Fire Fighters Local 36 says WMATA is playing a dangerous “blame game.” The union – which represents DC fire fighters -- said last week it was “disappointed” by WMATA’s “outlandish accusation that our members bear responsibility for Metro’s chronic and systemic problems in regards to rail safety.” WMATA filed a lawsuit last Monday against the District in what Local 36 called “an attempt to absolve themselves of responsibility” for the deadly January 2015 tunnel fire. The Fire Fighters said that Metro riders should be alarmed by WMATA’s denial in the lawsuit that “it owes a duty to WMATA’s passengers” to assist, rescue or evacuate passengers in the event of a fire emergency situation. The Fire Fighters concerns echo those of ATU Local 689, which says WMATA “has a long record of putting safety last.”
Today's labor calendar is chock full of events celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We have complete details, as always, on our website at dclabor.org – click on Calendar -- but here’s a quick rundown of what’s happening: The AFL-CIO is hosting its annual MLK Day of Service starting at 9am; The annual MLK "I Have a Dream" march in Leesburg, Virginia starts at 10am; The AFI Silver Theatre is hosting a free screening of KING: A FILMED RECORD...MONTGOMERY TO MEMPHIS starting at 11am (note that tickets are free but they’re only available at the AFI box office today starting at 10:30am and there’s a limit of four tickets per person; And at 4pm there’s a Party for Paid Leave and Progressive Victories in DC. Again, complete details are on our website at dclabor.org, click on Calendar Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 1883, the United States Civil Service Commission was established as the Pendleton Act went into effect. The Pendleton law required certain applicants to take the civil service exam in order to be given certain jobs; it also prevented elected officials and political appointees from firing civil servants, removing civil servants from the influences of political patronage and partisan behavior. In 1920, thousands of Palmer Raids detainees won the right to have attorney representation at deportation hearings. During a typical deportation hearing at this time, the immigration inspector acted as arresting officer, prosecutor, judge, jury, and recording clerk. A defense lawyer was not permitted to attend while the immigration inspector questioned the alien, who were non-US citizens, many of whom understood little English. The interrogation focused not only on what the alien had done and said, but also on his or her beliefs and thoughts. In one well-documented case, Gaspare Cannone was arrested without charge or warrant by Department of Justice agents in New York City. Cannone, who spoke limited English, was beaten and kicked when he refused to give evidence against other people. After being held in secret for 72 hours, agents took him to Ellis Island and turned him over to Bureau of Immigration officials. Following questioning by an immigration inspector, Cannone refused to sign a statement admitting he was an anarchist. But someone forged his signature to the statement anyway. Today’s labor quote is from a report by a prominent group of lawyers and judges who documented dozens of cases of due process violations during the Palmer Raids. Their report concluded: "There is no danger of revolution so great as that created by ... deliberate violations of the simple rules of American law and American decency."
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. |