Here’s a quick sound collage of highlights from Union City Radio segments this week…
(audio) “You walk inside the home And it's, it's the weirdest feeling in the world, you think you're walking into this like minefield, you don't know if there's little ticking time bomb everywhere. In the beginning, one of the first gas leaks that I had, it was a young couple with a child, and every time the furnace kicked on, it was just spewing out natural gas. I walk in and I'm all nervous, and the husband said, my wife just got a phone call that her father had just passed away of COVID-19 and she's on the floor crying and now the kid is out of the crib, he is screaming and he's running towards me and I'm a mom. And you know, any kid that runs towards you just kinda like want to pick up and say, Hey, it's okay. And I don't know if this child's been exposed. I don't know if I've been exposed, will, I give it to the child.  I made sure they were safe. And I went and drove to a nearby parking lot and I probably sat there for about a half hour, 45 minutes. just thinking about what's going on in this world right now? What, what is going on? It was pretty crazy.”
“We will keep the lights on in Las Vegas. Our community needs us. They need to see the big white truck.  I have to brag on my crew; 'cause we're in this together. We decided to be in this together, we're doing the long haul and it makes me pretty proud and  I'm glad that everybody's working together.”
Jessica, a utility worker in Detroit, and Shannon, who works for the gas company in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Union City Radio last week.

In today’s labor history, on this date in 1997, Rose Will Monroe, popularly known as Rosie the Riveter, died in Clarksville, Indiana. During World War Two she helped bring women into the labor force.  

Today’s labor quote is from Rosie The Riveter, recorded by the Four Vagabonds, an African-American group whose version caught on and rose on the Hit Parade:
All the day long whether rain or shine
She’s a part of the assembly line
She’s making history,
working for victory
Rosie the Riveter
Keeps a sharp lookout for sabotage
Sitting up there on the fuselage
That little frail can do more than a
male will do
Rosie the Riveter

Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. You know, we could all use a little more cash right now. If you’re buying a new home or selling your current one (or both), earn $500 cash back for every $100,000 in home value when you use the Union Plus Real Estate Rewards program. Get the details at UnionPlus.org

If you contributed during WPFW’s Spring Pledge Drive, Thank You! If not,  you can still support Union City Radio and all the great programs here on WPFW by calling 202-588-9739 or 1-800-222-9739 or pledge online at wpfwfm.org, click on Donate Now. You can also give on your phone by using WPFW's CashApp account, just search for $WPFW. Thanks very much!

Last week, the union at the Washington Post signed a contract extension. With a pandemic raging and the president ranting and the boss, Jeff Bezos, on track to become a trillionaire, why should readers care about the union? Because it protects one of America’s best newsrooms from being torn apart by some powerful egos. Check out Hamilton Nolan’s deep dive into the rich and fascinating history of the Newspaper Guild and the Washington Post in the Columbia Journalism Review; we’ve got a link to the story on our website, dclabor.org.

In today’s labor history, on this date in 2002, The Ground Zero cleanup at the site of the World Trade Center was completed three months ahead of schedule due to the heroic efforts of more than 3,000 building tradesmen & women who had worked 12 hours a day, 7 days a week for the previous 8 months.  

Today’s labor quote is by Steel Workers Organizing Committee picket line leaders at what became known as the Memorial Day Massacre, when police opened fire on striking steelworkers at Republic Steel in South Chicago on this date in 1937, killing ten and wounding more than 160. Steel Workers picket line leaders, who said
"Stand fast! Stand fast! We got our right! We got our legal rights to picket!"

Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, many families are being hit with increased financial burdens. For those struggling with their credit, the Union Plus Credit Counseling program is still operating online and over the phone. Visit unionplus.org to find out more.

Thanks to everyone who contributed during WPFW’s Spring Pledge Drive; you can support Union City Radio and all the great programs here on WPFW by calling 202-588-9739 or 1-800-222-9739 or pledge online at wpfwfm.org, click on Donate Now. You can also give on your phone by using WPFW's CashApp account, just search for $WPFW. Thanks very much!

DC Jobs with Justice is coordinating a tweetstorm today from 9am to 12 noon to lift up the needs of excluded workers. These are folks like care workers for both children and the elderly, restaurant workers and street vendors. Without cash assistance, excluded workers are at risk of homelessness and the devastating impacts of deepened poverty. Jobs with Justice and their allies are calling on the DC City Council to expand funds to support excluded workers' economic security. Retweet them @DCJWJ and use the hashtag #dontexcludeme
 
In today’s labor history, on this date in 1941, animators working for Walt Disney began what was to become a successful five-week strike for recognition of their union, the Screen Cartoonists' Guild.

Today’s labor quote is by Cesar Chavez, founder of the United Farm Workers of America, which on this date in 1996 reached agreement with Bruce Church on a contract for 450 lettuce harvesters, ending a 17-year-long boycott. The pact raised wages, provided company-paid health benefits to workers and their families, created a seniority system to deal with seasonal layoffs and recalls, and established a pesticide monitoring system. Cesar Chavez, who said
“The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people.”     

Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. Hey, we could all use a little more cash right now. If you’re buying a new home or selling your current one (or both), earn $500 cash back for every $100,000 in home value when you use the Union Plus Real Estate Rewards program. Get the details at UnionPlus.org

This is the final week of WPFW’s Spring Pledge Drive; you can support Union City Radio and all the great programs here on WPFW by calling 202-588-9739 or 1-800-222-9739 or pledge online at wpfwfm.org, click on Donate Now. You can also give on your phone by using WPFW's CashApp account, just search for $WPFW. Thanks very much!

​DC’s call-in show about worker rights: those you have, those you don’t, how to get them and how to use them. 

Hosted by Chris Garlock and Ed Smith

This week's guests:
TEFERE GEBRE, Executive Vice President of the AFL-CIO, on the June 3 Workers First Caravan
JONATHAN WILLIAMS, Communications Director, UFCW 400, on his union’s calls on Giant to extend “recognition pay” until the COVID-19 crisis is over
ELIZABETH FALCON, Executive Director, DC Jobs with Justice, on tomorrow’s DC Excluded Workers Social Media Blitz 
Music: Heroes (We Could Be); Alesso remix  

Produced by Chris Garlock; engineering by Jerry Paris and Shepsu Baker