Hundreds of contracted service workers at National Airport and Dulles walked off the job yesterday to protest poverty wages and a lack of respect from their employer, the Huntleigh Corporation. The striking workers were joined by Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring, Virginia Senator Barbara Favola, and clergy and community supporters for an early-morning rally.
"What do we want?" the strikers chanted. "$15! When do we want it? Now!" Read more – and see photos of the striking airport workers -- on our website at dclabor.org On today's labor calendar, Ed Smith and I will take your calls on "Your Rights At Work" – 1pm here on WPFW – so if you have any questions about worker rights on the job, tune in – and call in – at 1pm today. For the complete calendar, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar. Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 1921, the Kansas National Guard was called out to subdue thousands of protesting women who were going from mine to mine attacking coal miners who wouldn’t join the strike. The women made headlines across the state and the nation: they were christened the "Amazon Army" by the New York Times. In 1967, the U.S. Age Discrimination in Employment Act became law. It bars employment discrimination against anyone aged 40 or older. And in 2005, Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers union organizer Clinton Jencks died of natural causes in San Diego at age 87. Jencks led New Mexico zinc miners in the strike depicted in the classic 1954 movie Salt of the Earth. Today’s labor quote is from the Bible, Proverbs 31, Verses 8 and 9 “Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of all who are helpless. Speak for them and be a righteous judge. Protect the rights of the poor and needy.”
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