Joslyn Williams is no stranger to the American Dream. He pursued it as a Jamaican immigrant, obtaining his bachelor’s degree at Howard University. He marched toward it in embracing the economic justice legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. And in 34 years as president of the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO, he’s championed the right of 150,000 union brothers and sisters to live that dream with fair wages, safe working conditions, access to affordable health care and secure retirements. As the Council’s first African American president, Williams views labor as part of a broader social and economic justice movement for racial equality. “Our movement helped Black workers see that we could accomplish more if we were inside the house rather than on the outside tearing it down.” In the process, he says, “we created a Black middle class in the nation’s capital.” Click below to read more… Williams will receive the JC Turner Award for Outstanding Trades Unionist at the March 12 Evening with Labor; email [email protected] or call 202-974-8221 for tickets. photo: Williams at 2011 demo supporting Wisconsin public sector workers; photo by Bill Burke WJLA 7 NewsTalk's Bruce DePuyt (l) interviewed retiring Metro Washington Council president Jos Williams (r)yesterday; click here to see the video. Tomorrow morning, as DC politicians gather to celebrate the long-delayed opening of the DC Streetcar, ATU 689 will rally to show their support for the Streetcar workers, who will vote next week on joining local 689. "Let’s show our DC politicians and the Streetcar workers that we stand as one and support the workers of DC Streetcar!" says Local 689 president Jackie Jeter. The 9a rally will be held at 26th NE and Benning Rd, across from RFK Stadium parking lot. AFL-CIO: Tell Senate Republican Leaders To Do Their Jobs And Fill The Supreme Court Vacancy2/26/2016
The AFL-CIO has launched a petition urging Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Republican leadership "to do their job and work to fill the Supreme Court vacancy without delay." AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka says the issue isn’t about party or politics. "It’s about our lawmakers doing what they agreed to when they were elected to the Senate," Trumka said. "We don’t make excuses at our jobs even when we might not like something we’re asked to do or work with someone we might not like. Our senators shouldn’t do that either. It’s time they stop with the politics and do their jobs." Click here now to sign the petition. |