For the tens of thousands of unionists participating in the massive September 21 climate change march in New York City, the campaign to curb global warming is as important as the campaign for worker rights. Indeed, for many of the most-exploited people, from poor and minority communities and nations, who led the 400,000-person throng, the two go together, since the same corporate polluters who poison their air and their water are the ones who exploit their labor. Union leaders speaking at the march and afterwards repeatedly made that point. On March 7, 1965, more than 500 marchers peacefully demonstrating the need for the passage of the Voting Rights Act were met on the Edmund Pettus Bridge by police and dogs and beaten so badly that the day became known as Bloody Sunday. The APRI Greater Washington DC Chapter is organizing a bus to Selma to participate in 50th anniversary of this event. Trip includes deluxe motor coach, breakfast & dinner (Fri-Sat-Sun), Civil Rights Museum tour, lodging, reenactment of the march on Sunday, March 8. Price per person $480 double occupancy; $150 single supplement. Non-refundable deposit $150; balance due by January 5, 2015. Email Wanda Shelton-Martin at [email protected] or call 202-550-0522 The District of Columbia Nurses Association (DCNA) has appointed Walakewon Blegay, Esq., to the position of Staff Attorney/Labor Specialist. Blegay is a graduate of the American University Washington School of Law and previously worked for the National Labor Relations Board as an Attorney Advisor. DCNA is a labor organization representing approximately 2000 registered nurses and other health care professionals in the District of Columbia. Workers continue to be sickened at a Swazi textile factory where dozens of workers required hospitalization earlier this month after the plant began using the dangerous chemical butyl acetate to clean clothing stains. The workers, who went to the hospital at their own expense, reported chest pains, severe headaches, vomiting and bleeding, and some collapsed. Read more at the Solidarity Center. |