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Info/resources on the Coronavirus Outbreak

Two days until strike vote at Safeway

Open Markets Institute staff organizes

Today's Labor Quote

Today's Labor History

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Union City Radio: Your Rights at Work: Thu, March 5, 1pm - 2pm
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Life in the new coronavirus world as employers across the country grapple with how to get work done while protecting their workers and preventing the spread of the virus. Call in with your questions about rights at work!

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EWL deadline extended! The deadline for 2020 Evening with Labor program book ads and dinner tickets has been extended to this Friday, March 6. [link removed] Click here for more info and here to [link removed] download the order form or email mailto:[email protected] [email protected] or call Chris at 202-974-8153.

Info/resources on the Coronavirus Outbreak
Health care workers, firefighters, police, airline workers, emergency service workers and other first responders are on the front lines of responding to the coronavirus outbreak. Federal health officials have said the spread of the virus is likely and may cause severe disruptions to everyday life. The labor movement has long advocated for increased federal, state and local funding needed to restore the public health infrastructure and to respond to public health emergencies, and the comprehensive, enforceable standards necessary to ensure all workers on the front line of an outbreak are protected from infectious disease agents so they can provide the vital services, treatment and care the public depends on.
The AFL-CIO is working with its affiliates to immediately develop and disseminate educational, training and logistical resources and recommendations and the most up-to-date materials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the World Health Organization, research experts and others about the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, many of which are listed here [link removed]
Click here for the National Nurses United coronavirus preparedness survey [link removed]

Two days until strike vote at Safeway

UFCW 400 met with Safeway negotiators on Monday but "We made no progress and we are no closer to a tentative agreement. There continue to be a number of outstanding issues to resolve," reports Jonathan Williams. "While we are committed to remaining at the table until we reach a fair deal, we remain prepared to take a strike vote on March 5th if we do not have a fair offer from Safeway. We are meeting again with the company today (Tuesday) and we will share an update later today." Follow us on [link removed] Twitter and [link removed] Facebook for latest updates.

Open Markets Institute staff organizes
Open Markets Institute (OMI) management and staff announced on Monday that they have signed a voluntary agreement recognizing the formation of a staff union. The newly organized Union of Open Markets Staff joins the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 70. As the 20th group of nonprofit employees to join NPEU and the third group this year, the OMI staff adds to growing trend of nonprofit employees forming unions. "The fight for workers rights is a critical pillar of the broader fight against concentrated private power and for democracy," said Barry Lynn, Executive Director of the Open Markets Institute. "Open Markets has long supported and worked closely with unions in our mission to combat inequality and promote individual liberty and dignity." Added NPEU President Kayla Blado. "More and more nonprofit employees are unionizing to have a say in their workplace and make real gains in terms of pay, benefits, and working conditions."

Today's Labor Quote: Thomas Jefferson

"Take not from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned."

From his inaugural address on this date in 1801.

Today's Labor History

This week's Labor History Today podcast: [link removed] Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote
Professor Robyn Muncy, co-curator of "Rightfully Hers: American Women and the Vote," on the role organized labor played in the lengthy and difficult struggle for women's rights.
Plus Saul Schniderman on the origins of Women's History Month and "Rise Up: Songs of the Women's Movement," the PBS show celebrating that history.
Last week's show: [link removed] African American Lumber Workers in the Jim Crow South

March 4
Pres. William Howard Taft signs legislation creating the Department of Labor. Former United Mine Workers Secretary Treasurer William B. Wilson is named to lead the new department - 1913

President Franklin D. Roosevelt names a woman, Frances Perkins, to be Secretary of Labor. Perkins became the first female cabinet member in U.S. history - 1933

UAW workers win sit-down strike in Flint, Michigan, forcing General Motors to recognize the union. In the 40-day action, the strikers were protected by 5,000 armed workers circling the Fisher Body plant - 1937

Machinists strike Eastern Airlines, are soon joined by flight attendants and pilots in the nationwide walkout. Owner Frank Lorenzo refuses to consider the unions' demands; Eastern ultimately went out of business - 1989

March 5
British soldiers, quartered in the homes of colonists, took the jobs of working people when jobs were scarce. On this date, grievances of ropemakers against the soldiers led to a fight. Soldiers shot down Crispus Attucks, a black colonist, then others, in what became known as the Boston Massacre. Attucks is considered the first casualty in the American Revolution - 1770

- David Prosten

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Published by the Metropolitan Washington Council, an AFL-CIO "Union City" Central Labor Council whose 200 affiliated union locals represent 150,000 area union members.

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