Today’s labor calendar includes a screening of the film “Blood Fruit” at the AFI tonight at 7; This moving documentary explains how a strike over the sale of South African fruit in Ireland became the focus of world attention as a key battleground in the fight against apartheid. There’s also a free screening of “Chavez” at Georgetown tonight, and a reading: Out in the Union: A Labor History of Queer America, at Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse in Baltimore. Complete details on all these events is at dclabor.org; click on calendar.
In today's labor history, the CIO-affiliated Insurance Workers of America on this date in 1959 merged with its AFL counterpart, the Insurance Agents International Union to form the Insurance Workers International Union. The union later became part of the United Food and Commercial Workers, or UFCW.
Today's labor quote is by Nelson Mandela:
“Young workers in Dublin who in 1984 refused to handle the fruits of apartheid provided inspiration to millions of South Africans that ordinary people far away from the crucible of apartheid cared for our freedom.”
This is Chris Garlock, with Union City Radio’s Your Rights at Work tip of the day:
If you are disabled, you have the right to request a reasonable accommodation to do your job. Employees with disabilities that affect major life activities can request a reasonable accommodation from their employers, and their employers must engage in an interactive dialogue in order to find an accommodation for that disabled employee.
Find out more about your rights at work from the Employment Justice Center, at DCEJC.ORG or call 202-828-9675.