In a recent post, UFCW Local 400 said that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed countless shortcomings in our country, from our inadequate healthcare system to our federal government’s feckless response.
“But,” the union added, “the crisis has also brought out the best in many members of our community.” One recent example comes from the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy, which recently organized volunteers to sew and donate masks to UFCW Local 400 grocery workers. “It is one of the small ways we can show grocery workers and shelter residents that they are loved and appreciated,” said Kim Bobo, Executive Director at the Virginia Interfaith Center. In today’s labor history, on this date in 1934, ten thousand strikers at Toledo, Ohio’s Auto-Lite plant repelled police who had come to break up their strike for union recognition. The next day, two strikers were killed and 15 wounded when National Guard machine gun units opened fire. Two weeks later the company recognized the union and agreed to a 5 percent raise. Today’s labor quote is from a poem entitled The Stonecutters Kit, by Will Butler, which appeared in the January 1923 issue of The Stone Cutters Journal, published by the Granite Cutters International Association of America, which on this date in 1983 merged with the Tile, Marble, Terrazzo, Finishers & Shopmen union, which in turn five years later merged into the Carpenters union. There are two other things you need to know: “kit” refers to his bag of stone-cutting tools, and a hickory six-pounds weight is a sledgehammer. Here’s the last stanza of The Stonecutters Kit: Now I'm taking it easy, for my traveling days are over My old kit still is by my side, as it was in the days of yore My good old hickory six-pounds weight is still smiling up at me The shine I have upon its face would do you good to see I'd like to take it to that place where man is borne; I don't like parting with a friend but man is made to mourn. So I'll leave it to my buddy, who is a friend to me, If he's good to my old hickory, a true friend he will be. Union City Radio is supported by our friends at Union Plus. Because of the coronavirus pandemic, many families are being hit with increased financial burdens. For those struggling with their credit, the Union Plus Credit Counseling program is still operating online and over the phone. Visit unionplus.org/creditcounseling to find out more. And of course, please be sure to support WPFW during our Spring Pledge Drive; call 202-588-9739 or 1-800-222-9739. You can also pledge online at wpfwfm.org -- click on Donate Now -- you can now give by using WPFW's CashApp account, just search for $WPFW. Thanks very much!
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