Local transit workers won two major victories recently. After the Amalgamated Transit Union filed a grievance against private contractor First Transit over its violation of DC’s paid sick days law, First Transit agreed to bring its policies into compliance with the law, retract disciplinary points from current employees, and re-hire workers who were unjustly fired. And after years of bargaining attempts, MetroAccess Call Center workers employed by private contractor MV Transportation ratified a new contract this week that includes pay raises, hourly guarantees for full-timers, and more. Workers at both companies are members of ATU Local 1764.
On today’s Labor Calendar, there’s a lecture on "The Poetry of Everyday Life" this afternoon from 4 – 5pm at the Library of Congress James Madison Building; the lecture is followed by two short films, "Boom and Bust - America's Journey on the Erie Canal" and "The Grand Generation," starting at 5pm. Then at 7pm, NoVA Labor is holding a Common Sense Economics workshop in Annandale, Virginia. For complete details on these and other upcoming local labor activities, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar. Here’s today’s labor history: On this date in 1986, deranged postal service carrier Patrick “Crazy Pat” Henry Sherrill shot and killed 14 coworkers, and wounded another six, before killing himself at an Edmond, Oklahoma postal facility. Supervisors had ignored warning signs of Sherrill’s instability, investigators later found; the shootings came a day after he had been reprimanded for poor work. The incident inspired the objectionable term “going postal.” Today’s labor quote is from the Bible, Proverbs 31, verses 8 and 9: ‘Speak up for people who cannot speak for themselves. Protect the rights of the helpless. Speak for them and be a righteous judge. Protect the rights of the poor and the needy.”
0 Comments
Welcome to Union City Radio for Wednesday, August 19. This is Chris Garlock, for the Metro Washington Council.
The 1992 film “Fast Food Women” has been nominated for consideration this year by the National Film Registry, which honors “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant films.” The selected films are considered “works of enduring significance to American Culture.” Go to dclabor.org to show your support for this labor film classic, written and directed by Anne Lewis. “It means a lot to me in all kinds of ways and I am proud about this nomination,” Lewis says. “But it also means that the film will be preserved. I do think “Fast Food Women” remains current in the lives of fast food workers.” For the latest local labor news and updates, go to dclabor.org; for up-to-date listings for labor activities, click on calendar. Here’s today’s labor history: The first edition of the IWW’s Little Red Song Book was published on this date in 1909. In 1983, Phelps-Dodge copper miners in Arizona were confronted by tanks, helicopters, and hundreds of state troopers and National Guardsmen brought in to walk strikebreakers through picket lines in what was to become a failed 3-year fight by the Steelworkers and other unions. And on this date in 2005, more than 4,000 mechanics, cleaners and custodians, members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association at Northwest Airlines, struck over job security, pay cuts and work rule changes. The 14-month strike failed, with most union jobs lost to replacements and outside contractors. Today’s labor quote is by Angel Rodriguez, former president of Morenci Miners Local 616, explaining why his members belonged to the union: “The union became the vehicle for Mexican Americans to run for political office and win elections to city, county and school boards and in some cases, state offices. It instilled the value and importance of being registered and voting in elections to elect their supporters to public office. Membership in the union was an empowering experience that gave the miners and their families the ability to stand up and fight…What workers could accomplish once they felt the power a union could bring them!” Two different picket lines, two different states, two different unions. But the struggles have a lot in common. Thursday afternoon outside the CIA headquarters in McLean, Virginia, members of Operating Engineers Local 99 were back on the picket line demanding a contract with CIA contractor AECOMM. Some 15 miles north in Silver Spring, “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” blared over loudspeakers as dozens of red-clad CWA 2108 members danced along Route 29 in front of the Verizon facility, waving signs excoriating the telcom giant for greed. Go to dclabor.org to read more and see photos.
In this week's Labor Quiz: With which of the "Big Three" automakers did the United Auto Workers sign their very first contract? Was it Ford, General Motors or Chrysler? Submit your answer at unionist.com and you could be next week's winner! For the latest listings of local labor activities, go to dclabor.org and click on calendar. Here’s today’s labor history: On this date in 1927, radio station WEVD, named for Eugene V. Debs, went on the air in New York City, operated by The Forward Association as a memorial to the labor and socialist leader. And in 1932, the American Federation of Government Employees was founded on this date, following a decision by the National Federation of Federal Employees to leave the AFL. Today’s labor quote is by Eugene Debs: “While there is a lower class, I am in it; while there is a criminal element, I am of it; while there is a soul in prison, I am not free.” Union City – the Metro Council’s popular electronic newsletter -- has won its fifth award from the International Labor Communications Association, winning first place for “General Excellence" in the Electronic Newsletter category for 2015. The Metro Council’s newsletter joins UFCW Local 400’s “Union Leader” magazine and social media -- which won an impressive five awards -- as the only local publications to win awards this year. The winners “represent some of the best and most inspired work in labor communications and are to be congratulated in promoting the highest standards of labor journalism,” said ILCA.
Amalgamated Bank recently announced it will raise all employee wages to a minimum of $15 an hour, effective immediately. Amalgamated – which maintains a branch in Washington, DC -- called on the banking industry to follow its lead. “As one of the highest grossing industries, it is simply unacceptable that a significant portion of bank workers rely on public assistance,” said Amalgamated Bank CEO Keith Mestrich. For more details go to dclabor.org; for the latest local labor events, click on calendar. Here’s today’s labor history: In the IWW War Trials in Chicago on this date in 1918, 95 went to prison for up to 20 years. And in 1985, a year-long Hormel meatpackers' strike began in Austin, Minnesota. Today’s labor quote is by civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, Sr., speaking at a union meeting during the meatpackers strike: “Workers must stand up and say enough is enough. We want jobs and justice!" |
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. |