A new report released by the AFT’s Albert Shanker Institute confirms that D.C. public schools are "seriously hemorrhaging teachers of color," reports the Washington Teachers Union. The report, “The State of Teacher Diversity in American Education,” shows that the percentage of black teachers in DCPS dropped dramatically from 77% in 2003 to 49% in 2011. The report was the subject of a panel discussion at the National Press Club on September 16, where WTU President Elizabeth Davis was one of the panelists. “DCPS is rapidly moving toward a less diverse teacher workforce even as our classrooms continue to have an overwhelming majority of minority students,” Davis said.
On today’s Labor Calendar, In local author Eric Lotke‘s new novel "Making Manna," striking fast food workers inspire a character to gather her coworkers and collectively demand a raise; Lotke appears at 10:30 this morning at George Mason University; Then, at 11:30, you can help tell Congress that the Trans-Pacific Partnership – or TPP -- is a bad deal; meet up at the Capitol South metro; And tonight at 5, WPFW's Live@5 Labor Music Edition features the rockin’ music of the Judge Smith Band with DC Nurses Association Executive Director Ed Smith on lead vocals, right here on WPFW 89.3 FM. As always, go to dclabor.org and click on calendar for complete details. Here’s today’s labor history: On this date in 1934, the American Federation of Labor officially endorsed the campaign for a 6-hour day, 5-day workweek. In 1949, joining with 400,000 coal miners already on strike, 500,000 CIO steel workers closed down the nation’s foundries, steel and iron mills, demanding pensions and better wages and working conditions. In 2007, Starbucks Workers Union baristas at an outlet in East Grand Rapids, Michigan, organized by the Wobblies, won their grievances after the National Labor Relations Board cited the company for labor law violations, including threats against union activists. And in 2010, as many as 200,000 union members, progressives and others rallied in Washington under the Banner of One Nation Working Together, demanding “good jobs, equal justice, and quality education for all.” Today’s labor quote is by Monsignor George Higgins: “Every professional group has an organization. Doctors have the AMA. Lawyers have the ABA. Business executives have any organization they want. No one would ever dream of trying to stop doctors, lawyers and business executives from organizing. But in this country, resistance to the organization of workers happens all the time.”
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Categories
All
Union City Radio is proud to be supported by UnionPlus, which has been working hard for union families since 1986.
Union City Radio is part of The Labor Radio/Podcast Network
Listen now...UC Radio airs weekdays at 7:15a on WPFW 89.3 FM; subscribe to the podcast here. |