​Union City Radio for Friday, October 26

More than 1,000 DC school bus drivers and attendants will achieve pay parity with other District government employees, thanks to a new three-year contract between the city and AFSCME 1959.
Local 1959 president Corey Upchurch said it was “an exciting day for all of us,” calling the deal “the foundation on something we can build on collectively moving forward.”
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser added that the contract “recognizes and rewards” the bus drivers and attendants “for the important work they perform year-round.” The contract also offers benefits consistent with other district employees or drivers.

On today’s labor calendar, headlining a day full of labor-to-labor canvasses, there’s a big “Labor for Ben Jealous” rally tomorrow morning in Baltimore starting at 9:30. There are also three labor-themed films tomorrow, including Sankofa, The Long Ride and Bisbee ’17; for complete details, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar.

In today’s labor history, on this date in 1825, after eight years and at least 1,000 worker deaths—mostly Irish immigrants—the 350-mile Erie Canal opened, linking the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean.

Today’s labor quote is by labor historian Joe McCartin, who talks about the Erie Canal workers on this week’s Labor History Today podcast, available on your favorite podcast app:
“They had no idea of the human toll that the work would take, over time. In fact, that they couldn’t find enough Americans to do the work.”