The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services and the union that represents its correctional officers agree on two things: Maryland's prison system has a staffing shortage, and correctional officers work too much overtime to make up the deficits.
While corrections officials said they're trying to fill the vacancies, the union warns that it's not happening fast enough — and between burnout and upcoming retirements, the situation could get worse. "We're in pretty rough shape," said Chris Duffy, president of Local 1772 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, part of AFSCME Maryland, which represents correctional officers at the prison complex south of Hagerstown. What's really needed is more officers, the union said. On today's labor calendar, catch the Fritz/Kocur duo on Labor Live@5 at 5pm today here on WPFW, featuring local jazz musicians Patrick Fritz and John Kocur. Complete details on our website at dclabor.org, click on Calendar. Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 1936, the Triborough Bridge opened in New York City after seven years of labor by as many as 2,800 construction workers. Construction began on Black Friday, 1929, and New Deal money turned it into one of the largest public works projects of the Great Depression. Today’s labor quote is by former President Jimmy Carter, who said "Every advance in this half-century--Social Security, civil rights, Medicare, aid to education, one after another--came with the support and leadership of American Labor." Union City Radio is supported by UnionPlus, which is committed to improving the quality of life for all working families; find out more at unionplus.org.
0 Comments
Candy Shannon hosts The Fritz/Kocur duo derives their unique sound from their varied individual backgrounds. Their two musical paths converged in their shared love of jazz music, with Patrick Fritz bringing years of experience playing in rock bands to add an edge to his sound, and John Kocur bringing his sometimes-powerful, sometimes-sweet saxophone tone honed from years of study with both great classical talents and great jazz artists. The duo blends their unique artistic histories monthly at Blend Coffee Bar in Ashburn, VA and have also performed together at the Bethesda Row Arts Fair, Trinity House Cafe, and Leesburg Beer and Wine Company. In a truly collaborative effort, they each share their song-writing capabilities to add music to their sets that you can't hear elsewhere, while also covering current pop hits that you can't hear quite like this in an effort to allow jazz music to continue a tradition it had at the height of its popularity—exploring improvisation over tunes that would be familiar to all those in their audiences. John is currently a member of the DC Federation of Musicians Local 161-710 and the Washington Area Music Association. photo by Chris Garlock A Dulles Airport wheelchair attendant fired for exercising her legal right to strike should be reinstated with full back pay, according to the National Labor Relations Board. A Regional Director of the Board found that the Huntleigh Corporation fired airport worker Swartha Tujare in retaliation for her participation in a 2016 strike to protest Huntleigh’s poverty wages. The Board will seek reinstatement for Tujare and an estimated $8,000 in back pay.
Hundreds of contracted service workers at National and Dulles airports walked off the job on strike in April to protest federal labor violations by Huntleigh. Jaime Contreras, Vice President at SEIU 32BJ, which is organizing the airport workers, said that “Huntleigh’s coercive behavior towards these workers is against the law and has no place at our airports.” Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 1894, 14,000 federal and state troops finally succeeded in putting down the strike against the Pullman Palace Car Company, which had been peaceful until July 5, when federal troops intervened in Chicago, against the repeated protests of the Governor and Chicago’s mayor. Some 34 American Rail Union members were killed by troops over the course of the strike. Today’s labor quote is by attorney Clarence Darrow, who said "Every intelligent person who has investigated this question understands that working men have the right to organize; understands that if laborers are not satisfied with their conditions, they may stop work; they may stop work singly or collectively, exactly as they please, and no court will say them nay." Union City Radio is supported by UnionPlus, which is committed to improving the quality of life for all working families; find out more at unionplus.org. The U-Liners will headline a benefit this Sunday to assist the defense of Canadian rail workers who their supporters say are being scapegoated for a tragedy caused by railroad management.
“Music for Safe Rails and Sustainable Communities” features the U-Liners, with Tom & Elisabeth, this Sunday, July 9 at 6:30p at the Dew Drop Inn, 2801 8th St Northeast. Details on our website at dclabor.org, click on Calendar. Four years after the devastating oil train wreck that destroyed the town of Lac- Mégantic in Quebec, two railroad workers are now facing criminal charges for a tragedy caused by unsafe railroad management policies. “Last week we saw how quickly things can become deadly with the two CSX conductors being killed in the District,” local train engineer Herbert Harris Jr. tells Union City Radio, adding that “We have seen employees scapegoated in other industries for bad corporate policy and practices.” Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 1903, Mary Harris "Mother" Jones began "The March of the Mill Children,” when, accompanied part of the way by children, she walked from Philadelphia to President Theodore Roosevelt's home on Long Island to protest the plight of child laborers. One of her demands was to reduce the children’s work week to 55 hours. Today’s labor quote is by Mother Jones, who said: "The employment of children is doing more to fill prisons, insane asylums, almshouses, reformatories, slums, and gin shops than all the efforts of reformers are doing to improve society." Union City Radio is supported by UnionPlus, which is committed to improving the quality of life for all working families; find out more at unionplus.org. |
Categories
All
Union City Radio is proud to be supported by UnionPlus, which has been working hard for union families since 1986.
Union City Radio is part of The Labor Radio/Podcast Network
Listen now...UC Radio airs weekdays at 7:15a on WPFW 89.3 FM; subscribe to the podcast here. |