This week’s Labor History Today podcast: Shootout in Matewan; General strike in KC. Last week’s show: Passaic textile strike & LAWCHA preview
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. Among other things, the Act protected collective bargaining rights for unions - 1935 DC workers notched another victory against wage theft on Monday when a judge ruled that DC's Department of Employment Services (DOES) must provide key information. “Laws are only as good as the enforcement that makes sure all employers actually play by the rules,” said DC Jobs with Justice Executive Director Elizabeth Falcon. While employers are required to make workers whole if tips do not reach an average hourly rate of $15, “No one could tell if that was really happening,” said Falcon. DOES has never provided this information to the DC City Council or the public and when DC JWJ, Metro DSA and lawyers from MurphyAnderson PLLC managed to get wage information from DOES by using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), it was incomplete and disorganized, making it impossible to see if employers were really paying the full minimum wage. But on Monday, a judge sided with DC JWJ and their partners, requiring DOES to provide the comprehensive information as requested. “This data is about accountability,” Falcon said.
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DC Labor FilmFest: 20 Years of Great Labor Films! Click here for tickets. All films available now (through June 6): WORK SONGS * THE LUNCHROOM * IDA B. WELLS: A PASSION FOR JUSTICE * MISS MARX * THE CHAMBERMAID * THE WHISTLE AT EATON FALLS * NASRIN * THE NEW DEAL FOR ARTISTS Union City Radio: 7:15am daily WPFW-FM 89.3 FM; click here to hear today's report "Wednesdays with Warner": Wed, May 26, 8:15am – 8:45am Windmill Hill Park, 500 S. Lee St., Alexandria VA (map) Tenth weekly gathering to urge Senator Warner to join the rest of the Democrats in Congress in support of worker rights. Organizing for Social and Political Empowerment: Wed, May 26, 1pm – 5pm Half-day Zoom conference sponsored by The American Prospect; watch the livestream HERE. Fairfax County Dems Labor Caucus: Wed, May 26, 7pm – 8pm Special meeting of the FCDC Labor Caucus, where we will be joined by members of the Arts Union Caucus, will focus on the arts unions -- stagehands, costume designers, ticket sellers, actors, musicians -- who are being shut out of the new Capital One Hall at Tysons. The 15th Annual Northeast Shoot For A Cure Charity Sporting Clays Shoot is set to take place in Queenstown, MD on Wednesday, June 16th. Hosted by UFCW Locals 27 and 400 -- and sponsored by American Income Life -- the event benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Individual Shooter registration of $175 Includes ammunition, targets, hat, knife and lunch; participating organizations are urged to form teams of four. Click here for registration form; for more info contact Mark Gagliardi at 925-698-0719 or email [email protected]
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