For today's labor news reports, go to dclabor.org, and for the latest local labor events, just click on Calendar.

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1928, Alabama outlawed the leasing of convicts to mine coal, a practice that had been in place since 1848. In 1898, 73 percent of the state's total revenue came from this source. 25 percent of all black leased convicts died.

In 1936, the Walsh-Healey Act took effect on this date. It requires companies that supply goods to the government to pay wages according to a schedule set by the Secretary of Labor.

And, in 1998, up to 40,000 New York construction workers demonstated in midtown Manhattan, protesting the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s awarding of a $33 million dollar contract to a nonunion company. 

Today’s labor quote is by Booker T. Washington 
Booker T. Washington, who said 
“You can't hold a man down without staying down with him.” 

Ed Smith hosts (Chris Garlock is away). 

This week's guests: 
Walakewon Blegay (Wala), Staff Attorney, DCNA: on negotiations and working conditions at United Medical Center. 
Dyana Forester, Political & Community Lead Representative, UFCW Local 400: on Bill B512, the “Hours and Scheduling Stability Act of 2016,” that was pushed of by the DC Council until at least mid-July. This bill would assist restaurant and retail workers in scheduling their shifts and making sure that they know how many hours a week they are expected to work. 

Labor song of the week: Koko Taylor covers Big Boss Man. 

For today's labor news reports, go to dclabor.org, and for the latest local labor events, just click on Calendar.

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1885, what was to become a 7-day streetcar strike began in Chicago after several workers were unfairly fired. The police chief at the time, describing the strikers’ response to scabs, wrote that: "One of my men said he was at the corner of Halsted and Madison Streets, and although he could see fifty stones in the air, he couldn't tell where they were coming from." The strike was settled to the workers’ satisfaction.

In 1934, an Executive Order signed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt established the National Labor Relations Board, or NLRB.  A predecessor organization, the National Labor Boardhad been struck down by the Supreme Court.

And in 1988, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled -- in CWA versus Beck -- that a union can collect from non-members only those fees and dues necessary to perform its duties as a collective bargaining representative. Harry Beck was a maintenance worker with the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Company in Maryland, an agency shop, where the employer may hire union or non-union workers, and employees need not join the union. However, non-union workers must pay a fee to cover collective bargaining costs. Beck protested the use of his union dues for a political cause in which he did not believe and asked for a refund. The Communication Workers refused, arguing that using union dues for political expenditures was appropriate and legal. The Beck decision is widely seen in the labor movement as an attack on union power. 

Today’s labor quote is by Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein, who among other things, was a member of the American Federation of Teachers, and who said: 
"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile." 

For today's labor news reports, go to dclabor.org, and for the latest local labor calendar, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar.

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1850, machinist Matthew Maguire was born. Many believe he first suggested Labor Day, but others believe it was Peter McGuire, a carpenter.

In 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed legislation declaring Labor Day an official U.S. holiday.

Today’s labor quote is by Grover Cleveland
"The laboring classes constitute the main part of our population. They should be protected in their efforts peaceably to assert their rights when endangered by aggregated capital, and all statutes on this subject should recognize the care of the State for honest toil, and be framed with a view of improving the condition of the workingman."