NOTE: there were technical problems with the archive file for this show; we'll get it posted as soon as we can get a usable file. Hosts: Chris Garlock and Ed Smith; JOIN US AT 202-588-0893 On today’s show: David Dzidzienyo, Political & Legislative Affairs Director for the Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO, on the DC budget, and a report from the WMATA board meeting today. Labor Song: Alicia Keys - Superwoman CREDITS: Produced by Peter Pocock and Sid Dawson, engineered by Mike Nasella and Robin Smith; Union City Radio is supported by UnionPlus. UnionPlus is committed to improving the quality of life of working families. Find out more at unionplus.org. And we’re supported by you, our listeners: call 202-588-9739 or 1-800-222-9739 or pledge online at wpfwfm.org. If you miss our live show – or want to hear a past show – Your Rights At Work is now available as a podcast! Just search for Union City Radio on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts; subscribe and you’ll get our shows right on your phone! photo by Sid Dawson
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On a clear, sunny day last September, school bus driver Renita Smith – a member of ACE-AFSCME Local 2250 -- was driving her after-school bus route in College Park when the instrument panel suddenly started beeping.
Just as Renita was getting ready to call the problem in to her supervisor, she smelled smoke. She immediately pulled over, seeing flames in her rearview mirror. As the fire intensified, Renita led all 20 children safely off the bus. Then, she went back onto the bus — its windows melting around her — checking every aisle for a sleeping child, making sure all of them had gotten off. “I knew I had to go back on the bus to make sure I got all my babies,” she said. That’s the “never quit” spirit that AFSCME members bring to their jobs every day, whether they’re bus drivers, first responders or other public service workers. And they do it without expectation of special recognition. “Serving my community means that you’re not being selfish,” says Renita. “You’re thinking of how to do something for others and not expect anything in return.” On today's labor calendar, transit workers and their allies will flyer against Metro rate hikes and service cutbacks, from 7-9a at the Silver Spring Metro station and then from 4:30 to 6:30 pm at the Union Station Metro station. For complete details and all the latest local labor calendar listings, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar. Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 1886, Mark Twain, a lifelong member of the International Typographical Union (now part of CWA), spoke in Hartford, Connecticut, extolling the Knights of Labor’s commitment to fair treatment of all workers, regardless of race or gender. In 1990, a 32-day lockout of major league baseball players ended with an agreement to raise the minimum league salary and to study revenue-sharing between owners and players. And in 1998, a bitter six-and-a-half-year UAW strike at Caterpillar ended. The strike and settlement, which included a two-tier wage system and other concessions, deeply divided the union. Today’s labor quote is by Mark Twain “When all the bricklayers, and all the machinists, and all the miners, and blacksmiths, and printers, and hod-carriers, and stevedores, and house-painters, and brakemen, and engineers, and conductors, and factory hands, and horse-car drivers, and all the shop-girls, and all the sewing-women, and all the telegraph operators; in a word all the myriads of toilers in whom is slumbering the reality of that thing which you call Power...when these rise, call the vast spectacle by any deluding name that will please your ear, but the fact remains a Nation has risen.” Union City Radio is supported by UnionPlus, which is committed to improving the quality of life for all working families; find out more at unionplus.org. Leaders representing local businesses, labor and immigrant rights groups gathered in front of the White House yesterday morning to announce May Day plans for the largest mobilization of immigrants and supporters since the Trump election, calling for an end to the Trump administration mass deportation strategy.
Channeling momentum from recent “day without an immigrant” events, thousands of diverse groups of supporters are expected to hold events in cities nationwide while local groups march to the White House. On May 1 – celebrated internationally as a labor holiday -- many local businesses will close their doors and join a broad coalition of labor, community and religious allies for a rally and march to Lafayette Park in front of the White House. “Trump has awoken a sleeping giant that will be at his doorstep on May 1st to let him know that we will not tolerate his bigotry and un-American agenda,” said 32BJ SEIU Vice President Jaime Contreras. On today's labor calendar, celebrate Women’s History Month tonight at the Takoma Park Busboys and Poets, where local labor activists will bring the history of the struggles of women workers to life in “We Were There,” depicting our sisters' struggles from abolitionist Sojourner Truth, fighting for women's rights to Dolores Huerta fighting on behalf of the farmworkers of today. The program is free and starts at 6pm. There’s also more flyering against rate hikes on Metro, from 7-9am at the L’Enfant station and then again from 4:30 to 6:30pm at the Pentagon station. For complete details and all the latest local labor calendar listings, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar. Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 1853, the American Labor Union was founded. Today’s labor quote is by Bev Grant We were there in the factories We were there in the mills We were there in the mines and came home to fix the meals We were there on the picket line We raised our voices loud It makes me proud just knowing we were there. Singer Bev Grant, from her song “We Were There” Union City Radio is supported by UnionPlus, which is committed to improving the quality of life for all working families; find out more at unionplus.org. Some 200 women union leaders from around the globe gathered last week in New York City to strategize on achieving gender equality on the job--including ending gender-based violence at work.
The Solidarity Center, the AFL-CIO and partners held the events in conjunction with the meeting of the United Nations Committee on the Status of Women. “We cannot wait for men to help us. We women have to do it," said Sophorn Yang, a garment worker union organizer from Cambodia. On today's labor calendar, there’s more flyering against rate hikes on Metro, from 7-9am at the Bethesda Metro station and then again from 4:30 to 6:30pm at the Metro Center station. Tonight at 6:30 get all the latest local labor news at the monthly meeting of the Metro Washington AFL-CIO, which meets at the AFL-CIO at 16th and I. For complete details and all the latest local labor calendar listings, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar. Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 1865, Michigan authorized the formation of workers’ cooperatives. Thirteen were formed in the state over a 25-year period. Labor reform organizations were advocating "cooperation" over "competitive" capitalism following the Civil War and several thousand cooperatives opened for business across the country during this era. Participants envisioned a world free from conflict where workers would receive the full value of their labor and freely exercise democratic citizenship in the political and economic realms. Today’s labor quote is by Harry Caudill Lawyer, historian, activist, and legislator Harry Caudill, who said “A foolish American myth has it that rich and super-rich are entrepreneurial Daniel Boones who decry the restraints of government and, as rugged individualists, fare forth to wrest fame and fortune from other like-minded souls. With some notable exceptions, nothing could be farther from the truth. In the main, the rich are the clever and adroit who understand the purposes and functions of government and bend it to their purposes. Government becomes a device, which they use to expand their fortunes, then hide behind to make certain their gains remain intact.” Union City Radio is supported by UnionPlus. UnionPlus is committed to improving the quality of life of working families; find out more at unionplus.org. |
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