The annual DC LaborFest is a monthlong celebration of labor in the arts – film, music, art, books and history – that runs throughout the month of May.
This year’s LaborFest line-up has just been released and includes a screening of the classic labor film “Matewan” – with a special appearance by director John Sayles -- plus the fourth annual DC United Labor Night and, new this year, a union beer and whiskey tasting! The LaborFest begins on May 1 and includes 22 labor films, 17 labor history tours, walks and bike rides, and five labor art tours at local museums, including the National Gallery of Art. It also includes eight labor music events, which will be partially simulcast here on WPFW. Many of the events are free but you do need to sign up; get complete details on our website at dclabor.org, click on DC LaborFest On today's labor calendar: At one o’clock here on WPFW, Ed Smith and I will host “Your Rights at Work,” the call-in show where we answer your questions about rights on the job. Our guests are Hannah Kane of Many Languages One Voice, on their recent worker victories, and organizer Jonathan Rosenblum on his new book, Beyond $15. Full details, as always, on our website at dclabor.org, click on Calendar. Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 1930, a 17-year-old Jimmy Hoffa led his co-workers at a Kroger warehouse in Clinton, Indiana, in a successful job action. By refusing to unload a shipment of perishable strawberries, they forced the company to give in to their demands. Among other things: the “strawberry boys” had to report to work at 4:30 a.m., stay on the job for 12 hours, and were paid just 32 cents an hour, but only if growers arrived with berries to unload. Plus, they were required to spend most of their pay buying goods from Kroger. In 1919, labor leader and Socialist Party founder Eugene V. Debs was imprisoned for opposing American entry into World War I. While in jail he ran for president, receiving a million votes. Today’s labor quote is by Gene Debs Eugene Victor Debs, who said “The working class who make the sacrifices, who shed the blood, have never yet had a voice in declaring war. The ruling class has always made the war and made the peace.” 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.
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