Broadcast on WPFW 89.3FM; also available as a podcast on Itunes, Stitcher, OverCast, etc.

Hosted by Chris Garlock and Peter Pocock
DC’s call-in show about worker rights: those you have, those you don’t, how to get them and how to use them.

On today's show: 
John Costa, President of the Amalgamated Transit Union, and ATU Local 689 president Ray Jackson report on the ongoing Transdev strike, issues with Transdev around the country, plus an update on the Martha’s Vineyard strike last summer.
Al Neal: Nats win World Series; robo-umps & domestic violence
Plus: Mark Gruenberg with the latest labor news headlines.

Produced by Chris Garlock; engineered by Mike Nasella

What with all the ghouls and goblins out tonight, Halloween is a spooky time but what’s really scary for local transit workers is that Fairfax County taxpayers are now subsidizing a private company’s strikebreaking operation. 
French multinational Transdev is already being struck by more than 130 workers who are members of ATU Local 689 at the WMATA Cinder Bed Road Facility in Lorton, Virginia. 
This Monday, the union received word that the Fairfax Connector was being used by Transdev to run routes that have been shut down by the MetroBus strike.
This means that Fairfax Connector workers are being coerced by Transdev management to undermine their striking sisters and brothers. ATU Local 1764 picketed in Fairfax yesterday and plan to take their own strike vote next week. 

On today’s labor calendar, striking Transdev bus drivers continue their picket line in Lorton, VA; we’ll check in with them and get a labor angle on the World Series on this week’s edition of Your Rights At Work at 1pm here on WPFW; for details and the latest local labor calendar listings, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar. 

In today’s labor history, on this date in 1891, the state of Tennessee sent in leased convict laborers to break a coal miners strike in Anderson County. The miners revolted, burned the stockades, and sent the captured convicts by train back to Knoxville. 

Today’s labor quote is by George Henry Evans, who published the first issue of the Working Man’s Advocate on this date in 1829.
Evans said his paper was focused on the inequities between what he described as the “portion of society living in luxury and idleness” and those “groaning under the oppressions and miseries imposed on them.”

You can support Union City Radio – and all the great programming here at WPFW – by making a generous contribution today; call 202-588-9739 or go to wpfwfm.org and Thank You!

Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. If you’ve ever thought you could use some legal advice, think about enrolling in the Union Plus Legal Program for access to a nationwide network of attorneys at a low price. Take advantage of even lower pricing during open enrollment now until November 30. Visit unionplus.org/legal.

Fully fund UMC, contract with a responsible operator and ensure a full slate of health services at the new hospital in Ward 8. 
Those were the demands of the DC Health Justice Coalition at a DC City Council hearing last Friday. 
The Coalition, made up of unions and community organizations, gathered at the Council to demand full-service, high-quality healthcare for residents of Wards 7 and 8. 
Before the Committee on Health heard more than four hours of testimony, coalition leaders rallied on the Wilson Building steps to draw attention to the healthcare crisis facing DC. 
Find out more at dchealthjustice.com.

On today’s labor calendar, Transdev bus drivers continue their strike today; picketing all day in Lorton, VA; for details and the latest local labor calendar listings, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar. 

In today’s labor history, on this date in 1986, Ed Meese, attorney general in the Ronald Reagan administration, urged employers to begin spying on workers to try to catch them using drugs, quote, "in locker rooms, parking lots, shipping and mail room areas and even the nearby taverns," unquote.

Today’s labor quote is by writer Sebastian Junger, who wrote the book, “The Perfect Storm,” about the fishing boat Andrea Gail, out of Gloucester, Massachusetts, which on this date in 1991 was caught in ferocious storm and lost at sea with her crew of six. The city of Gloucester has lost more than 10,000 whalers and fishermen to the sea over its 350-year history. 
Sebastian Junger, who said: 
“Humans don’t mind hardship, in fact they thrive on it; what they mind is not feeling necessary. Modern society has perfected the art of making people not feel necessary. It's time for that to end.”

You can support Union City Radio – and all the great programming here at WPFW – by making a generous contribution today; call 202-588-9739 or go to wpfwfm.org and Thank You!

Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus.  If you’ve ever thought you could use some legal advice, think about enrolling in the Union Plus Legal Program for access to a nationwide network of attorneys at a low price. Take advantage of even lower pricing during open enrollment now until November 30. Visit unionplus.org/legal.

(audio, chanting)
Here are some voices from the ongoing strike by Transdev workers at WMATA's Cinder Bed Bus Garage in Lorton, Virginia.
(audio)
Those were some of the voices from the strike by bus drivers in Lorton, Virginia, including Amalgamated Transit Union president John Acosta, mineworkers president Cecil Roberts, AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre and of course the strikers and their supporters.
(audio, we’re still here)
 
The strikers are picketing daily in Lorton; for details and the latest local labor calendar listings, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar.

In today’s labor history, on this date in 1929 Wall Street crashed on "Black Tuesday," throwing the world's economy into a years-long crisis including an unemployment rate in the U.S. that by 1933 hit nearly 25 percent.   

Today’s labor quote is by Oscar Owens, the ATU Secretary-Treasurer who passed away last week after a brief illness. Oscar Owens, whose signature call-to-arms was:
"Fired up and ready to go"

You can support Union City Radio – and all the great programming here at WPFW – by making a generous contribution today; call 202-588-9739 or go to wpfwfm.org and Thank You!
 
Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. If you’ve ever thought you could use some legal advice, think about enrolling in the Union Plus Legal Program for access to a nationwide network of attorneys at a low price.Take advantage of even lower pricing during open enrollment now until November 30. Visit unionplus.org/legal.
​

Transdev workers at WMATA's Cinder Bed Bus Garage in Lorton, Virginia continued their strike last Friday.
They walked out Thursday morning after the company refused to offer better terms in contract negotiations.
“We're committed to fighting for these workers until they get the contract they deserve,” said ATU 689 spokesman Brian Wivell.
Local 689 president Raymond Jackson added that while “Local 689 isn’t looking to start a fight, we won’t walk away from one.”
The Transdev strike is the first MetroBus strike in 41 years.
 
For the latest local labor calendar listings, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar.

In today’s labor history, on this date in 1965, The Gateway Arch, a 630-foot high parabola of stainless steel marking the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial on the St. Louis waterfront was completed after two and a half years. Although it was predicted that 13 lives would be lost in construction, not a single Ironworker died.  

Today’s labor quote is by Malcolm X, who said:
“You show me a capitalist, and I'll show you a bloodsucker”      
You can support Union City Radio – and all the great programming here at WPFW – by making a generous contribution today; call 202-588-9739 or go to wpfwfm.org and Thank You!
 
Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus.
If you’ve ever thought you could use some legal advice, think about enrolling in the Union Plus Legal Program for access to a nationwide network of attorneys at a low price.
Take advantage of even lower pricing during open enrollment now until November 30. Visit unionplus.org/legal.          

Transdev workers at WMATA’s Cinder Bed Bus Garage were planning to strike Thursday morning, in protest of the company’s unfair labor practices. This is the first strike at WMATA since 1978. The union has been in negotiations since February. Get the latest updates on the strike @dclabor on Twitter and Facebook.

Members of UNITE HERE Local 7 and International Union of Operating Engineers Local 37 voted earlier this week to accept a new union contract at the Hyatt Regency Baltimore Hotel. The deal includes wage increases and other provisions, including limitations on the number of rooms housekeepers must clean and employer contributions to the Operating Engineers' National Training Fund. Negotiations at the Hilton Baltimore, Marriott Waterfront, Radisson Hotel and Crown Plaza Hotel are ongoing.

For the latest local labor calendar listings, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar.

In today’s labor history, on this date in 1934, 25,000 silk dye workers struck in Paterson, New Jersey.  

Today’s labor quote is by John Sweeney, elected president of the AFL-CIO on this date in 1995. John Sweeney, who said:
“We believe ‘Solidarity’ means sticking together, not getting stuck together.”

You can support Union City Radio – and all the great programming here at WPFW – by making a generous contribution today; call 202-588-9739 or go to wpfwfm.org and Thank You!
 
Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. If you want to get 15% off your phone bill, sign up for the AT&T Signature Program! Union members get discounts on service, accessories and more, all while supporting the only nationwide unionized wireless service. Visit unionplus.org/att.       

Broadcast on WPFW 89.3FM; also available as a podcast on Itunes, Stitcher, OverCast, etc.

Hosted by Ed Smith and Peter Pocock
DC’s call-in show about worker rights: those you have, those you don’t, how to get them and how to use them.

On today's show: latest on the DC healthcare crisis
DC Ward 8 ANC Commissioner Christopher Hawthorne
Emergency Room nurse -- and DCNA member -- Roberta Lenoir
SEIU 1199 organizer Djawa Hall
Plus: Mark Gruenberg with the latest labor news headlines.

Produced by Ed Smith; engineered by Mike Nasella

More workers are striking these days than ever. And now, there’s a board game that teaches the power of collective action.
STRIKE! The Game of Worker Rebellion, is a strategic, cooperative board game for 2 to 4 players.
It’s designed by the folks at Jobs With Justice, in collaboration with the TESA Collective—a publisher of games about changing our world.
Players take on the role of the Strike Council to lead a city-wide rebellion against HappyCorp’s takeover of Mercury City, while also fighting for better livelihoods for all.
To make the game a reality, Jobs With Justice has launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise the funds necessary to produce the game. Find out more by searching for “Strike” at kickstarter.com

For the latest local labor calendar listings, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar.

In today’s labor history, on this date in 1892, a strike by Teamsters, Scalesmen and Packers paralyzed New Orleans.
In two weeks the walkout became a general strike, involving more than 20,000 whites and blacks together, in support of demands for union recognition and a 10-hour work day.

Today’s labor quote is by president Franklin D. Roosevelt when he signed the Fair Labor Standards Act; the 40-hour work week went into effect under the Act on this date in 1940. FDR, who said:
"Do not let any calamity-howling executive with an income of $1,000 a day, ...tell you...that a wage of $11 a week is going to have a disastrous effect on all American industry."


You can support Union City Radio – and all the great programming here at WPFW – by making a generous contribution today; call 202-588-9739 or go to wpfwfm.org and Thank You!
 
Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. If you want to get 15% off your phone bill, sign up for the AT&T Signature Program! Union members get discounts on service, accessories and more, all while supporting the only nationwide unionized wireless service. Visit unionplus.org/att.          

After the DC City Council cut over half of United Medical Center’s funding, members of the DC Health Justice Coalition organized and temporarily won additional funding, “but we need to win more,” says DCNA’s Wala Blegay.
The Coalition is urging DC residents to testify for more funding for the only hospital East of the river at this Friday’s DC City Council Committee on Health Hearing.
Without additional funding, UMC will face more cuts to services and jobs, says Blegay. “We need high-quality, full-service care in Wards 7 and 8 now and into the future.” Text "TESTIFY" to 202-495-0885 for more info.

For the latest local labor calendar listings, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar.

In today’s labor history, on this date in 2001, local postal workers Joseph Curseen and Thomas Morris died after inhaling anthrax at the Brentwood mail sorting center. Other postal workers were made ill. Letters containing the deadly spores had been addressed to U.S. Senate offices and media outlets.  

Today’s labor quote is by William "Big Bill" Haywood, who said:
“Tonight I am going to speak on the class struggle and I am going to make it so plain that even a lawyer can understand it.     

You can support Union City Radio – and all the great programming here at WPFW – by making a generous contribution today; call 202-588-9739 or go to wpfwfm.org and Thank You!
 
Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. If you want to get 15% off your phone bill, sign up for the AT&T Signature Program! Union members get discounts on service, accessories and more, all while supporting the only nationwide unionized wireless service. Visit unionplus.org/att.          

Commercial office cleaners in the D.C. area and Baltimore have ratified a new four-year contract with the Washington Service Contractors Association. Some 10,500 area janitors are represented by 32BJ SEIU.
By the end of the contract the overwhelmingly immigrant workforce will receive an hourly pay increase of up to $2 dollars and .50 cents and additional sick days and holidays. 
The contract protects health care and other benefits while increasing access to full-time hours in both Montgomery County and Arlington, allowing workers to earn more money and access employer-paid health insurance.
In addition to raising wages and benefits from existing cleaners, the contract expanded to cover 400 new cleaners in Prince George’s County, Maryland and Loudoun County, Virginia.
 
For the latest local labor calendar listings, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar.

In today’s labor history, on this date in 1934, bank robber Charles Arthur "Pretty Boy" Floyd was killed by FBI agents near East Liverpool, Ohio. He was a hero to the people of Oklahoma who saw him as a "Sagebrush Robin Hood," stealing from banks and sharing some of the proceeds with the poor.

Today’s labor quote is by Woody Guthrie, from his song “Pretty Boy Floyd”
Yes, as through this world I've wandered
I've seen lots of funny men;
Some will rob you with a six-gun,
And some with a fountain pen.

You can support Union City Radio – and all the great programming here at WPFW – by making a generous contribution today; call 202-588-9739 or go to wpfwfm.org and Thank You!
 
Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. If you want to get 15% off your phone bill, sign up for the AT&T Signature Program! Union members get discounts on service, accessories and more, all while supporting the only nationwide unionized wireless service. Visit unionplus.org/att.