Union City Radio for Wednesday, December 21, 2016

​The Coalition of Metro Labor Unions is planning a series of Town Halls in January to develop a “People’s Agenda for Metro.” Current budget proposals by the Metro board include longer wait times for trains, elimination of essential bus lines, and firing 1,000 workers. “These proposals will have real consequences for the people who depend on Metro and the public’s input must be heard,” says Jackie Jeter, president of ATU local 689, which represents many of the Metro workers. In addition to Local 689, the coalition includes OPEIU Local 2 and Teamsters Locals 922 and 639. The coalition represents more than 13,000 workers at Metro, and is urging attendance at the Town Halls by allies and the public. “It is important to listen to our ridership so that we can face these challenges together,” Jeter said. The Town Hall dates are on our calendar at dclabor.org

Here’s today's labor history:
On this date in 1790, powered by children seven to 12 years old working dawn to dusk, Samuel Slater’s thread-spinning factory went into production in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, launching the Industrial Revolution in America. By 1830, 55 percent of the mill workers in the state were youngsters, many working for less than $1 per week.
In 1921, the Supreme Court ruled that picketing is unconstitutional. Chief Justice -- and former president -- William Howard Taft declared that picketing was, in part, "an unlawful annoyance and hurtful nuisance..."

Today’s labor quote is by Mother Jones
“Little girls and boys, barefooted, walked up and down between the endless rows of spindles, reaching thin little hands into the machinery to repair snapped threads.” Mother Jones, who also said, “And who is responsible for this appalling child slavery? Everyone.”