This is Chris Garlock, with the latest labor news, updates and history from the Metro Washington Labor Council.
Workers on the Bernie Sanders campaign on Friday made themselves the first presidential campaign employees in history to win union representation, as a majority signed cards joining United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400. This victory resulted from the Bernie 2020 campaign’s decision to stay neutral in the employees’ organizing drive and its agreement to recognize UFCW Local 400 when a majority of workers signed union cards. As a result, all campaign employees below the rank of deputy director are now represented by Local 400, and the bargaining unit could potentially grow to more than 1,000 members. Local 400 president Mark Federici congratulated the Bernie 2020 campaign workers for making history, adding “I also congratulate Senator Sanders for not only talking the talk but actually walking the walk when it comes to his commitment to uphold the right of every worker to bargain collectively.” On today’s labor calendar, run, don’t walk, to tonight’s Bread and Roses “We Were There” Women's History Month Special program, starting at 6pm at the Takoma Busboys and Poets. In honor of Women’s History Month, local labor activists will bring the history of the struggles of women workers to life, 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 free performance is directed by Elise Bryant and features members of the DC Labor Chorus. Complete details, as always, on our website at dclabor.org, click on Calendar. In today’s labor history, on this date in 1962, in an effort to block massive layoffs and end a strike, New York City moved to condemn and seize Fifth Avenue Coach, the largest privately owned bus company in the world. Today’s labor quote is by Dennis Mehiel, who said: “I got a bigger boat than I used to have. The problem is it was built in Italy.” Mehiel was CEO of U.S. Corrugated; he was explaining that while the Bush tax cuts made him and other wealthy Americans even richer, the cuts didn't help the American economy. Union City Radio is supported by Union Plus. The Union Plus Mortgage Program is union-owned and provides exclusive benefits for first time home buyers, union members and retirees. Visit unionplus.org/mortgage.
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This is Chris Garlock, with the latest labor news, updates and history from the Metro Washington Labor Council.
(audio) “I think it’s part of a broader shift in younger people having access to the internet and having access to more ideas and more education and seeing what the world is like right now and seeing what the status quo is like and who it’s hurting and how it’s been hurting them and what they have to look forward to.” That’s Kim Kelly, the labor columnist for Teen Vogue and a former music editor at VICE, on the latest episode of “State of the Unions,” the AFL-CIO’s podcast. Kelly shares her journey into radical political activism from humble beginnings in rural New Jersey to a platform that reaches millions. She provides insight into her experience forming a union at VICE and her desire for young people to challenge capitalism in today's economy. (audio) “I think they’re realizing...this is not cool. It ties into how you see all these Fox News or whatever scare pieces about the millennials rejecting capitalism in favor of socialism as if that’s a bad thing. Kids are hungry and smart and they have the internet and they’re going to be doing this work when we’re all old and grey. You know we’ve got to give them a little credit, but we also have to give them something to latch onto.” Check out the rest of Kim’s interview on “State of the Unions,” available wherever you get your podcasts. On today’s labor calendar, the Metro Washington Council meets tonight at 6:30 at the AFL-CIO; all are welcome and you can get complete details on our website at dclabor.org, click on Calendar. In today’s labor history, on this date in 1970, the Post Office’s first mass work stoppage in 195 years began in Brooklyn and Manhattan and spread to 210,000 of the nation’s 750,000 postal employees. Mail service was virtually paralyzed in several cities, and President Nixon declared a state of emergency. A settlement came after two weeks. Today’s labor quote is by Barack Obama, who said: “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change we seek.” Union City Radio is supported by Union Plus. The Union Plus Mortgage Program is union-owned and provides exclusive benefits for first time home buyers, union members and retirees. Visit unionplus.org/mortgage. This is Chris Garlock, with the latest labor news, updates and history from the Metro Washington Labor Council.
At Tuesday night’s meeting of the Metro Washington Council’s DC Committee on Political Education, Councilmember Elissa Silverman talked with workers and union leaders about a broad spectrum of issues, including apprenticeship and career education programs, quality health care for all DC residents, affordable housing, effective implementation of the paid leave program, and union rights. On today’s labor calendar, nurses and veterans will rally to protect veterans’ health care at 11:30 this morning at the VA headquarters at Vermont and H Street, right across from the White House. Complete details on our website at dclabor.org, click on Calendar. In today’s labor history, on this date in 1887, the Painters union was founded, growing to 7,000 tradesmen and more than 100 local unions within a year. Originally known as the Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators of America, they now go by the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. Today’s labor quote is by John T. “Jack” Elliott, founder of the Brotherhood of Painters, who said: “Single-handed we can accomplish nothing, but united, there is no power of wrong we may not openly defy.” I should note, by the way, that I’ve seen this same quote attributed to several labor leaders of the day, including William Sylvis, founder of the National Labor Union. Anyway, whoever said it, it’s a great quote. Union City Radio is supported by Union Plus. If you need a rental car this spring, look no further than Union Plus for up to 25% off car rental rates at Avis, Budget, Hertz and more. Visit unionplus.org/carrental Broadcast on WPFW 89.3FM Hosted by Chris Garlock and Ed Smith DC’s call-in show about worker rights: those you have, those you don’t, how to get them and how to use them. Guest: Hassan Kanu, Legal Editor/Reporter, Bloomberg Law; Newspaper Guild member (and part of the Guild team accepting the 2018 Organizing Award at the recent Evening with Labor) Topics: Breaking story he co-wrote on outsourcing at the NLRB; Trump labor board trying to outlaw Scabby the Rat; workers at the Anchor Beer company forming a union. Music: Gang Starr - Work Produced by Chris Garlock; engineered by Mike Nasella Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus: Standing up for union members and their families. |
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