Despite its reputation as one of the most prestigious medical institutions in the U.S., Johns Hopkins Hospital has a shocking record of hounding low income patients for medical debt – filing thousands of lawsuits, garnishing wages and seizing bank accounts.
That’s the findings of a new research report from the AFL-CIO, National Nurses United, and the Coalition for a Humane Hopkins. This is a national problem as well, with some 43 million Americans facing unpaid medical debt. The AFL-CIO, nurses and community activists this week called on Johns Hopkins to immediately cancel all medical debt lawsuits, stop garnishing wages of low-income patients, and increase the amount of charity care it provides for the poor. Read more on our website at dclabor.org On today’s labor calendar, the DC LaborFest is screening SORRY TO BOTHER YOU (tonight at 7:15 at the AFI in Silver Spring; complete details at dclabor.org; click on Calendar. In today’s labor history, on this date in 2004, twelve Starbucks baristas in a midtown Manhattan store joined the Industrial Workers of the World, or Wobblies. Today’s labor quote is by Jerry Wurf, born on May 18, 1919. Wurf served as president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees from 1964 to 1981. Jerry Wurf, who said: "It’s not without faults, flaws, shortcomings, but (the labor movement) is the best guarantee we have (to) preserve the right of workers to have an input into the society, that an elite or those who have money and power, don't control the society totally." 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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It’s not often that you see the AFL-CIO and the Chamber of Commerce teaming up together, but they did just that for this year’s Infrastructure Week, which comes at a time when a huge majority of voters -- 79% -- say investing in America’s infrastructure is a top priority.
Here’s what inaction is costing us: 44% of major roadways are in poor or mediocre condition, which costs each of us more than $500 every year in car repairs. More than 47,000 bridges across the country need fixing, and the six billion gallons of water lost every day because of broken infrastructure cost us more than $200 billion in lost economic activity. All told, inaction is costing Americans about $3,000 annually. That’s why businesses, workers, citizens, and elected leaders across the nation have come together this week to fight to rebuild and modernize America’s infrastructure. It’s time to tell Washington to stop delaying. Learn more at infrastructureweek.org On today’s labor calendar, tune in at 1 this afternoon for this week’s edition of Your Rights At Work and then tonight at 7, catch international recording artist Daryl Davis in a free DC LaborFest performance at the Takoma Busboys and Poets. Complete details at dclabor.org; click on Calendar. In today’s labor history, on this date in 1934, a general strike in Minneapolis backed the Teamsters, who were striking most of the city’s trucking companies. Today’s labor quote is by labor leader and peace activist A. Philip Randolph, who died on this date in 1979. Randolph was president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first Black leader on the AFL-CIO executive board, and a principal organizer of the 1963 March on Washington. A. Philip Randolph, who said: “The essence of trade unionism is social uplift. The labor movement has been the haven for the dispossessed, the despised, the neglected, the downtrodden, the poor.” 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. 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. Guests: Cecilia Behgam, key AFL-CIO researcher on Hopkins report (with NNU): “Taking Neighbors to Court-Johns Hopkins Hospital Medical Debt Lawsuits” Maricela Gomez, member of Coalition for a Humane Hopkins, MD and Phd, has been an activist in Baltimore for many years and wrote the book: Race, Class, Power and Organizing in East Baltimore. Tim Sheard, author, "One Foot in the Grave," the new Lenny Moss novel; also runs Hard Ball Press Music Daryl Davis: I'm A Boogie Man LABOR JAZZ SHOWCASE (Music): The Daryl Davis Band: Thu, May 16, 7pm – 9pm Busboys and Poets, 235 Carroll St NW, Washington, DC 20012 (map) Hour 2: Two AFL-CIO tweets that went viral earlier this week AFL-CIO “labor must seize the means of production.” AFL-CIO response to Delta union dues propaganda Guest: Mark Gruenberg, Editor, Press Associates Union News Service with the latest labor news: Infrastructure push starts, but hits roadblock: Dollars (+) Volkswagen gets NLRB to delay new UAW organizing drive at Chattanooga (+) Infrastructure advocates warn against using projects to repeat past racial, class divisions Top Labor Board staffers deal two blows to workers’ rights Music Daryl Davis: Daryl's Boogie Woogie Special thanks to everyone who came out for last Saturday’s DC Labor Walk, raising $300 for WPFW! Produced by Peter Pocock and Chris Garlock; engineered by Mike Nasella A SMART army sounds like AI-equipped soldiers but at the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation union, it’s a legion of members who volunteer in communities across the country. On April 27th, a dozen members of SMART Local 100 lent a hand to the Christmas in April Prince George’s County chapter as they fixed up more than a dozen homes for elderly county residents. “Duct work, gutter work, anything involving metal, that’s our specialty” said Tom Killeen, Local 100 Business Rep and SMART Army Coordinator. “It’s all about helping our neighbors,” he said. Your can check out photos of the SMART Army at work on our website at dclabor.org
On today’s labor calendar, a first-term city councilwoman juggles a hotly contested reelection campaign and a full-time job as a hotel housekeeper in the film COUNCILWOMAN, screening at 7:15 tonight at the AFI in Silver Spring, followed by a panel discussion with local women labor leaders. Complete details at dclabor.org; click on Calendar. In today’s labor history, on this date in 1906, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of American Federation of Labor president Samuel Gompers and other union leaders for supporting a boycott at the Buck Stove and Range Company in St. Louis, where workers were striking for a 9-hour day. A lower court had forbidden the boycott and sentenced the unionists to prison for refusing to obey the judge’s anti-boycott injunction. Today’s labor quote is by IWW songwriter T-Bone Slim, who died on this date in 1942, singing his song “The Popular Wobbly”: Well, that cop, he went wild over me And he held his gun where everyone could see He was breathing rather hard When he saw my union card They go wild, simply wild over me 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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