Hosted by Chris Garlock and David Stephen; Ed Smith is away
Today’s guests: Nick Schwellenbach, Director of Investigations at the Project on Government Oversight (POGO); What’s the deal with Trump’s Non-disclosure Agreements? Bertha McKiver, UFCW 400 union rep, on How to spot contract violations. Plus: David Stephen reports on Metro workers’ demand that GM Paul Wiedefeld be fired after reneging on promises not to provide special transportation for the “Unite the Right” participants. Music: A Change Is Gonna Come - Aretha Franklin In honor of The Queen of Soul: Aretha Franklin Presente! CREDITS: Produced by Pete Pocock, Chris Bangert-Drowns and Chris Garlock; engineered by Mike “The Man” Nasella Thanks to all the callers who pledged their financial support today during the Summer Drive. Special thanks to local labor lawyers Ed James, Wendy Kahn and Jules Bernstein, for their challenge grants. Ed James is a Partner at James and Hoffman; Wendy L. Kahn is “Of Counsel” to the firm of Zwerdling, Paul, Kahn & Wolly, P.C.; Jules Bernstein of Bernstein & Lipsett P.C. has advocated for workers’ rights for more than a half-century. He's a big supporter of “Your Rights At Work,”the DC LaborFest and also serves on the board of directors of Interfaith Worker Justice and the National Employment Law Project. Call 202-588-9739 or 1-800-222-9739 or pledge online to make your contribution; be sure to click on “Your Rights At Work” in the drop-down menu!
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DC Jobs with Justice has received a grant from the TIMES UP Legal Defense Fund to do outreach to workers and connect them with resources to address sexual assault and harassment on the job.
“Too many of our fellow workers are taken advantage of in this way, and we are proud to stand with them as they fight back,” said Executive Director Elizabeth Falcon. DC Jobs with Justice is one of just 18 nonprofit organizations across the country to receive a grant from the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund, which awarded a total of $750,000 dollars in grants to support groups serving low-wage workers who have experienced sexual harassment and related retaliation in the workplace. Check them out @dcjwj for details. On today’s local labor calendar, ATU 689 is holding a “Truth, Unity, and Justice Rally” today at noon at 12th and G Streets Northwest; the transit union says Metro GM Paul Wiedefeld betrayed public trust last weekend when it provided a special train for the “Unite the Right” rally and is calling for Wiedefeld’s resignation. Hear more about this on today’s edition of “Your Rights at Work” at 2pm on WPFW 89.3 FM. And of course you can always get the latest local labor news and events at dclabor.org In today's labor history, on this date in 1894, George Meany, a plumber, and founding AFL-CIO president, was born in City Island, the Bronx. Meany served as secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Labor from 1940 to 1952, succeeded as president of the AFL, and then continued as president of the AFL-CIO following the historic merger in 1955 until retiring in 1979 Today’s labor quotes are by George Meany, who said, in his official biography, “George Meany and His Times,” that he had "never walked a picket line in his life." He also said he took part in only one strike (against the United States Government to get higher pay for plumbers on welfare jobs). Yet he also firmly said that "You only make progress by fighting for progress." Here’s a follow-up to yesterday’s report on the four-year extension of contracts for CWA members at Verizon, which came a year before expiration in August 2019.
The deal – which covers over 34,000 Verizon workers, including call center workers, and central office and field technicians -- comes amid a wave of worker actions this year to raise wages, improve working conditions, and hold corporations accountable. "Like the successful teacher strikes this spring, Verizon's willingness to come to the table early and agree to this contract is yet another testament to the power of working people standing together," said CWA, the Communications Workers of America. CWA Local 2108 president Marilyn Irwin called the deal "a testament to the strength, solidarity and sacrifice our members and allies exhibited during our forty-nine day strike in 2016." For all the latest local labor news and calendar listings, go to dclabor.org. In today's labor history, on this date in 1989, Gerry Horgan, chief steward of CWA Local 1103 and a NYNEX striker in Valhalla, New York, was struck on the picket line by a car driven by the daughter of a plant manager and died the following day. What was to become a 4-month strike over healthcare benefits was in its second week. Today’s labor quote is from populist social commentator Will Rogers, killed on this date in 1935 in a plane crash in Point Barrow, Alaska. Will Rogers, who said: “Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously, and the politicians as a joke, when it used to be vice versa.” UFCW Local 400 agreed to extend its current contract with Kroger until August 16 while negotiations on a new contract continue.
"We will not be rushed into a bad deal," Local 400 told members. "Our goal remains to negotiate a fair contract with better wages, affordable healthcare and respect for our union." And Verizon workers represented by the Communications Workers of America in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions and at Verizon Connected Solutions voted last week to ratify a four-year extension of their current contracts, which were set to expire this month. The extensions provide for additional wage increases and enhanced retirement benefits. The agreement will deliver an 11.2% wage increase over the additional four years and covers over 34,000 Verizon workers, including call center workers, and central office and field technicians. In today's labor history, on this date in 1980, members of the upstart Polish union Solidarity seized the Lenin shipyard in Gdansk. Sixteen days later the government officially recognized the union. Many consider the event the beginning of the end for the Iron Curtain. Today’s labor quote is by Lech Walesa, who said: “The sole and basic source of our strength is the solidarity of workers, peasants and the intelligentsia, the solidarity of the nation, the solidarity of people who seek to live in dignity, truth, and in harmony with their conscience.” |
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