Wednesday’s Janus ruling by the Supreme Court effectively makes every state and local government workplace – from schools to fire departments, police stations and more – right-to-work sites when current union contracts expire.
​The court’s decision culminates a long campaign by employers to “defund the left” by cutting off its cash. Organized labor is a key source of people and contributions for progressive causes, and justice Elena Kagan warned that the Janus ruling “will have large-scale consequences.”
As National Domestic Workers Alliance Executive Director Ai-jen Poo put it so eloquently, “This decision is a blow to every working person that has ever felt unheard, unseen, or hurt at the hands of unchecked power.”
But as UAW President Gary Jones said, “You cannot silence the voice of so many American families who want a seat at the bargaining table.”
Here on Union City Radio we’ll continue to report on the efforts by working men and women to stand up and fight for their rights.

On today’s labor calendar,
A weeklong run of the "The Workers Cup" begins today at the Angelika Pop-Up; for details – and all the latest labor calendar postings -- go to dclabor.org, and click on Calendar.

Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 1934, President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued an Executive Order establishing the National Labor Relations Board. Hear more on this week’s Labor History Today podcast, available on your favorite podcast platform, just search for Union City Radio. 

Today’s labor quote is by Franklin D. Roosevelt, who said:
“It is now beyond partisan controversy that it is a fundamental individual right of a worker to associate himself with other workers and to bargain collectively with his employer.”

​Union City Radio is supported by UnionPlus, which provides unique products and discounts for working families. Check them out at unionplus.org!

Hosted by Chris Garlock, with Ed Smith 
 
Listen live on WPFW 89.3FM or online at wpfwfm.org; CALL IN at 202-588-0893.
Your Rights At Work is also available as a podcast! Just search for Union City Radio on iTunes, Stitcher, OverCast or wherever you get your podcasts; subscribe and you’ll get our shows right on your phone! 
 
Today's topic: Effects of the Supreme Court's Janus decision on all workers  

Guest(s): Matthew Ginsburg, Associate General Counsel at the AFL-CIO, Andrew Washington, Executive Director, AFSCME Council 20, Harold Meyerson, executive editor of The American Prospect. 

MUSIC: Tom Morello, "Union Town" 

Adam Sobel Producer/Director, "The Worker's Cup" which is having a DC run 6/29-7/5 at the Angelika Pop-Up; details here. 

CREDITS: Produced by Pete Pocock and Chris Bangert-Drowns; engineered by Mike “The Man” 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.

Metro-area unions reacted defiantly to the Supreme Court’s ruling on Janus vs AFSCME yesterday. The Court ruled, 5-4, that public-sector unions should not be allowed to collect “fair share” fees from the workers they represent.
“This is not going to kill public sector unions,” said Andrew Washington, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 20, which represents DC city workers. In fact, Washington said, “It will make us stronger, as we continue to connect directly with our members about the importance of their union.”
And while Eric Bunn, AFGE District 14 National Vice President, said the ruling was a “devastating blow to working class Americans,” he insisted “the American labor movement isn’t going no damn where. We’ll keep fighting, not only for our members, but for all workers standing up against attacks from the bosses and the right wing.” 
Metro Washington Council president Jackie Jeter said she’s “disappointed that the Supreme Court has failed to protect workers rights,” but added that “I am excited about the unexplored possibilities that we have to mobilize and energize our members.” Jeter called the decision “a self serving ruling that’s clearly meant to keep workers unorganized and to maximize power and profit for big business, but no court can dilute the power of workers, united.”

On today’s labor calendar, we’ll have the latest on the historic Janus Supreme Court ruling on “Your Rights At Work” at 2pm here on WPFW, plus your calls.
For all the latest labor calendar postings, go to dclabor.org, and click on Calendar.

Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed legislation declaring Labor Day an official U.S. holiday.
Hear more on this week’s Labor History Today podcast, available on your favorite podcast platform, just search for Union City Radio. 

Today’s labor quote is by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who said:
“I should like to see our country unionized to the hilt.”

​Union City Radio is supported by UnionPlus, which provides unique products and discounts for working families. Check them out at unionplus.org!
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Last week, FIFA, soccer’s international governing body, awarded the 2026 World Cup to a joint bid from Canada, Mexico and the United States. That’s cause for celebration by soccer fans throughout North America, but it’ll also be a test of FIFA’s human rights commitment. You see, the bidding process requires strong commitments to human rights for World Cup hosts, and all three 2026 host countries have problematic records. The International Trade Union Confederation’s 2018 Global Rights Index gave Canada a rating of "2," which signifies repeated violations of rights, the United States got a "4," meaning there are systematic rights violations, and Mexico scored a "5," denoting that there is no guarantee of rights in the country. This means that not only will working people be watching the 2026 World Cup, we'll be watching the lead-up to make sure that FIFA lives up to its commitments.

On today’s labor calendar, Washington Post columnist Joe Davidson discusses President Trump’s “Unwavering Attack” on Federal Unions and Employees​ today at noon at The Whittemore House;
For complete details, go to dclabor.org, and click on Calendar.

Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 1905, the Industrial Workers of the World, also known as the "Wobblies," was founded at a convention in Chicago. The Wobblie motto is "An injury to one is an injury to all."  
Hear more on this week’s Labor History Today podcast, available on your favorite podcast platform, just search for Union City Radio. 

Today’s labor quote is by Emma Goldman, women's rights activist and radical, born on this date in 1869. Emma Goldman, who said:
“When we can't dream any longer we die.”

​Union City Radio is supported by UnionPlus, which provides unique products and discounts for working families. Check them out at unionplus.org!