The multi-million-dollar DC Wharf development opened last Thursday with great pomp and circumstance, but a new report calls it a “massive taxpayer subsidy” that created low-wage jobs with minimal benefits.
While the District approved $300 million in public subsidies for the Wharf project, an analysis by the DC Fiscal Policy Institute said that “neither the developer nor the District’s economic development leaders took meaningful steps to ensure that the Wharf resulted in good-quality jobs or other benefits for DC residents.” Most construction workers at the Wharf were not represented by a union, and many of its non-union construction jobs paid less than $15 an hour, often with minimal benefits. The hotel, restaurant, and retail jobs at the newly opened Wharf also are likely to be non-union, and have similarly low pay and benefits. We have a link to the report on our website, dclabor.org On today's labor calendar, the Metro Washington Council meets tonight at 6:30 at the AFL-CIO for the latest updates on the local labor movement. Details at dclabor.org, click on Calendar. Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 1859, Abolitionist John Brown led 18 men, including five free blacks, in an attack on the Harper's Ferry ammunition depot, the beginning of guerilla warfare against slavery. Today’s labor quote is by John Brown, who said: “I have only a short time to live, only one death to die, and I will die fighting for this cause. There will be no peace in this land until slavery is done for.” 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.
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The Community Services Agency's Building Futures construction pre-apprenticeship program was recognized earlier this week with the "Justice in the Community" award from the Neighborhood Legal Services Program.
The award was presented to CSA for achieving "lasting, tangible improvements to the lives of low-income DC residents." The Community Services Agency is a program of the Metro Washington Labor Council. Read more on our website, dclabor.org On today's labor calendar, there’s a free screening of the film “LIMPIADORES” at noon today at the AFL-CIO as part of the Films Across Borders series co-sponsored by the DC LaborFest. The 40-minute film is about what happens when a group of Latin American immigrants working as janitorial and cleaning staff at London’s most prestigious universities decide to unionize. Details at dclabor.org, click on Calendar. Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 1998, the National Basketball Association canceled regular season games for the first time in its 51-year history, during a player lockout. Player salaries and pay caps were the primary issue. The lockout lasted 204 days. Today’s labor quote is by President Woodrow Wilson, who signed the Clayton Antitrust Act—often referred to as "Labor’s Magna Carta"—on October 15, 1914, establishing that unions are not "conspiracies" under the law. It for the first time freed unions to strike, picket and boycott employers. Woodrow Wilson, who said: “The working people of America are, of course, the backbone of the nation.” 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. Nearly 700 DC food service workers are bargaining together for the first time for a master contract with the Compass Group. The workers are members of UNITE HERE Local 23, and 17 different locations are involved, including cafeterias at Smithsonian museums, Gallaudet University and NIH. In recent weeks the workers have delivered copies of hundreds of petitions signed by a majority of the Compass workers demanding a fair contract. Another bargaining session is scheduled for later this month. Read more on our website, dclabor.org
On today's labor calendar, catch this week's edition of Your Rights At Work here on WPFW at 1pm, when you can call in with your questions abour rights on the job. Here’s today's labor history: On this date in 1933, some 2,000 workers demanding union recognition shut down dress manufacturing in Los Angeles. Today’s labor quote is by Cesar Chavez, who said: "Because we have suffered, and we are not afraid to suffer in order to survive, we are ready to give up everything - even our lives - in our struggle for justice." 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. Hosts: Chris Garlock, with Ed Smith
JOIN US AT 202-588-0893 Also, if you miss our live show – or want to hear a past show – Your Rights At Work is now available as a podcast! Just search for Union City Radio on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts; subscribe and you’ll get our shows right on your phone! Today’s topics: NFL bosses clamp down as football players continue to exercise their right to speak out by taking a knee; PLUS: Taxpayer subsidies and low wages at the new DC Wharf project. Guest: Steve Lanning, Laborers union, on how the massive taxpayer subsidy of DC’s wharf project supports creation of low-wage jobs with minimal benefits. Labor Song: Buffalo Springfield 1967 – For what it’s worth CREDITS: engineered by Mike “The Man” Nasella; Union City Radio is supported by UnionPlus. UnionPlus is committed to improving the quality of life of working families. Find out more at unionplus.org. And we’re supported by you, our listeners: call 202-588-9739 or 1-800-222-9739 or pledge online at wpfwfm.org. |
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