Happy Halloween!

Tens of thousands of federal workers like Wesley McCarville have traveled to Puerto Rico and other natural disasters this year to aid in hurricane recovery efforts. Wesley is a member of Local 1924 of the American Federation of Government Employees, or AFGE, whose members work at federal immigration agencies here in Washington.
“Now their pay is on the chopping block,” says AFGE in a new 60-second video. AFGE is urging supporters to tell Congress to support workers like Wesley by not cutting federal pay and jobs. 
The video and a toll-free number for Congress are on our website at dclabor.org, where you'll also find the latest labor events by clicking on calendar.

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1891, the state of Tennessee sent in leased convict laborers to break a coal miners strike in Anderson County. The miners revolted, burned the stockades, and sent the captured convicts by train back to Knoxville. 
And in 1941, after 14 years of labor by 400 stone masons, the Mount Rushmore sculpture was completed in Keystone, South Dakota.

Today’s labor quote is by Alex Lichtenstein, author of "Twice the Work of Free Labor: The Political Economy of Convict Labor in the New South."  Alex Lichtenstein, who wrote
"For ex-slaves and their children, the right to leave one employer for another was second only to the desire to work for one's self as freedom's most precious gift."

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.

1199SEIU is working with the University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus to develop an apprenticeship program to train entry-level hospital employees to fill in-demand patient care jobs.
The local 1199SEIU union and UMMC Midtown hope to help entry-level workers in jobs like food service, transportation and janitorial work obtain Certified Nursing Assistant certifications.

On today's labor calendar, the Metro Washington Council is hosting a Meet and Greet with candidates for County Executive in Prince George's and Montgomery counties from 6 to 9 pm. Complete details on our website, dclabor.org, click on calendar.

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1986, Ed Meese, attorney general in the Reagan administration, urged employers to begin spying on workers "in locker rooms, parking lots, shipping and mail room areas and even the nearby taverns" to try to catch them using drugs.

​Today’s labor quote is by Sebastian Junger, who wrote the book “The Perfect Storm,” about the fishing boat Andrea Gail, out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, which was caught in ferocious storm and lost at sea with her crew of six on this date in 1991. The city of Gloucester has lost more than 10,000 whalers and fishermen to the sea over its 350-year history.
Sebastian Junger, who wrote:
“As societies become more affluent they tend to require more, rather than less, (work) time and commitment by the individual, and it’s possible that many people feel that affluence and safety simply aren’t a good trade for freedom.”

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.

Nearly two dozen sheet metal apprentices – members of SMART Local 100 -- graduated to journeyworkers on Saturday, October 21. "These graduates now have a lifetime of great work ahead of them, and the chance to build good union careers in the sheet metal industry," said Local 100 Training Director Norbert Klusmann.

On today's labor calendar, labor’s Get Out The Vote efforts in Virginia continue tomorrow starting at 9 a.m. at the NoVA Labor offices in Annandale;
Complete details on our website, dclabor.org, click on calendar.
​
Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1879, union organizer and anarchist Luisa Capetillo was born in Puerto Rico. She organized tobacco and other agricultural workers in Puerto Rico and later in New York and Florida. In 1916 she led a successful sugar cane strike of more than 40,000 workers on the island. She demanded that her union endorse voting rights for women. In 1919, three years before her death, she was arrested for wearing pants in public, the first woman in Puerto Rico to do so. The charges were dropped.

Today’s labor quote is by Luisa Capetillo, who said:
“Do not buy finery or jewels, because books are worth more than they are. Adorn your understanding with their precious ideas, because there is no luxury that dazzles like the luxury of science.”

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.