A major march and rally to save local Giant Food grocery stores is scheduled for today at 11 am. Hundreds of local grocery workers and their supporters are expected to turn out. Eight Giant Food grocery stores in the region are slated for potential sale as the result of a merger between the European-based parent companies of Giant Food and Food Lion. “Hundreds of jobs and the future of our community are at stake,” says UFCW Local 400. “We can’t let a corporate merger in Europe take away good jobs and quality shopping options here at home.” The rally starts at Local 400's headquarters in Landover, Maryland and will then march to nearby Giant Food headquarters.
On today's labor calendar, Verizon strike picket lines continue daily throughout the metro Washington area; go to dclabor.org and click on calendar for the latest list of locations and times. The DC LaborFest continues today with a free IBEW MUSEUM TOUR at noon and a screening of "99 HOMES" tonight at 7:15 at AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring, MD. Ramin Bahrani’s searing moral thriller is a bitter examination of One Percent corruption starring Andrew Garfield and Michael Shannon. Complete details at dclabor.org, click on Calendar. Here’s today’s labor history: On this date in 1958, the Laundry & Dry Cleaning International Union was granted a charter by the AFL-CIO. In 2008, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided the Agriprocessors slaughterhouse and meat packing plant in Postville, Iowa, arresting nearly 400 immigrant workers. Some 300 were convicted on document fraud charges. The raid was the largest ever until that date. Several employees and lower and mid-level managers were convicted on various charges, but not the owner—although he later was jailed for bank fraud and related crimes. Today’s labor quote is by Robert F. Kennedy “Our attitude towards immigration reflects our faith in the American ideal. We have always believed it possible for men and women who start at the bottom to rise as far as the talent and energy allow. Neither race nor place of birth should affect their chances.”
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Less than an hour before UFCW Local 400's contract extension expired at midnight last Saturday, supermarket giant Kroger attempted to force UFCW Local 400 to accept what the union says was "an awful agreement that would abandon retirees and provide only slight wage increases over the next four years." Local 400 called the proposal "a slap in the face from a company that makes billions each year off of our hard work," and voted unanimously to reject the offer. "Our hard work has built this company into the largest traditional grocer in the United States," said Local 400. "We deserve to share in the success we have built and we won’t accept paltry wage increases from a company that makes more than $2 billion a year in profits." Local 400 will be visiting stores this week, talking to customers, elected officials and community allies, saying that "Sticking together is the only way we can get a better deal."
In today's labor calendar, Verizon strike picket lines continue daily throughout the metro Washington area; go to dclabor.org and click on calendar for the latest list of locations and times. The DC LaborFest continues tonight with a concert by JOE UEHLEIN, along with STEVE & PETER JONES, which includes a live simulcast on WPFW from 5-6pm and then a concert from 6-8p, both at the Takoma Busboys and Poets, where we hope you'll join us for live radio and live labor music! And at 5pm this afternoon, the AFL-CIO hosts a discussion about Brazilian workers and their defense of democracy in that country. Complete details atdclabor.org, click on Calendar. Here’s today’s labor history: On this date in 1869, thanks to an army of thousands of Chinese and Irish immigrants, who laid 2,000 miles of track, the nation’s first transcontinental railway line was finished by the joining of the Union Pacific and Central Pacific lines at Promontory Point, Utah. In 1898, U.S. and Canadian workers formed the Western Labor Union, which favored industrial organization and independent labor party politics. And in 2005, a federal bankruptcy judge permitted United Airlines to legally abandon responsibility for pensions covering 120,000 employees. Today’s labor quote is by Sigmund Freud "The danger of the past was that men became slaves. The danger of the future is that men may become robots." After months of advocacy with the Committee on Business, Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, a coalition of unemployed workers, union representatives, and advocates returned to the D.C. City Council last week to demand quick passage of legislation to increase unemployment insurance benefits. “Being unemployed is a terrible position to be in because it sends you into a state of fear and alarm once you realize you have no income to depend on and you are one step from being homeless,” testified DC resident Vivian Mercer.
“We urge this Council to strongly consider increasing the maximum weekly benefit amount to modernize the UI program,” testified Carlos Jimenez, Executive Director of the Metro Washington Council. “We need to do everything we can to ensure that there is increased stability for workers and the local economy.” The Metro Council’s Claimant Advocacy Program has worked closely with allies to push for an increase in unemployment benefits; DC’s $359-dollar maximum weekly benefit is one of the lowest in the nation. “I hope DC will raise benefits to help people like me,” testified Ward 5 resident Druzilla Green. “We have to find a way for people to have dignity and provide for their families while they are looking for employment.” On today’s labor calendar, Verizon strike pickets continue throughout the metro area; get complete details at dclabor.org; click on calendar. The DC LaborFest continues tonight with a screening of “Sherpa” at 7:15 pm at the AFI Silver Theatre. The film reveals the lives and struggles of the Himalayan locals who do most of the heavy lifting on Mount Everest. Full details at dclabor.org; click on LaborFest. Here’s today’s labor history: On this date in 1907, legendary Western Federation of Miners leader William “Big Bill” Haywood went on trial for murder in the bombing death of former Idaho governor Frank Steunenberg, who had brutally suppressed the state’s miners. Haywood ultimately was declared innocent. In 1907, Japanese workers struck at Oahu, Hawaii’s Aiea Plantation, demanding the same pay as Portuguese and Puerto Rican workers. Ultimately 7,000 workers and their families remained out until August, when the strike was broken. In 1937, Hollywood studio mogul Louis B. Mayer recognized the Screen Actors Guild. SAG leaders reportedly were bluffing when they told Mayer that 99 percent of all actors would walk out the next morning unless he dealt with the union. Some 5,000 actors attended a victory gathering the following day and SAG membership immediately increased 400 percent. Today’s labor quote is by Big Bill Haywood “If one man has a dollar he didn't work for, some other man worked for a dollar he didn't get.” Big Bill Haywood, who also said, “Tonight I am going to speak on the class struggle and I am going to make it so plain that even a lawyer can understand it. This week's guests: Carlos Jimenez, Executive Director, Metro Washington Council: latest on the Verizon strike and today’s National Day of Action. Chris Bangert-Drowns, organizer with the Student Labor Action Project on UMD's College Park campus, on their campaign to force the University to raise the campus minimum wage to match that of Prince George's County; and Allison Burket, Unite Here Local 23, on the recent tentative agreement with IL Creations for federal buildings.
Labor song of the week: “Which side are you on?” Pete Seeger (Posted on CWA 2108’s Facebook page this week) |
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