The multi-million-dollar DC Wharf development opened last Thursday with great pomp and circumstance, but a new report calls it a “massive taxpayer subsidy” that created low-wage jobs with minimal benefits.
While the District approved $300 million in public subsidies for the Wharf project, an analysis by the DC Fiscal Policy Institute said that “neither the developer nor the District’s economic development leaders took meaningful steps to ensure that the Wharf resulted in good-quality jobs or other benefits for DC residents.” Most construction workers at the Wharf were not represented by a union, and many of its non-union construction jobs paid less than $15 an hour, often with minimal benefits. The hotel, restaurant, and retail jobs at the newly opened Wharf also are likely to be non-union, and have similarly low pay and benefits. We have a link to the report on our website, dclabor.org On today's labor calendar, the Metro Washington Council meets tonight at 6:30 at the AFL-CIO for the latest updates on the local labor movement. Details at dclabor.org, click on Calendar. Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 1859, Abolitionist John Brown led 18 men, including five free blacks, in an attack on the Harper's Ferry ammunition depot, the beginning of guerilla warfare against slavery. Today’s labor quote is by John Brown, who said: “I have only a short time to live, only one death to die, and I will die fighting for this cause. There will be no peace in this land until slavery is done for.” 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.
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. |