This is Chris Garlock, with the latest labor news, updates and history from the Metro Washington Labor Council.
(audio) Let's stop shopping at Stop and Shop Stop and Shop, Stop and Shop Let's stop shopping at Stop and Shop Til the workers get their rights. That’s Ben Grosscup, singing on the picket line this weekend after 31,000 UFCW members walked off their jobs at Stop & Shop stores in New England last Thursday. The labor movement is rallying around the strike, including DC-area unions like UFCW Locals 1994 and 400, which said that it “stands in unbreakable solidarity with our sisters and brothers in New England…We have got their backs and we stand ready to assist and support them in every way possible. An attack on one of us,” said Local 400, “is an attack on all.” We’ve got a petition to “Support Stop & Shop Workers” on our website at dclabor.org. Parent company Ahold Delhaize -- a Dutch-Belgian conglomerate -- saw over $2 billion in profit last year and got a U.S. tax cut of $225 million in 2017, yet they’re demanding drastic cuts in employee health coverage and take-home pay. Get the latest local labor events at dclabor.org; click on Calendar. In today’s labor history, on this date in 2000, an estimated 20,000 global justice activists blockaded Washington, D.C., meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund. For today’s labor quote, here’s more from Ben Grosscup: Our labor built these buildings Our sweat is on the ground They can lock us in their jailhouse But won’t tear our union down Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. If you’re thinking about a spring road trip, don’t leave town without your Union Plus car rental savings! Union members save up to 25% on rental rates. Visit unionplus.org/carrental.
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After Shoppers Food & Pharmacy parent company UNFI abruptly announced plans to close all 30 Shoppers pharmacies, UFCW 400 and UFCW 27 last Thursday called the move “a frustrating situation for everyone involved,” adding that “the lack of information has only made things worse.”
With the closings scheduled to begin starting April 23, the unions said that pharmacy techs at those locations will be placed on the store’s schedule in clerk positions with no effect to their rate of pay or status. They added that although the company “continues to insist that there are ‘no immediate plans’ to close any Shoppers stores, “We have made it clear that we expect UNFI to respect the terms of our collective bargaining agreement in the event that stores are sold.” On today’s labor calendar, there’s a Construction Tax Fraud Rally today at 1:30pm at Freedom Plaza, and then at 6:30 the monthly Metro Washington Council Delegate Meeting will be held at the AFL-CIO, where AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler will swear in the Council’s new Board. Complete details, as always, at dclabor.org; click on Calendar. In today’s labor history, on this date in 1916, unionists gathered at the City Club on Plymouth Court in Chicago to form a new national union: the American Federation of Teachers. Today’s labor quote is by A. Philip Randolph, civil rights leader and founder of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, born in Crescent City, Florida on this date in 1889. A. Philip Randolph, who said: “Justice is never given; it is exacted and the struggle must be continuous for freedom is never a final fact, but a continuing evolving process to higher and higher levels of human, social, economic, political and religious relationship.” Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. If you’ve got Spring Break on your mind, fuel your getaway with a car rental discount. Union Plus gets you up to 25% off at Avis, Budget, Hertz and more. Visit unionplus.org/carrental. Laborers took to the streets yesterday after asbestos was found on a Fairfax worksite. Workers removing asbestos at the Massey Building demolition site discovered the dangerous substance outside the containment area and contacted the Laborers union, which notified local, state and federal agencies and organized yesterday’s noontime demonstration. Meanwhile, worried workers have either quit or are afraid they’ll get fired for speaking out or refusing to work in the contaminated area. For the latest area labor events, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar. In today’s labor history, on this date in 1934, the Toledo Auto-Lite strike began in Ohio, with 6,000 workers demanding union recognition and higher pay. The strike is notable for a 5-day running battle in late May between the strikers and 1,300 members of the Ohio National Guard. Known as the "Battle of Toledo," the clash left two strikers dead and more than 200 injured. The 2-month strike, a win for the workers’ union, is regarded by many labor historians as one of the nation’s three most important strikes. Today’s labor quote is from the classic labor song “Which Side Are You On?” written by Florence Reece, who was active in coal strikes in Harlan County, Kentucky, born on this date in 1900. “Come all of you good workers, Good news to you I'll tell/Of how the good old union Has come in here to dwell/Which side are you on, Tell me, which side are you on?” Performed below by Natalie Merchant. Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. If you’ve got Spring Break on your mind, fuel your getaway with a car rental discount. Union Plus gets you up to 25% off at Avis, Budget, Hertz and more. Visit unionplus.org/carrental. Workers at Vireo Health’s Maryland Medical Solutions in Hurlock, Maryland voted on March 22 to join UFCW Local 27. Vireo is a medical cannabis grower and processor. “It’s exciting to know that we will have job security and will have the power to bargain for improvements to our jobs,” said Blaine Hill. UFCW Local 27 president Jason Chorpenning said the Vireo workers “have empowered themselves with the tools for a better future,” adding that “We look forward to negotiating the best contract that we can for the workers and their families.”
On today’s labor calendar, the American Federation of Teachers hosts a panel on “Teaching: Art, Craft, or Science?” today from noon to 2pm at AFT headquarters on New Jersey Avenue; for details and to RSVP, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar. In today’s labor history, on this date in 1980, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued regulations prohibiting sexual harassment of workers by supervisors in the workplace. Today’s labor quote is by Jackie Robinson, the first Black ballplayer hired by a major league team, who played his first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbetts Field on this date in 1947. Jackie Robinson, who said: “In my opinion, baseball is as big a business as anything there is. It has to be a business, the way it is conducted.” Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. If you’ve got Spring Break on your mind, fuel your getaway with a car rental discount. Union Plus gets you up to 25% off at Avis, Budget, Hertz and more. Visit unionplus.org/carrental. |
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