by Kathleen Moors Organizing our most vulnerable workers and drinking Slurpees combine two of my favorite activities, so when Michael Szpak came to a Metro Washington Council meeting earlier this year to ask for volunteers to help canvass 7-11 stores as part of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee's (FLOC) campaign to boycott VUSE e-cigarettes, I immediately jumped up to volunteer. The campaign is pushing Reynolds Tobacco to allow their migrant workers the right to join a union and improve working conditions across the supply chain. I went to the 7-11 where I grew up, which is owned by Abe, who’s been ringing up my Slurpees since I was a little kid. I told Abe about the campaign and he told me that his contract with 7-11 corporate doesn’t allow him to discuss the products on his shelves with anyone, but that I should talk to the 7-11 Franchisee Owners Association (FOA). The owners association is like a union, which helps franchisee owners negotiate their contracts and disputes with corporate. Communication began between the president of the FOA and FLOC president Baldemar Velasquez, and the FOA not only offered valuable insight into 7-11 corporate's relationship with the tobacco industry, they invited president Velasquez to present to the FOA board. The FOA says that they want to help and have given suggestions on how to pitch to corporate and FLOC is drafting a new letter for the Franchisees to sign on to. FLOC still needs volunteers to canvass the remaining 7-11s, especially in DC; email Michael Szpak at [email protected]. If we all go visit the friendly face at our local 7-11, we can wrap this campaign up in a jiffy. Or should I say in a Slurpee? Kathleen Moors (at right, holding sign, in photo) is a shop steward at IUOE Local 99. Got a union story? Tell us about it: email [email protected] “Military veterans have unique skills, experience, and qualifications that are invaluable to today's workforce, including teamwork and leadership skills, the proven ability to learn quickly, a strong work ethic, dedication, and the ability to work under pressure.” Yoo is an American businesswoman Clowns at work: click here to check out the latest Labor History Today podcast. By definition, clowns are not to be taken seriously; their job is to clown around. Mike Funt talks about the work of clowns. Plus: Julie Greene on the Labor and Working-Class History Association, whose conference is coming up May 30-June 1. The U.S. Supreme Court declares the Depression-era National Industrial Recovery Act to be unconstitutional, about a month before it was set to expire - 1935 DASH bus operators and members of Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 689 (ATU Local 689) last week voted to approve their contract with Alexandria’s DASH transit company. The vote was unanimous with 111 DASH Operators voting in favor of the contract. Voting was conducted by secret ballot and had 79% turnout. This is the first time in its 35-year history that DASH workers will have a union contract.
The newly approved contract will extend through a four-year term and, says the union, "includes impressive pay increases." DASH operators will now be able to reach top pay of $34.72 per hour after only five years of service. The contract also includes pay increases for 2020, 2021, and 2022. The contract provides workers with sick leave, vacation time, and holiday pay. The contract covers all full-time and regular part-time employees, representing around 130 workers. The contract will go into effect on July 1st, but pay increases are going into effect immediately on May 26th. |