Grocery union wants limits on store customers to protect workers, customers
“Mayor Bowser needs to act now to put a policy in place in the District of no more than 10 customers per 10,000 square feet with a maximum of 50 customers in a store at a time.” That’s the demand by UFCW Local 400, which represents thousands of grocery store workers in the metro DC area. ““These actions will not just protect our members, but also everyone in the community who continues to need access to food in a safe and healthy location,” Local 400 said on Friday. The union also continued its call for grocery store workers to be designated first responders. “A shortage of personal protecting equipment should not be an excuse to delay designating grocery store workers as first responders now so that they can have access to District-provided testing sites, which are currently restricted to healthcare workers, first responders, and high-risk residents. Grocery workers on the frontlines of this crisis need this testing now and there is no reason to delay,” said Local 400. “The time to act is now, now now!” Click here to sign the petition.
Montgomery County employees reach agreement on working during pandemic
After more than two weeks of “often contentious negotiations,” UFCW 1994/MCGEO reports that they’ve reached an agreement with Montgomery County on how to proceed during the COVID-19 pandemic. From the outset of the negotiations, the leadership of the three unions representing Montgomery County employees, fire fighters and police officers “agreed and insisted that all our members exposed to risks associated with COVID-19 be treated equally. We are all in this together, and this agreement reflects everyone's commitment to that ideal,” said Local 1994 president Gino Renne. The agreement, which covers comp leave, pay differentials, and telework or administrative leave, runs through June 20, unless the Maryland state emergency is rescinded before then. The agreement is designed to protect workers and their families “and reduce risks as best we can,” said Renne. “For those whose jobs require exposure to the public, the agreement is our attempt to adequately and appropriately reward you for the higher risks you are taking.”
photo: cleaning staff at work; photo from UFCW 1994 Twitter feed
Ullico donates $10K for COVID-19 emergency assistance
“Solidarity and having each other’s back has always been the labor movement’s mission,” said Ed Smith, President and CEO of Ullico, which donated $10,000 to the Community Services Agency’s Emergency Assistance Fund to support area workers suffering economic fallout impacted from the COVID-10 crisis. “Now more than ever, we’re proud to help working men and women endure this crisis and I urge every organization to do the same.” Ullico is the only labor-owned insurance and investment company. "The generosity of the local labor community has provided the hope and help we need in these difficult times,” said CSA Executive Director Sonte DuCote. "We are very grateful for Ullico's support!" Click here to find out more about how you, your union or organization can help union members affected by COVID-19.
MWC COVID-19 UPDATES
Legislative updates: click here for the latest updates, including "Norton thanks 25 senators for letter supporting coronavirus funding for the District of Columbia."
Unemployment Insurance: click here for the latest helpful information on UI.
CSA: latest resource updates posted here, including The CASH Campaign of MD.
Today's Labor Quote: Rose Schneiderman
“Every week I must learn of the untimely death of one of my sister workers…Too much blood has been spilled. I know from my experience it is up to the working people to save themselves. The only way they can save themselves is by a strong working-class movement”
Rose Schneiderman, born on this date in 1882, was a prominent member of the New York Women's Trade Union League, and an active participant in the Uprising of the 20,000, the massive strike of shirtwaist workers in New York City led by the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union in 1909.
Today's Labor History
This week’s Labor History Today podcast: Coronavirus essential workers’ rights
On this week’s show, organizer and union rep John Barry on “Coronavirus ‘essential workers’ have rights too;” ethnographer Candacy Taylor on "Beauty Shop Culture and the Labor of Hairdressing" and Tales from the Reuther Library podcast host Dan Goldner celebrates Frances Perkins’ birthday.
Last week’s show: Socialists, suffragettes and fear at work
The first slave revolt in the U.S. occurs at a slave market in New York City’s Wall Street area. Twenty-one blacks were executed for killing nine whites. The city responded by strengthening its slave codes - 1712
A sympathy strike by Chicago Teamsters in support of clothing workers leads to daily clashes between strikebreakers and armed police against hundreds and sometimes thousands of striking workers and their supporters. By the time the fight ended after 103 days, 21 people had been killed and 416 injured - 1905
What was to become a two-month strike by minor league umpires begins, largely over money: $5,500 to $15,000 for a season running 142 games. The strike ended with a slight improvement in pay - 2006
- David Prosten; photo: Amy Katz/ZUMA in Mother Jones; Grocery Clerks Are Now Emergency Personnel in Several States. California’s Workers Want In
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