Grocery workers in the Washington, D.C., area last year reversed concessionary bargaining in the industry for the first time in a generation.   In the August issue of Labor Notes, UFCW Local 400's director of mobilization Alan Hanson acknowledges past organizing and contract failures and outlines the strategies Local 400 has developed to build density, use political power and partner with union, community, and faith allies.
“Organizing and mobilizing cannot stop when a contract fight ends,” Hanson says.
You can read the complete report on our website at dclabor.org

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1970, members of the National Football League Players Association began what was to be a two-day strike, their first. The issues included pay, pensions, the right to arbitration and the right to have agents.
And in 1981, a fifty-day baseball strike ended. Owners had provoked the strike over the issue of free agent compensation.

Today’s labor quote is by Marvin Miller, Executive Director of the Major League Baseball Players Association from 1966 to 1982
"Why did the issue of greed only enter the picture when the players finally got a fairer slice of the pie?  Lest we forget, that pie became bigger because of the player’s unionizing efforts."

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.

Editorial staff at progressive news outlet Raw Story have received voluntary recognition of their union as part of the Washington-Baltimore NewsGuild.
Raw Story staffers said “We believe that the process of unionization is the best way that we as workers can work collaboratively with management to advocate for ourselves and for our ideals.” 
And staff at the Center for Community Change, members of IFPTE Local 70, voted unanimously to ratify their first contract on Monday.
Alan Barber, president of IFPTE Local 70, welcomed CCC staff to the ranks of non-profit workers with strong union contracts, saying that “Progressive non-profits truly benefit when staff have a voice in the workplace and can share in the work to build an effective organization.”

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1932, Federal troops burned the shantytown built near the U.S. Capitol by thousands of unemployed World War I veterans, camping there to demand a bonus they had been promised but never received.

Today’s labor quote is by Hugo Black. Alabama Senator and future Supreme Court Justice Hugo Black, who said of the attack on the Bonus Army vets:
"As one citizen, I want to make my public protest against this militaristic way of handling a condition which has been brought about by widespread unemployment and hunger."

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This week's guests:
(in-studio) BRUCE JETT, Organizing Consultant with the Washington-Baltimore News Guild, on recent organizing wins and the ongoing challenges of organizing workers.

JONATHAN ROSENBLUM, author of “Beyond $15: Immigrant Workers, Faith Activists, and the Revival of the Labor Movement.” Jonathan will discuss his new book next Thursday at the Takoma Busboys and Poets from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm.
Readers interested in labor activism, history, economics, industrial relations, or immigration studies will find this book to be compelling and captivating, as Rosenblum captures the story of this unifying, important, and successful fight for economic equity. This event is co-sponsored by Bread & Roses.

Labor Song: Koko Taylor - Big Boss Man (with thanks to Chris DeProperty for the recommendation)

CREDITS: Produced by Mack Miller, 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: call 202-588-9739 or 1-800-222-9739 or pledge online at wpfwfm.org.

In a sweeping decision issued last Friday, the National Labor Relations Board ordered Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Spring to “cease and desist” a broad range of attacks on the nurses’ rights to discuss and seek union representation. 
Administrative Law Judge Michael Rosas ruled that the hospital “engaged in at least eight instances of unlawful threats, coercion, and interrogation in violation” of federal law. 
The hospital was also found to have maintained illegal policies prohibiting nurses from discussing union representation. National Nurses United has been organizing nurses at Holy Cross since last year. 
“We’re thrilled with this ruling,” said Nina Scott, an intensive care unit RN at Holy Cross. “Now we can move forward to organize without fear and freely talk with nurses.” 

On today's labor calendar, our guests on "Your Rights At Work" will be Jonathan Rosenblum, author of “Beyond $15: Immigrant Workers, Faith Activists, and the Revival of the Labor Movement,” and Bruce Jett, Washington-Baltimore News Guild organizer. Listen and call in today starting at 1 o'clock here on WPFW. 

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1869, William Sylvis died, aged just 41. In his brief life, Sylvis helped found both the Iron Molders' Union and the National Labor Union, one of the first American union federations attempting to unite workers of various crafts into a single national organization. 

Today’s labor quote is by William Sylvis, who said:
"Single-handed we can accomplish nothing; but united there is no power of wrong we may not openly defy."

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.

Workers of the nation's only Lipton tea plant overwhelmingly voted to approve their first union contract on Monday. 
The workers joined UFCW Local 400 last year. The contract covers 240 workers at the Suffolk, Virginia facility and includes significant improvements to working conditions and healthcare benefits. 
Mechanic Philip Surace said his first experience with a union was when he called Local 400 last spring. “I didn’t know much about unions, but I knew something had to be done,” he says. Philip quickly pulled together a meeting with his coworkers to learn about their rights to form a union. “Two months later, we had our union. I would encourage anyone who wants to make their workplace better to do the same thing we did.”

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1948, President Harry Truman issued Executive Order 9981, abolishing racial discrimination in the United States Armed Forces. 
Labor leader A. Philip Randolph had successfully pressed President Franklin D. Roosevelt to ban discrimination in the defense industries during World War II and after the war he pressured Truman to end segregation in the armed services. 
In 1992, the Americans With Disabilities Act took effect on this date. The ADA requires employers to offer reasonable accommodations to qualified employees with disabilities and bans discrimination against such workers.

Today’s labor quote is by A. Philip Randolph, who said:
"Justice is never given; it is exacted, and the struggle must be continuous, for freedom is never a final fact, but a continuing evolving process to higher and higher levels of human, social, economic, political and religious relationship."

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.

A new study shows Metro workers’ pay and benefits are in line with those of other major transit systems, blunting long-standing criticism of the agency’s labor costs, the Washington Post reported last week. 
“Basically what we’re finding is both wages and benefits [at Metro] are average for the transit industry,” said consultant Roy Kienitz, who conducted the study for the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. 
We've got a link to the Post story on our website at dclabor.org

On today's labor calendar, there's a Sick and Safe Leave Forum tonight at 6 pm at La Casa in Mt. Pleasant. 
Also at 6, catch a screening of "The Trotsky," an "inspired, often-dangerously-funny" comedy, at the Busboys and Poets in Takoma Park.
You'll find complete details on both at dclabor.org, click on Calendar. 
​
Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1877, workers staged a general strike—believed to be the nation’s first—in St. Louis, in support of striking railroad workers. The successful strike was ended when 8,000 federal troops and deputized special police killed at least eighteen people in skirmishes around the city.

Today’s labor quote is by Brooks Atkinson, who said:
"Don't be condescending to unskilled labor. Try it for half a day first." 

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.

“There is a child, a laid off worker, a struggling family who is able to eat a nutritious meal today because the labor community did not forget them,” says Kathleen McKirchy, executive director of the Metro Washington Council’s Community Services Agency.
With hunger a continuing problem in the metro DC area, McKirchy thanked generous staff at both American Income Life and the Bank of Labor for donating food to the agency last week.
If you want to help, details are on our website at dclabor.org, click on Community Services.

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 2009, the U.S. minimum wage rose to $7.25 per hour, where it remains. 
Since 2012, the "Fight for $15" movement has pushed for an increase in the minimum wage and a growing number of local governments across the country, including here in the metro area, have passed laws that will gradually increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour.

Today’s labor quote is by former US Secretary of Labor Robert Reich, who said:
"If the minimum wage in 1968 had simply kept up with inflation it would be more than $10 today.  If it also kept up with the added productivity of American workers since then, it would be more than $21 an hour…"

​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.

Two area labor leaders have made the 2017 El Tiempo Latino Powermeter, the publication’s list of the 100 most influential people for Latinos in the metro Washington area. 
SEIU Local 32BJ Vice President Jaime Contreras and Unite Here Local 25 Executive Secretary-Treasurer John Boardman were chosen from more than 400 nominees. 
“Considered a key figure among the new generation of leaders in immigration and labor rights groups in DC,” Contreras – who also serves on the Metro Washington Council’s Executive Board -- “has been able to build alliances with a growing immigrant community in DC, Maryland, and Virginia while bridging the gap between labor and New Americans,” while Boardman “has arduously fought to help hundreds of Latino workers improve their work benefits by pushing for contracts with improved pension plans and wages.”

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1926, radio station WCFL, owned and operated by the Chicago Federation of Labor, took to the airwaves with two hours of music. The first and only labor-owned radio station in the country, WCFL was sold in 1979.
In a related update, just a week ago, a group organized in part by the Chicago Federation of Labor announced the acquisition the Chicago Sun-Times -- Chicago's oldest daily newspaper -- the Chicago Reader and the straightdope.com website, as well as Answers Media, a digital communications company. 

Today’s labor quote is by Wendell Phillips: 
"The labor movement means just this; It is the last noble protest of the American people against the power of incorporated wealth."
​
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.

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 click on "subscribe" at right, or 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 guest: 
Ari Schwartz, Lead Organizer for DC Jobs With Justice, on the Sick and Safe Leave Forum set for July 25. 
With just a few exceptions, if you work in DC, you have the right to take paid sick days when you or a loved one is ill, to go to a doctor, or to receive services related to domestic violence or assault. “It's outrageous how many employers still violate this law on a daily basis,” says Ari Schwartz, Lead Organizer for DC Jobs With Justice. To make paid sick days for all a reality, “workers need to know their rights and have the tools to defend them,” says Schwartz, which is why the Just Pay Coalition is hosting a Sick and Safe Leave Forum this presentation July 25, in partnership with the DC Department of Employment Services’ Office of Wage-Hour (OWH). “It's time for every employer to follow the law and for every worker to know about their right to paid sick days,” said Schwartz. Click here for details and to RSVP.

1:30 Labor Song: Sick Leave Blues · Gaye Adegbalola & the Wild Rutz

CREDITS: Produced by Peter Pocock -- HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRODUCER PETE! -- and Mackadoodle Miller, 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: call 202-588-9739 or 1-800-222-9739 or pledge online at wpfwfm.org.

Laurette Ford is a force of nature. For more than a decade as a UFCW Local 400 shop steward, she made it her mission to build her union by signing up as many new members as humanly possible. On June 30, Laurette retired from Giant after 29 years as a proud Local 400 member, with the knowledge that she is leaving her union better than she found it. “I joined our union in 1988,” Laurette said. “I was making $5.25 an hour. When the kids today complain they don’t make enough money, I tell them that—and make the point that because of their union, they can expect to do a whole lot better in the future just like I’ve done. That’s usually enough to pull them in." You can read the rest of the story -- and see a photo of Laurette -- on our website at dclabor.org

On today's labor calendar, tune in at 1 o'clock this afternoon for this week's edition of Your Rights At Work, when we'll be discussing the upcoming Sick and Safe Leave Forum and the threats to Administrative Law Judges who have organized a union. 

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1971, postal unions and the US Postal Service signed the first labor contract in the history of the federal government. The previous year, 200,000 postal workers staged the largest wildcat strike in U.S. history.  

Today’s labor quote is by William Burrus, former president of the American Postal Workers Union. William Burrus, who said:
"Those unions that enjoy the right to strike have no guarantee that sacrificing their jobs and their livelihood will result in victory but they nevertheless engage in lengthy strikes, not because they are assured of winning but because they are determined to fight." 

​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.