The best way of helping folks in Texas affected by Hurricane Harvey now is to make financial contributions to the American Red Cross, reports Community Services Agency Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy. "As we get more info we'll keep folks posted. We have a sister labor agency in Houston and the central labor council and state federation will be letting the AFL-CIO Community Services Network know what is needed." Generally in disasters, McKirchy adds, the best thing to donate is money. "Clothes, food etc take people to sort, clean, transport and distribute, while money helps support local businesses and entities get back on their feet as people buy locally once they can." Parades and picnics are a feature of many Labor Day celebrations across the country and local unionists are participating in several here in the metro area, but there are also some other cool observances, including WAMU’s Big Broadcast Labor Day Special, WPFW’s Labor Day Special "Labor's struggles, Labor's rebirth," a Bi-lingual Labor Day Mass and ATU Local 689/IBT Local 922’s Back to School Highland Community Transit Day. See below for our preview or click here for complete details. To add events, email us at [email protected] ATU Local 689/IBT Local 922 Back to School Highland Community Transit Day: Sat, September 2, 12pm – 2pm NoVA Labor’s Annual Labor Day Picnic: Sun, September 3, 12pm – 3pm (photo: 2016 NoVA picnic; photo by Joyce Putnam) WAMU’s Big Broadcast Labor Day Special: Sun, September 3, 7-11pm Union City Radio on WPFW 89.3FM: Mon, September 4, 7:15am – 7:20am WPFW’s Labor Day Special "Labor's struggles, Labor's rebirth": Mon, September 4, 9am – 12pm Labor contingent at Greenbelt Labor Day Parade: Mon, September 4, 9:00am – 12:00pm (see story below) Bi-lingual Labor Day Mass Honoring Workers and Unions: Mon, September 4, 11am – 1pm Gaithersburg Labor Day Parade & Picnic: Mon, September 4, 12pm – 4pm Charm City Labor Chorus at Greenbelt Labor Day Festival: Mon, September 4, 2pm – 3pm Help put the labor back in Labor Day this year by joining the Metro Washington Council’s contingent at the Greenbelt Labor Day Parade. The parade will be held on Monday, September 4th from 10am to noon (participants gather at 9a) and goes along Crescent Road in downtown Greenbelt. “We hope you join us to celebrate Labor Day and the incredible achievements of America's working people!” says Metro Washington Council Executive Director Carlos Jimenez. RSVP on Facebook and to find out how you and/or your union can participate, email Strategic Campaign Organizer Megan Fitzgerald at [email protected]. 9/25 golf: "The date of the golf outing is September 25th (not 9/22 as reported in our Make it a foursome at CSA’s golf tourney story)," writes Leonard C. Phillips. photo: 2016 UFCW 1994 team; photo by Chris Garlock Clean suit: "Just a small note on your asbestos worker story," writes Willie Dubas. "You are not supposed to wear clothing under your tyvek suit. It's actually a violation if you do because you would then be taking contaminated clothing home with you." Real underdog: If you really want to interview an underdog agency (Who really runs the government? 8/24) you should consider the U.S. Parole Commission," suggests Earl Bracey. "One of the smallest agency with a large public service responsibility." UC a "real connection": "The name of the organization representing the workers at the Takoma Park Co-op is most certainly the Industrial Workers of the World, not the 'International Workers of the World,'” writes Kevin McHale, NJEA in Jersey City, NJ. "That being said, I want you to know that I love getting the Union City email in my inbox. It gives me a real connection to what is happening in another city’s labor movement. I have actually forwarded the link to your post to the communications director at the New Jersey Education Association as a model of member outreach. Keep up the fight!" |