Hosted by Chris Garlock and Ed Smith
DC’s call-in show about worker rights: those you have, those you don’t, how to get them and how to use them. On today's show: Mark Anner & Tula Connell; “Continuing the Struggle: The International Labor Organization (ILO) Centenary and the Future of Global Worker Rights; Nov 21 – 22 at Georgetown University” Edward Gero, actor: plays Joseph Pulitzer in "Newsies" at Arena Stage; special labor performance December 13; details here Case Closed, with Bob Samet, Senior Partner at Ashcraft and Gerel Produced by Chris Garlock and Peter Pocock; engineered by Michael Nasella
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(audio) “I argue when I talk about Washington, DC; there’s a lobbyist for every special interest you can imagine and even then some.”
That’s union member and Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Mark Pocan, Congressman from Wisconsin. (audio) “There’s 1,500 lobbyists for the pharmaceutical industry alone. That’s three for every member of Congress and the Senate but there’s no one who comes out on behalf of working families, middle class families other than labor. Labor is the only voice that comes to Washington and says look; you’ve got to fight for people to have good family supporting wages because that’s what really people care about. They sit at their kitchen table at home; can they afford their mortgage or rent? Now do they have health insurance for their family? Can they take a family vacation that year? And when I grew up it was usually what’s that one luxury—the camper, the snow mobile, something but that was a good middle class existence and unfortunately that’s escaped through really losing some of the strength of the union movement. And I think the more that we give people that power, that voice back, the better off we’re able to address those inequality issues.” You can hear the rest of the interview with Congressman Mark Pocan on the State of the Unions podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts. On this week’s labor calendar, there’s a demonstration in support of Graduate Student Rights at 1 o’clock this afternoon at the National Labor Relations Board; also at 1 is this week’s edition of Your Rights At Work, here on WPFW 89.3FM. For complete details go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar. In today’s labor history, on this date in 1881, trade unions formed the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Organizations, which later became the American Federation of Labor, or AFL. Under the leadership of Samuel Gompers and Peter McGuire, the AFL became the most influential labor organization in the nation. Today’s labor quote is by Leonora O’Reilly, a founding member of the Women’s Trade Union League, founded on this date in 1903. Leonora O’Reilly, who said: “You cannot or will not make laws for us; we must make laws for ourselves. We working women need the ballot for self-protection; that is all there is to it.” Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. Are you planning to hit the road for the holidays? Union members can earn free rental days, upgrades and accessories when renting a car with Union Plus Car Rentals, which always includes a union member discount of up to 25% off. Visit unionplus.org/carrental. The checkout clerk at my local Safeway has worked for more than 30 years at the supermarket. But she told me last Saturday that she’s ready to strike if Cerberus Capital Management, the private equity firm that owns Albertsons/Safeway, abandons Safeway’s promise to secure pension benefits for both her and the 29,000 current retirees. Hundreds of Giant and Safeway workers protested at local supermarkets last week and there are plans for more protests this week.
The proposal for a roadside historical marker to recognize the historic 1970 Garrett County road workers strike has been accepted, reports Len Shindel, the union retiree who’s been working on the project. On this week’s labor calendar, striking bus drivers continue to picket in Lorton. And stay tuned for updates on actions by local supermarket workers fighting for a fair contract. For complete details go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar. In today’s labor history, on this date in 1945, a post-war strike by GM workers for higher wages closed 96 plants. Today’s labor quote is by Gil Scott Heron, from his song “We Almost Lost Detroit”; on this date in 1974, union activist Karen Silkwood was killed in a suspicious car crash on her way to deliver documents to a newspaper reporter during a safety investigation of the plutonium processing plant in Oklahoma where she worked. What would Karen Silkwood say / If she was still alive? / That when it comes to people’s safety / Money wins out every time. Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. If you’re looking for wireless deals this holiday season, don’t miss this limited time offer from AT&T and Union Plus! Union members who enroll in the AT&T Signature Program will get a $100 statement credit from AT&T, plus exclusive savings on wireless. Visit unionplus.org/att. ("Newsies" rehearsal audio)
With strikes in the news every day – including the two-week-old walkout by Lorton bus drivers – seeing “Newsies” at Arena Stage last week was an incredible experience. To see our struggles brought to life on the stage was emotionally moving and completely inspirational. The story “Newsies” dramatizes – New York City newsboys taking on powerful publishers in 1899 – is over a century old, yet the battle for workplace justice is exactly the same as that being fought by the Lorton bus drivers, Chicago teachers and GM autoworkers. And the singing and dancing by the cast of young actors – members of Actors Equity -- is simply phenomenal. To order tickets for the December 13 performance – which includes a special Labor Talkback – go to dclabor.org, and click on Calendar. Deadline to order is this Friday, November 15. ("Newsies" rehearsal audio, "Seize The Day") On this week’s labor calendar, striking bus drivers continue to picket in Lorton. And stay tuned for updates on actions by local supermarket workers as they continue to fight for a fair contract. For complete details go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar. In today’s labor history, on this date in 1954, Ellis Island in New York closed after providing the gateway for 12 million immigrants from 1892 to 1924. From 1924 to 1954 it was mostly used as a detention and deportation center for undocumented immigrants. Today’s labor quote is by John A. Byrne, author of the 1999 biography “Chainsaw,” about CEO Al Dunlop, infamous for inflating short-term profits by firing thousands of employees in the name of efficiency and cutting costs. John Byrne, who said that Dunlap, “sucked the very life and soul out of companies and people. He stole dignity, purpose, and sense out of organizations and replaced those ideals with fear and intimidation.” You can support Union City Radio – and all the great programming here at WPFW – by making a generous contribution today; call 202-588-9739 or go to wpfwfm.org and Thank You! Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. If you’re looking for wireless deals this holiday season, don’t miss this limited time offer from AT&T and Union Plus! Union members who enroll in the AT&T Signature Program will get a $100 statement credit from AT&T, plus exclusive savings on wireless. Visit unionplus.org/att. |
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