Union City Radio for Thursday, July 28

Senate cafeteria workers will receive more than a million dollars in back wages after a Department of Labor investigation found their employers intentionally underpaid them. “This shows that when workers act, workers can win,” said Joe Geevarghese, Director of Good Jobs Nation, which has been organizing the workers. But Geevarghese warned that “criminal activity at the U.S. Capitol is just the tip of the iceberg,” noting that “If federal contractors feel free to break federal law right under the noses of lawmakers, they probably feel free to violate the rights of workers all across America.” Top Senate Democrat Harry Reid called Restaurant Associates “despicable” and said the Senate should terminate its contract.

On today’s “Your Rights At Work” at 1pm here on WPFW, our guests will be Joe Geevarghese, Director of Good Jobs Nation, discussing Tuesday’s million-dollar win for Senate cafeteria workers; also joining us will be ATU 689’s David Stephen on Saturday’s big transit rally, as well as CASA’s Renato Mendoza, on the fight to prevent the deportation of CASA worker – and Guild member -- Wendy Contreras.
For the latest local labor calendar listings, go to dclabor.org and click on Calendar.

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1869, women shoemakers in Lynn, Massachusetts created the Daughters of Saint Crispin, demanding pay equal to that of men.

In 1901, Harry Bridges was born in Australia. He came to America as a sailor at age 19 and went on to help form and lead the militant International Longshore and Warehouse Union for more than 40 years.

And on this date in 1932, federal troops burned the shantytown built near the U.S. Capitol by thousands of unemployed World War One veterans, camping there to demand a bonus they had been promised but never received.

Today’s labor quote is by Harry Bridges
“I would have worked with the devil himself if he'd been for the six hour day and worker control of the hiring hall.”