Last week, Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta announced that former President Ronald Reagan will be entering the Labor Department’s Hall of Honor, joining legendary labor heroes ranging from Mother Jones to Eugene Debs and Cesar Chavez. Acosta cited Reagan’s tenure as the president of the Screen Actors Guild to explain that the Gipper was a friend of the working class. Labor historian Joe McCartin joins us on today's edition of Your Rights at Work to explain why Reagan was in fact an enemy of organized labor throughout his presidency, starting with his firing of over 11,000 air traffic controllers in 1981. “More than any other labor dispute of the past three decades," says McCartin, "Reagan’s confrontation with the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization, or Patco, undermined the bargaining power of American workers and their labor unions.” Catch the show starting at 1pm today right here on WPFW 89.3 FM.

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1991, over 300,000 unionists gathered in Washington, D.C., for a Solidarity Day march and rally for workplace fairness and healthcare reform. 

Today’s labor quote is by Anna Walentynowicz, the Polish shipyard worker whose firing made her a central figure in Poland's Solidarity movement, and who became known as the "mother of Solidarity." Anna Walentynowicz, who said 
"I was the drop that caused the cup of bitterness to overflow." 

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.

The Metro Council's Community Services Agency reports that union members affiliated with the Texas AFL-CIO are participating in rescue and relief efforts as Hurricane Harvey continues to threaten the lives and property of working people in Texas in the biggest natural disaster they've ever faced. "The state labor federation and our affiliates, including the Gulf Coast Area Labor Federation and Central Labor Councils across the state, are beginning to assess how and where we can help," says Texas AFL-CIO president John Patrick. "We cannot make anyone whole, but our movement can send a message of solidarity, a message that we are with working people badly harmed by Hurricane Harvey in heart, in soul and in spirit." Go to dclabor.org for a link to the Texas Workers Relief Fund.

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1935, President Franklin Roosevelt's Wealth Tax Act increased taxes on rich citizens and big business, lowering taxes for small businesses. 

Today’s labor quote is by Franklin Roosevelt, who said
"Great accumulations of wealth cannot be justified on the basis of personal and family security. In the last analysis such accumulations amount to the perpetuation of great and undesirable concentration of control in a relatively few individuals over the employment and welfare of many, many others." 

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.

The best way of helping folks in Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey is to make financial contributions to the American Red Cross, reports Community Services Agency Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy. 
Go to redcross.org for details.

Parades and picnics are a feature of many Labor Day celebrations across the country and local unionists are participating in several here in the metro area, in Greenbelt, Gaithersburg and Alexandria. There are also some other cool observances, including  WPFW’s Labor Day Special, which I'm co-hosting with Bill Fletcher from 9 am to noon. Go to dclabor.org for our complete preview.

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1996, dancers at San Francisco’s Lusty Lady Club voted to unionize. Their first union contract guaranteed work shifts, protection against arbitrary discipline and termination and automatic hourly wage increases. Dancers also won sick days, a grievance procedure, and removal of one-way mirrors from peep show booths. In 2003 the Lusty Lady was bought by the dancers and became a worker cooperative. 

Today’s labor quote is by Courtney Crimson, a dancer at the Lusty Lady, who said:
"The Lusty Lady has started a revolution for the rights of sex workers everywhere. And I feel that this revolution will continue long after we’re gone.'
The Lusty Lady closed on Labor Day, 2013

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.

“You feel powerless,” said Luis Fonseca. “You see that companies are doing what they want and you can never do anything against them.” Fonseca is one of the workers who spent almost a year removing asbestos from the century-old headquarters of the United States General Services Administration. They should have earned $25.47 per hour but were only paid $15.84 an hour. Fonseca and 124 other workers filed a complaint with the Labor Department’s Wage and Hour Division in 2011, but six years later, the investigation remains open and the workers still haven’t gotten their back pay.
Their story is told in a terrific new report by the Center for Public Integrity: "Fleecing America’s builders; How workers on government construction jobs are victimized by contractors that stand little chance of being caught."
We have a link to the full report on our website at dclabor.org

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1963, the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom—the Martin Luther King Jr. "I Have A Dream" speech march—was held in Washington, D.C., with 250,000 participating. The AFL-CIO did not endorse the march, but several affiliated unions did.

Today’s labor quote is by John Lewis at the 1963 March on Washington. Then the 23-year-old chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, Lewis is now the U.S. Representative for Georgia's 5th congressional district.
John Lewis, who said:
“We march today for jobs and freedom, but we have nothing to be proud of. For hundreds and thousands of our brothers are not here. For they are receiving starvation wages, or no wages at all.”

Who really runs the government? People like Audrey Smith, Lydell King and Cynthia Lee. "We hear a lot about the federal government’s bloat, its bureaucracy, its waste," reports Topic.com. "What we don’t hear much about are the people who actually work in public service.” Topic came to Washington recently to meet and photograph 15 of these folks -- all members or leaders of AFGE District 14 -- in its inaugural edition, "State of the Union." Smith is a Federal Pretrial Services officer for the District of Columbia, King is a performance consultant at the U.S. Coast Guard, and Lee is a practical nurse at the Andrew Rader Health Clinic.
Go to our website, dclabor.org, to meet all 15, with terrific photographs by Jared Soares.

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1925, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was founded at a meeting in New York City. The union's first organizer was A. Philip Randolph, launching his long career as a leader in the American labor movement, the civil rights movement, and socialist political parties.

Today’s labor quote is by A. Philip Randolph, who said:
“Nothing counts but pressure, pressure, more pressure, and still more pressure through broad organized aggressive mass action.”

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 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:
Danielle Brian, Executive Director of the Project On Government Oversight (POGO), on whistleblowers, "leakers" and what's up with those creepy Energy Department anti-leak posters?​

Kenneth Yates and Tiffany Saltus on why Takoma Park Co-op workers organized with the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World).

Jeff Vogt, Solidarity Center Rule of Law Legal Director on how African unions championed worker rights at the recent AGOA Forum.

Plus: Dick Gregory at the State of the Black Union

CREDITS: 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.

Workers at the Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-op last Sunday voted to unionize with the DC chapter of the Industrial Workers of the World, or IWW. The workers had presented demands to the Co-op’s Board of Directors on July 21, requesting higher wages, a $15-dollar hourly minimum wage, and unionization of the Co-op. Worker Tiffany S. told the Takoma Voice that unionizing is an “empowering venue to collective bargaining” and a necessary protection. "Congratulations, fellow workers, and welcome!" tweeted DC IWW.

On today's labor calendar, catch this week's edition of Your Rights At Work here on WPFW from 1 to 2pm.
Complete details on our website, dclabor.org, click on Calendar.

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1970, the United Farm Workers union began a lettuce strike. The Salad Bowl strike was a series of strikes, mass pickets, boycotts and secondary boycotts that led to the largest farm worker strike in U.S. history.

Today’s labor quote is by lettuce worker Antonio Sagredo, who said:
"We don't ask the impossible--only that they look upon us as human beings. We have the same ambitions as they do. We have families. We have rights. We are people. Why must they continue to treat us like beasts of burden and look for a thousand ways to keep us down...But the people know we are right. They will give us their support. We shall triumph."

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 primary goal of the labor movement is to make every job in our country a good job. But more than a million working people are in danger of having their work permits stripped away if the Trump administration ends the Temporary Protected Status and Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programs, also known as TPS and DACA.
"DACA made me visible," says Karen Reyes, a teacher in Austin, Texas. "DACA made it possible for me to be able to find a job in teaching. DACA made me find my voice and made me be able to live without fear."
Maria Elena Durazo, UNITE HERE General Vice President for Immigration, Civil Rights and Diversity, urged lawmakers to extend TPS and protect DACA, "for our sisters and brothers working under them, for their families and for the health of the American economy."

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1927, Italian immigrants Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti, accused of murder and tried unfairly, were executed. The case became an international cause and sparked demonstrations and strikes throughout the world. The executions of Sacco and Vanzetti – one a ‘poor fish peddler’, the other a shoemaker – exposed to the outside world the realities of America’s prejudices against ethnic minorities, against the poor and, most significantly, against those who dared to think unconventionally.

Today’s labor quote is by Emma Goldman, who said:
“Vanzetti was right when he declared that his execution was his greatest triumph, for all through history it has been the martyrs of progress that have ultimately triumphed. Where are the Caesars and Torquemadas of yesterday? Who remembers the names of the judges who condemned Giordano Bruno and John Brown? The Parsons and the Ferrers, the Saccos and Vanzettis live eternal and their spirits still march on.”

​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.

Montgomery County Councilmembers Marc Elrich, Hans Reimer and Nancy Navarro last Friday joined community allies in criticizing a recently-released study that claimed the county would lose approximately 47,000 jobs by 2022 if it raises the minimum wage to $15 an hour. 
County Executive Ike Leggett last week was forced to back away from the study after admitting that his administration had “received word (that) job losses might be less than what is expressed in the report.”

On today's labor calendar, check out "Understanding Immigration; Defending Our Neighbors!" tonight at 7 at St. Stephen's Church in northwest DC 
and, also at 7 tonight, there's a Labor/Community Forum with a discussion of the "Role and Contributions of Unions in our Community" at the Loudoun County School for the Gifted in Ashburn, Virginia.
Complete details, as always, on our website, dclabor.org, click on Calendar.

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1945, five flight attendants formed the Air Line Stewardesses  Association, the first labor union representing flight attendants. They were reacting to an industry in which women were forced to retire at the age of 32, remain single, and adhere to strict weight, height and appearance requirements. 

Today’s labor quote is by Georgia Panter Nielsen, a retired United flight attendant, union activist and author of "From Sky Girl to Flight Attendant: Women in the Making of a Union."
Georgia Panter Nielsen, who said, 
"In Asia, they were still advertising for virgins for Air China in the 1990s."

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.