On May 2, workers at the Marriott Baltimore Waterfront voted for union representation, “But Marriott keeps fighting its workers and their union,” reports UNITE HERE Local 7. Since the election, the union says, Marriott has fired union supporters and is not moving quickly to reach a first contact. The Marriott workers have called for a picket line this Saturday; see the flyer here or Calendar above for details. More than 85,000 Kaiser Permanente workers – including just over 5,000 in the metro DC area -- are making preparations for a national strike this fall after contract talks between the workers and the giant, non-profit healthcare corporation broke off recently without an agreement. U.S. Sens. Kamala Harris, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and former U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke recently tweeted support for Kaiser workers, who will begin voting in late July to authorize an unfair labor practice strike beginning in October. “Labor’s partnership with Kaiser Permanente built its unprecedented wealth,” said Linda Bridges, Secretary Treasurer at OPEIU Local 2, which represents the Kaiser workers in Maryland, Virginia, and DC. Kaiser reported $9 billion in profits since January 2017, sits on $31.5 billion in reserves, and paid 36 of its executives more than $1 million in 2017, including the CEO, who is paid at least $16 million a year. “There is no reason we should be paying more for healthcare or ushering in two-tier wages and eliminating defined benefit pensions at this unprecedented time of financial growth,” said Bridges, adding that “Our members have said enough is enough. The Coalition of Kaiser Union are committed, united and strong. We know we are standing on the contract our union sisters and brothers built for us, and we will fight for those who come after us.” In Hawaii, California, Oregon, Washington, and Colorado the Kaiser workers are represented by IFPTE, OPEIU, SEIU and UWH. During the 1877 Great Railroad Strike (see Labor History, below), strikers in Pittsburgh told National Guard troops: "We will have bread or blood. We will wade up to our waists in blood before we leave." graphic courtesy LibComm.org Why SF wants to "Paint It Black" Click here to check out the latest Labor History Today podcast. On this week’s show: Robert Cherney on the genesis of the San Francisco Board of Education’s decision to paint over New Deal murals. Eleanor Mahoney’s new feature on labor landmarks. July 26 In Chicago, 30 workers are killed by federal troops, more than 100 wounded at the "Battle of the Viaduct" during the Great Railroad Strike - 1877 President Grover Cleveland appoints a United States Strike Committee to investigate the causes of the Pullman strike and the subsequent strike by the American Railway Union. Later that year the commission issues its report, absolving the strikers and blaming Pullman and the railroads for the conflict - 1894 Battle of Mucklow, W.Va. in coal strike. An estimated 100,000 shots were fired; 12 miners and four guards were killed - 1912 President Truman issues Executive Order 9981, directing equality of opportunity in armed forces - 1948 The Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) took effect today. It requires employers to offer reasonable accommodations to qualified disabled employees and bans discrimination against such workers - 1992 July 27 William Sylvis, founder of the National Labor Union, died - 1869 July 28 Women shoemakers in Lynn, Mass. create Daughters of St. Crispin, demand pay equal to that of men - 1869 Harry Bridges is born in Australia. He came to America as a sailor at age 19 and went on to help form and lead the militant International Longshore and Warehouse Union for more than 40 years - 1901 A strike by Paterson, N.J. silk workers for an eight-hour day, improved working conditions ends after six months, with the workers’ demands unmet. During the course of the strike, approximately 1,800 strikers were arrested, including Wobblie leaders Big Bill Haywood and Elizabeth Gurley Flynn - 1913 Federal troops burn the shantytown built near the U.S. Capitol by thousands of unemployed WWI veterans, camping there to demand a bonus they had been promised but never received - 1932 Nine miners are rescued in Sommerset, Pa. after being trapped for 77 hours 240 feet underground in the flooded Quecreek Mine - 2002 |