Happy Labor Day! This is Chris Garlock, with the latest labor news, updates and history from the Metro Washington Labor Council.
On this Labor Day, I have two numbers for you: 64 and 485. Sixty-four is the percentage of Americans who now approve of labor unions, according to the latest poll by Gallup. That’s the third consecutive year labor’s approval rate has surpassed 60 percent way up from its low point of 48% back in 2009. The current 64 percent reading is one of the highest union approval ratings Gallup has recorded over the past 50 years, and comes 125 years after President Grover Cleveland signed a law establishing the Labor Day holiday after a period of labor strikes and organizing across the country. 485,000; that's the number of working people who went on strike in 2018, the most since 1986. And although the majority of those were teachers, many strikers also came from the private sector, from companies like Marriott, Frontier Communications and AT&T. Today’s labor calendar includes the usual line-up of Labor Day parades and picnics, as well as a chili cook-off, ice cream social and a Labor Day mass; and tune in right here on WPFW from 8a to noon as Elise Bryant and I host the annual WPFW Labor Day special, with labor music, special guests and more. For the complete rundown on today’s activities, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar. In today’s labor history, on this date in 1921, mineowners bombed West Virginia strikers by plane, using homemade bombs filled with nails and metal fragments. Fortunately, the bombs missed their targets or failed to explode. Today’s labor quote is by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, who said last week that: “Working people are fighting every day, with every ounce of energy we have, to reclaim what’s rightfully ours.” Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. Enjoy peace of mind on the road with the Union Plus Motor Club membership. Benefits include 24-hour emergency roadside assistance, emergency towing, flat tire changes and more. Visit unionplus.org/motorclub.
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