The People’s Republic of Takoma Park is no workers’ paradise. That’s according to AFSCME Local 3399, which reports that “city management has refused to negotiate in good faith” on a contract covering Takoma Park’s trash collectors, librarians, crossing guards, gardeners, police dispatchers, and recreation and arts programs organizers. At issue are not just wages and hazard pay for frontline workers who the union says “risked their health and safety to keep city services running during the pandemic,” but a personal day or holiday pay for all city employees “because the City Council refused to celebrate the Juneteenth federal holiday on June 18, 2021.” The union is urging anyone concerned – whether you’re a TP resident or not – to email the City Council at [email protected] and City Manager Jamal Fox at [email protected]. report/photo by Chris Garlock Union leaders and labor rights activists are demanding the Bangladesh government secure jobs for tannery workers before taking punitive action against the industry for its role in environmental pollution. "Effective measures should be taken to protect the tannery industry and workers by bringing those responsible for the waste management crisis and pollution of the environment due to their negligence and irresponsibility,” says Tannery Workers Union (TWU) President Abul Kalam Azad. Find out more at Solidarity Center.
Did you know that when you do your Halloween shopping, you can use the power of your paycheck to support good jobs that pay well and respect the rights of working people? Here’s a handy guide to the union-made treats that will make your holiday not only fun, but will help working people, too.
The 2020 Evening with Labor, rescheduled for November 12, honors those who have gone above and beyond to support and fight for the local labor movement. We’ll be featuring them this week in Union City. This Friday, October 29, is the deadline to reserve your ticket(s) and/or ad in the EWL program book; Get your ad and ticket orders in now! For ticket credit card purchases, CLICK HERE. For check payments or to avoid additional online fees, register using this google form. Note that an option to attend virtually is available this year.
Organizing Award ATU 689 Local 689 organized DASH after over a decade of work, fighting back against company opposition and their union busting law firm. The campaign culminated in an almost unanimous strike vote that won the workers a contract that took them from the lowest paid fixed route operators in the region to having the highest top salaries along with an incredible 401(k). Local 689 then took its efforts to Cinder Bed Road, a recently privatized MetroBus garage, and a strike there won a contract with Transdev that raised pay, healthcare benefits, and improved working conditions, as well as an agreement with WMATA to bring the workers in-house as full WMATA employees. IUOE 99 Local 99 won 14 major organizing victories in 2019, many at high-profile Top Secret government sites. Local 99 also won three hotel campaigns, one of which (the JD Marriott) included a non-stop bosses' campaign that featured 27 captive audience meetings in 31 days. They also won important campaigns at Audi Field, Andrews Airforce Base, the United States Department of the Interior, The Office of Personnel Management, and several large commercial sites. |