Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO

AFL-CIO endorses new trade deal

12/13/2019

The AFL-CIO endorsed the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement earlier this week, calling it "a vast improvement over both the original NAFTA and the flawed proposal brought forward in 2017. President Trump may have opened this deal," said Labor Federation President Richard Trumka, "But working people closed it. "Trumka said the new trade deal "is far from perfect," noting that by itself, it's not a solution for outsourcing, inequality or climate change. "Successfully tackling these issues," Trumka said, "requires a fullcourt press of economic policies that empower workers, including the repeal of tax cuts which reward companies for shipping our jobs overseas."

LABOR CALENDAR

12/13/2019

click here for latest listings

Union City Radio: 7:15am M-F; WPFW 89.3FM

Transdev bus driver picket line (ATU 689): Daily 4:00am – 5:00pm
Gates of the Cinder Bed Road Division, 7901 Cinder Bed Road, Lorton, VA
International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) supports ATU 689 strike; Show your support for the strike: download the sign here, post on Twitter and tag @ATULocal689.

Fire Drill Friday with Jane Fonda and Sally Field: Fri, December 13, 11am – 1pm
U.S. Capitol lawn near the Capitol Visitors Center
"9 to 5" star Jane Fonda's 10th Fire Drill Friday is focused on Jobs, Communities and a Just Transition and "Norma Rae" star Sally Field, fresh off her recent Kennedy Center award, will be one of the speakers, along with some union members talking about how the climate crisis affects them in their jobs.

Seminar on How to Make Your Union Stronger by Involving and Mobilizing your Members: Sat, December 14, 10am – 3pm
4536 B John Marr Drive, Annandale VA
Instructors are Rutgers University labor educators Mike Merrill and Naomi Williams.
RSVP to [email protected]

“Party Like It’s 1997” benefit for United Students Against Sweatshops: Sat, December 14, 8pm – 11pm
LIUNA - Laborers' International Union of North America, 905 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20006 (rooftop)
Details here

Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO 2020 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Conference: Mon, December 16, 9am – 2pm
IBEW Local 24 union hall, 2701 W. Patapsco Avenue Baltimore, Maryland 21230
Brief overview and discussion of major aspects of the 2020 MD General Assembly and broad issues impacting labor.
8:30 am Registration and Meet & Greet
Registration Fee: $40.00 (includes continental breakfast, lunch and materials)
Registration form: (410) 269-1940 or email [email protected]

Metro Washington Council Open House for MWC delegates & affiliates
Mon, December 16, 6pm – 8pm
Must be a Metro Council affiliate or delegate; RSVP here

USAS started her journey as an organizer

12/13/2019

"I remember passing out flyers around campus and doing class raps in front of 400 students in preparation for the campus workers going on strike,” says Sabina Wildman, Domestic Campaigns Coordinator for United Students Against Sweatshops. “We were out at 4am, while it was still dark, to set up and start the picket. I remember feeling so energized and motivated to build student and worker power on my campus! That was just the beginning of my journey in the labor movement,” says Wildman, who’s based out of D.C. and got her start in labor organizing as an undergraduate student at the University of California Santa Cruz. “Now I live and work in D.C. and am consistently inspired by collective worker power and what workers and youth can do together. I have many hopes and dreams about the kind of future I'd like to live in and I know we can only get there if we become a stronger and more representative movement, connecting workers across the world. There's so much work that needs to be done, and we know that there's nothing like dancing to decompress and re-energize ourselves among comrade friends. I hope to see you all on the dance floor on December 14th!" See Calendar, above, for details on the USAS "Party Like It's 1997" fundraiser.

Solidarity Center Report: Study says gender violence rife in Brazil garment factories

12/13/2019

The vast majority of women in Brazil’s textile and shoe factories who took part in a recent study say they have experienced some form of violence at work, often gender-based violence and harassment—to the extent that “for many women, work is synonymous with suffering,” according to the report. “I am especially surprised by the extent of sexual harassment by supervisors," says National Confederation of Apparel Workers (CNTRV) President Francisca Trajano. Read more at the Solidarity Center.

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