level managers were convicted on various charges, but not the owner—although he later was jailed for bank fraud and related crimes. Today’s labor quote is by Heywood Broun Journalist, columnist and first president of the American Newspaper Guild Heywood Broun, who said “All there is said for work as opposed to dancing is that it’s so much easier.” Union City Radio is supported by UnionPlus, which is committed to improving the quality of life for all working families; find out more at unionplus.org. Guests include:
Patti Edwards Devlin, Federation Liaison to the General President at LIUNA, the Laborers International Union of North America she’ll be introducing “Sista in the Brotherhood” and doing a Q&A afterwards with local tradeswoman Gardenia “Dee” Walker. Michael Milligan, actor, who's performing in two one-man plays, HEALTH CARE CRISIS PLAYS: MERCY KILLERS & SIDE EFFECTS (LaborFest theater), and is also an Actors Equity activist involved in their "Fair Wage Onstage" Campaign in NYC. Dawn Jones Redstone, director, SISTA IN THE BROTHERHOOD (LaborFest film), which explores race and gender in a male-dominated industry through the journey of a young black tradeswoman who faces discrimination on a new job site and must choose between making a stand or keeping her job. Winner of the Best Short Film and Best Oregon Short Film at the Portland International Film Festival. Union City Radio's Chris Garlock hosts. Hosts: Chris Garlock and Ed Smith; JOIN US AT 202-588-0893
Also, if you miss our live show – or want to hear a past show – Your Rights At Work is now available as a podcast! Just search for Union City Radio on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts; subscribe and you’ll get our shows right on your phone! This week's guests: Jacque Simon, public policy director for the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) on how “Comey Firing Exposes Danger Public-Sector Workers Face from Political Meddling.” Ganesh Sitaraman, author "The Crisis of the Middle Class Constitution" Wed, May 17, 12pm – 2pm, AFL-CIO George Meany Room 815 16th St., NW Washington, D.C. (map) RSVP here Books will be available for purchase at the event. Labor Song: The O'Jays, The O'Jays - For The Love of Money CREDITS: Produced by Peter Pocock, engineered by Mike Nasella; 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. And we’re supported by you, our listeners: call 202-588-9739 or 1-800-222-9739 or pledge online at wpfwfm.org. |
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