This is Chris Garlock, with the latest labor news, updates and history from the Metro Washington Labor Council.
A delegation of U.S. union leaders traveled to Matamoros, Mexico recently to support tens of thousands of factory workers who have launched a wave of strikes to demand wage increases and democratic control of their unions. Since January 25, at least 48 factories that produce auto parts and other goods for export to the United States have signed agreements to increase wages by 20% and pay a bonus of almost $2,000. This is a huge victory for the workers, most of whom make around $2 dollars an hour. And in the past week, the strike wave has spread beyond the factories to supermarkets and other employers, and the leaders of the Matamoros unions, which historically have been close to the employers, were forced to endorse the workers’ demands. But the employers and the company unions are already striking back, and in the past week, as many as 2,000 strike leaders have been fired and blacklisted, and the delegation of U.S. trade unionists urged both the Mexican and U.S. governments to demand that these U.S. companies honor their agreements and stop firing and blacklisting these courageous workers. In today’s labor history, on this date in 1986, the Farm Labor Organizing Committee signed an agreement with the Campbell Soup Company, ending a seven-year boycott. Today’s labor quote is by Sue Carney, Director of Human Relations at the American Postal Workers Union. Sue Carney, who said: “The Union is not a fee-for-service organization, it is a family.”` Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. Now is a great time to find a better deal on your auto insurance. To get a free quote and explore the best offers from national insurance providers, visit unionplus.org/auto.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
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. |