Nominations close FRIDAY for the 2024 Evening with Labor AwardsNominations close this Friday, March 8 for the 2024 Evening with Labor Awards. If you know an individual or organization in the labor movement who went above and beyond last year, nominate them for this year's awards: Metro Washington Council's Committee on Political Education (COPE) meetings for three jurisdictions will take place later this month. Register now to join the meeting near you:
Hiring Hall: Union jobs in DC and Maryland
Share your newsGot an action, event, open position, or other update you want labor leaders in DC and Maryland to know about? Submit news items to [email protected].
Fairfax Connector bus service will remain suspended through Monday as workers continue to strike. “The Union and Transdev were not able to come to a resolution today," said ATU Local 689 spokesperson Ben Lynn on Sunday. "Further discussion on key economic issues is needed and the two sides are expected to meet again on this Tuesday, March 5. Transdev has continued to repeat an outlandish and inflated dollar amount for the compensation package offered to workers without providing the union with the complete financial data and calculations." Read more » More on Fairfax Connector workers' fight:
Mendelson questions DCPS for scheduling 5 AM bargaining session with Washington Teachers' Union
Nominations close THIS FRIDAY for the 2024 Evening with Labor AwardsNominations close this Friday, March 8 for the 2024 Evening with Labor Awards. If you know an individual or organization in the labor movement who went above and beyond last year, nominate them for this year's awards: Actions + EventsMetro Washington Council's Committee on Political Education (COPE) meetings are a chance for members of our Affiliate unions to learn about our rights and what's happening in the local labor movement. SAVE THE DATE! COPE meetings for three jurisdictions will take place later this month. Mark your calendar to join the meeting near you:
Evening with Labor 2024Registration is now open for Evening with Labor 2024! Join Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO and allies from across the region for this annual celebration of the powerful labor movement in DC and Maryland and our victories, teamwork, and outstanding leaders of the past year. Sponsor this year's celebration: Around the RegionTop left: Members of IBEW Local 26 celebrated at the EWMC Solidarity Gala. Top right: AFGE District 14 hosted their 2024 Women's Conference, which focused on building a union that is all about serving and supporting one another. Bottom left: Today marks the first day of Women in Construction Week. This week we salute the skilled tradeswomen at all our Affiliate partners in the construction trades. Bottom right: March is Women's History Month, and all month long we celebrate the contributions women have made throughout history to today's labor movement. Share your newsGot an action, event, open position, or other update you want labor leaders in DC and Maryland to know about? Submit news items to [email protected].
Council Delegates choose officer of powerful hotel union local to lead region-wide coalition FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 28, 2024 CONTACT: [email protected] Washington DC — Yesterday Delegates to the Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO, voted to elect Samuel Epps, Political Director at UNITE HERE Local 25, to be the next president of the Council. The Delegates who participated in last night’s election include representatives from more than two dozen of the most active labor union locals in DC and Maryland. UNITE HERE Local 25 represents hotel workers and over the last several years, with Epps as part of its leadership, the local has won a state house majority in Virginia, a daily room cleaning law for hotel housekeeping staff in DC, and more. “Sam's leadership with UNITE HERE Local 25 is some of the most strategic and powerful organizing happening in the DC region right now,” said Greg Bowen, Executive Board Member of ATU Local 689 who has served as Metro Washington Council’s interim president since January. “With last night’s vote, Council Delegates made clear that Sam is a leader the labor movement in DC and Maryland are ready to unite behind.” “The DC region needs a united labor movement ready to fight for strong union contracts as well as policies that affect all working people,” says Epps. “That’s what the Metro Washington Council does every day and I’m honored to take on this new leadership role within that work.” Dyana Forester served as president of the Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO from 2020 until January 2024, when she stepped down to join the Administration of Governor Wes Moore. Epps has begun the transition process into this new role. ## Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO unites nearly 200 local affiliate unions who together represent more than 150,000 members in DC and Maryland. Learn more at dclabor.org.
Fairfax Connector workers' union ATU Local 689 and contractor Transdev have been in negotiations for a new contract since October, and bus operators and mechanics have been working under an expired contract since November 30, 2023. Now, they're stepping up. Fairfax Connector workers are on strike for a new contract. Today is Day 5 of the strike, and workers are outside the Fairfax Fair Oaks Marriott, where negotiations between Local 689 and Transdev are due to take place, all day today. There are two ways you can support the strikers: Write to the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and contribute to the strike fund: WAMU abruptly closes DCist, lays off 15 staffOn Friday, February 23, management at WAMU, the NPR affiliate owned by American University, abruptly shut down long-time community news outlet DCist and laid off 15 staff — including reporters who covered some of the DC's region most important issues. "These individuals are the lifeblood of our journalism," the WAMU Union, an affiliate of SAG-AFTRA, said in a social media post. "Our hearts are broken. We can’t believe we are losing our colleagues and friends." The union has asked readers and listeners across the region to email WAMU's General Manager Erika Pulley-Hayes and ask her to reverse this decision. NoVA Labor voices opposition to proposal for new Caps, Wizards arenaNorthern Virginia AFL-CIO released a public statement last week opposing a proposal to move the Washington Capitals and Wizards from downtown DC to Alexandria, VA. “Taxpayers should not make a massive investment in a project that is only going to create more low-wage jobs for local workers,” said Virginia Diamond, president of Northern Virginia AFL-CIO. Read more » Nominate a leader for the Evening with Labor 2024 AwardsDo you know an outstanding individual or organization in the labor movement who went above and beyond last year? Nominations are now open for the 2024 Evening with Labor Awards! Nominate someone for this year's awards: Don't wait — nominations close on Friday, March 8. Actions + Events
Evening with Labor 2024Registration is now open for Evening with Labor 2024! Join Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO and allies from across the region for this annual celebration of the powerful labor movement in DC and Maryland and our victories, teamwork, and outstanding leaders of the past year. Sponsor this year's celebration: Around the RegionLeft: AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler joined ATU Local 689 members with Fairfax Connector on the picket line last week. Right: Ironworkers Local 5 hosted a community event last weekend together with Forged Pathways, Progressive MD, and WPGC 95.5. |