With chants of “what would Cesar do?” teachers from the only unionized charter school in DC took to the streets last week to protest what they say is irresponsible spending by the school. Chavez Prep Middle is paying millions to a private consulting firm at the same time core classroom positions are left unfilled. The teachers voted to unionize in June, and are in the midst of negotiating a new contract.
And over at GW university, more than 20 graduate and undergraduate students sat in at Rice Hall Thursday morning to press administrators to meet with organizers aiming to start a graduate student union. The sit-in was part of a push to demand that officials drop their opposition to a graduate union that students say would grant them more affordable health care and better pay.

On today’s Labor Calendar, a two-and-a-half day Women’s Leadership Skills Conference – hosted by the Coalition of Labor Union Women -- starts today at the Tommy Douglas Conference Center;
Complete details at dclabor.org, click on Calendar.

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1927, a deadly explosion at the Everettville mine in Everettville, West Virginia, killed 109 miners, many of whom lie in unmarked graves to this day.  

Today’s labor quote is by Mary Harris “”Mother” Jones, dubbed “the miner’s angel,” who said:
“Life comes to the miners out of their deaths, and death out of their lives.” 
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What do Virginia wireless workers, Maryland administrative assistants, Harvard grad students and JetBlue flight attendants have in common? They were all part of last week’s historic organizing surge, as more than 10,000 workers joined unions.
The JetBlue flight attendants and Harvard grad students -- with about 5,000 each -- comprised the bulk of the wins, voting respectively to join the Transport Workers and the Auto Workers.
Local efforts contributed as well, with six Cricket Wireless workers joining CWA 2222 and over 100 administrative employees working for a Montgomery County contractor filing for an election last week with UFCW 1994 MCGEO.
Other locals, including OPEIU 2, report ongoing organizing campaigns as well. These local efforts buttress a resurgent national labor movement that has captured national headlines as teachers across the country have staged massive strikes.

On this weekend’s Labor Calendar, if you can’t wait for the annual DC Labor FilmFest to start next week, get yourself to the AFI Silver Theater this Sunday afternoon for “Who's in the Money? Warner Brothers' Musicals of 1933” where they’ll be screening “42ND STREET,” “GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933” and “FOOTLIGHT PARADE”;
Complete details at dclabor.org, click on Calendar.

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1953, President Dwight Eisenhower signed Executive Order 10450: Security Requirements for Government Employment. The order listed “sexual perversion” as a condition for firing a federal employee and for denying employment to potential applicants.

Today’s labor quote is from James Oppenheim’s poem “Bread and Roses” published on this date in 1946 in the IWW newspaper “Industrial Solidarity” and sung here by Bronwen Lewis in the film “Pride”:
As we go marching, marching
In the beauty of the day
A million darkened kitchens
A thousand mill lofts grey
Are touched with all the radiance
That a sudden sun discloses
For the people hear us singing
Bread and roses, bread and roses

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Hosted by Chris Garlock, and Ed Smith
 
Listen live on WPFW 89.3FM or online. CALL IN at 202-588-0893.
Your Rights At Work is also available as a podcast! Just search for Union City Radio on iTunes, Stitcher, OverCast or wherever you get your podcasts; subscribe and you’ll get our shows right on your phone! 
 
Guests:
David Stephen, ATU 689: Latest on ongoing transit worker issues.
Ray Lee, UFCW 1994/MCGEO Organizing Coordinator: Local organizing helps lift labor to historic week: What do Virginia wireless workers, Maryland administrative assistants, Harvard grad students and JetBlue flight attendants have in common? They were all part of last week’s historic organizing surge, as more than 10,000 workers joined unions.
Will Attig, Union Veterans Council Executive Director: VA worker issues/rights – including privatization -- and VA nominee Ronny L. Jackson’s lack of job qualifications.

MUSIC:
Tony Babino - L'Internationale (swing jazz version)
Coco Briaval L'Internationale
"Workers of the World May Day Special" PSA

CREDITS: Produced by Pete Pocock and Chris Bangert-Drowns; engineered by Mandela; 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. 

In response to the growing list of scandals under Scott Pruitt’s watch, the American Federation of Government Employees hosted a noontime rally yesterday outside EPA headquarters.
“Since becoming Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency,” said AFGE, “Scott Pruitt has worked to dismantle the agency, silence workers, and enrich himself and private corporations.”
(audio clip) Chant:
I don’t know what you’ve been told
EPA will not fold
It’s our duty to serve and protect
We won’t stand for no neglect

On today’s Labor Calendar,
Our guests on Your Rights at Work here on WPFW starting at 2pm are David Stephen from transit workers local 689 and Will Fischer at VoteVets.
Tonight at 6:30 catch a screening of Marx Reloaded at the Goethe Institute;
also at 6:30, there's a Ward 7 Town Hall on DC’s high water bills (Ward 7)
Complete details at dclabor.org, click on Calendar.

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1944, the U.S. Army seized the Chicago headquarters of the unionized Montgomery Ward department store after management defied the National Labor Relations Board.
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Today’s labor quote is by Daniel Webster, Congressman, Senator and Secretary of State, who said:
“Labor is the great producer of wealth: it moves all other causes.”

Union City Radio is supported by UnionPlus, which provides unique products and discounts for working families. Check them out at unionplus.org!