Forward to a friend:
[link removed]

MWC office status

MontCo workers' union demands bargaining over COVID effects

Union City Labor Coronavirus Watch: Legislative Update

Make the time count

Required Reading

Today's Labor Quote

Today's Labor History

[link removed] LABOR CALENDAR

Union City Radio: Weekdays, 7:15am - 7:20am
WPFW-FM 89.3 FM; [link removed] click here to hear today's report

MWC office status
With the AFL-CIO headquarters building currently shut down, all Metro Washington Council and Community Services Agency staff are now teleworking and can be reached at the contact [link removed] numbers and email addresses here.

MontCo workers' union demands bargaining over COVID effects
UFCW 1994 MCGEO on Tuesday issued an 11-point set of [link removed] COVID-19-related demands to Montgomery County Chief Administrative Officer Andrew Kleine. The union represents more than 9,000 county workers. "As a result of the declaration of emergency at the federal, state and local level in response to the containment of the spread of COVID-19 and the need to engage in social distancing, UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO hereby demands bargaining to enhance the safety of our members," wrote Local 1994 president Gino Renne. The demands, covering everything from which bargaining unit positions/members will be classified as essential personnel, to effects of COVID-19 on the workforce, expanded paid leave and demands that the county provide all employees with high-quality gloves, hand-sanitizing stations, and other necessary protective equipment. "We look forward to working together to get through this public health crisis while continuing to serve the people of Montgomery County," Renne said.

UNION CITY LABOR CORONAVIRUS WATCH: LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

VIRGINIA: New measures [link removed] announced by Governor Northam to support Virginians affected by the COVID-19 pandemic include: No waiting for unemployment benefits; Enhanced eligibility for unemployment; and fewer restrictions for individuals receiving unemployment insurance. The Office of the Governor is providing a [link removed] Frequently Asked Questions guide for workers that have been temporarily laid off or discharged during this public health crisis.
- Virginia AFL-CIO; mailto:[email protected] [email protected]

MARYLAND: The Maryland Senate passed [link removed] emergency legislation to extend temporary unemployment benefits during coronavirus pandemic.
Gov. Larry Hogan [link removed] announced that Maryland's primary election, set for April 28, will be postponed until June 2.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: The DC City Council on Tuesday passed [link removed] legislation providing relief for DC residents and workers affected by COVID-19. Highlights of the Act affecting workers include: prohibition of evictions and the disconnection of electricity, gas, or water; adding to the definition of unemployment those who are temporarily unemployed due to this public health emergency; loosening time restrictions on prescription refills; expansion of paid medical leave to anyone under quarantine. [link removed] Click here for a summary.
- David Stephen, mailto:[email protected] [email protected]

Make the time count
"There is another urgent thing to do this month," the Alliance for Retired Americans reminds us. "The [link removed] 2020 Census is underway NOW -- and it's time for all of us to be counted." Every 10 years the Census happens -- even during a national emergency. "Many Americans have already received a postcard or letter from the U.S. Census Bureau," says ARA Executive Director Richard Fiesta. "Please open it and follow the directions for completing the census online or by phone." The government uses the census to decide how to allocate $675 billion in federal funds annually for everything from first responders and Medicare Part B to libraries and community centers, public schools, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and more. [link removed] Click here for details. "There is no better way for you to spend a few minutes this week," says Fiesta.

Required Reading
[link removed] Pay laid off arena and stadium workers
[link removed] Trump administration seeks roughly $850 billion in emergency stimulus to confront coronavirus economic fallout
[link removed] Maryland Senate passes emergency legislation to extend temporary unemployment benefits during coronavirus pandemic
[link removed] As Coronavirus Deepens Inequality, Inequality Worsens Its Spread
[link removed] Coronavirus shock will likely claim 3 million jobs by summer
[link removed] Class and the Challenge of COVID-19
[link removed] UFCW: Congress is Failing American Workers with Coronavirus Relief Bill that Puts Corporations First
[link removed] AFGE Celebrates Women's History Month

Today's Labor Quote: Barack Obama

"Not everybody can stay home, and we owe a big debt of gratitude to health professionals, transit and airport workers, first responders, and everyone keeping our communities going. Leaders have to step up to support people whose lives and livelihoods take a hit in the weeks ahead."

Today's Labor History

This week's [link removed] Labor History Today podcast: The Great Postal Strike, Watergate and "Casey Jones, the Union Scab" ; Longtime labor lawyer Jules Bernstein on the 1970 postal strike, AFL-CIO president George Meany on the Watergate scandal, and Pete Seeger on "Casey Jones, the Union Scab.
Last week's show: [link removed] Neutron Jack, Joker and Parasite

Police evict retail clerks occupying N.Y. Woolworth's in fight for 40-hour week - 1937

The Post Office's first mass work stoppage in 195 years began in Brooklyn and Manhattan and spread to 210,000 of the nation's 750,000 postal employees. Mail service was virtually paralyzed in several cities, and President Nixon declared a state of emergency. A settlement came after two weeks - 1970

The Los Angeles City Council passes the first living wage ordinance in California. The ordinance required almost all city contractors to pay a minimum wage of $8.50 an hour, or $7.25 if the employer was contributing at least $1.25 toward health benefits, with annual adjustments for inflation - 1997

Wal-Mart agrees to pay a record $11 million to settle a civil immigration case for using illegal immigrants to do overnight cleaning at stores in 21 states - 2005

As the Great Recession continues, Pres. Obama signs a $17.6 billion job-creation measure a day after it is passed by Congress - 2010

- David Prosten

Material published in UNION CITY may be freely reproduced by any recipient; please credit Union City as the source.

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.

Story suggestions, event announcements, campaign reports, Letters to the Editor and other material are welcome, subject to editing for clarity and space; just click on the mail icon below. You can also reach us on Facebook and Twitter by clicking on those icons.

[link removed]

[link removed]

[link removed]

mailto:[email protected]

[link removed]


You are receiving this email because our records indicate that [link removed] [email protected] signed up to receive this newsletter. Click here to [link removed] edit your subscription preferences
To view our Privacy Policy: [link removed]