 Trash haulers serving routes across Montgomery County and southern Howard County went on strike at 5 a.m. last Friday. They called on their employer, Unity Disposal, to negotiate a fair contract. “We work hard and we provide a vital public service,” said Unity driver Martin Puesan. “Yet too many of us struggle to provide for our families on what Unity pays us. These should not be poverty-level jobs.”
 Nearly 2,000 nurses at Washington Hospital Center who staged a 24-hour strike yesterday to demand that MedStar address patient safety at the hospital now face a 10-day lockout by the hospital. The nurses – joined by local labor, community and religious allies -- picketed and rallied Monday in the freezing rain, saying they’re fed up with being ignored, and insisting that patients’ lives are at stake. The nurses plan to return to work this morning, even though the hospital has threatened to lock them out for 10 days, “essentially punishing union members for exercising their rights and advocating for their patients,” nurses said...
- report/photos by Chris Garlock  “Be a labor culture angel,” urges the Labor Heritage Foundation’s Elise Bryant. “Before we sing ‘Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!’ let us sing ‘share the dough, share the dough, share the dough!’" You can still get your labor culture wings -- and tax deduction -- for 2014 by clicking here now. “Thank you: we wish you a happy holiday and an organized New Year!"
photo: Elise Bryant (l) and Fran Owens with LHF’s “Supporter of the Year,” Bricklayers President Jim Boland.  Former food store clerk Marc Perrone (right) has been elected President of the 1.3-million member United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW). UFCW Local 400 President Mark Federici thanked outgoing UFCW President Joe Hansen “for his years of service and his leadership.” Federici extended congratulations to the UFCW’s new leadership, saying “I know Brother Perrone will do everything he can to champion the working families represented by the UFCW. Local 400 wishes him all the best as he leads us into the future.”
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