Labor Radio Podcast Weekly: Black Work Talk; Working to Live in Southwest Washington; Willamette Wake Up; Labor Express Radio; Laborlines; Breaktime Breakdown; Belabored; Grit Northwest; San Francisco Mime Troupe.
Coalition of frontline workers urges COVID-19 labor protections
Members of unions representing Maryland’s frontline workers gathered on Tuesday to launch Protect Maryland Workers, a coalition advocating for legislation that would protect grocery, health care, transit and other essential employees during pandemics and other emergencies. The proposed legislation, called the Maryland Essential Workers Protections Act, would require employers to provide increased support and safety protocols to essential workers during an emergency. The coalition comprises over 30 organizations, including local chapters of labor unions, progressive political organizations and other advocacy groups. Leading the development of the legislation was the Maryland and D.C. division of the 1199SEIU, a regional union of health care employees. Ricarra Jones, 1199SEIU’s political director, said she decided to create Protect Maryland Workers after listening to essential workers’ stories of being put in dangerous situations at work throughout the pandemic, with some complaints spanning a variety of industries. Read more here in The Maryland Daily Record
Right to Recall wins in Baltimore; Moving forward in DC
The Right to Recall movement is gaining momentum in the DMV, reports The Catholic Labor Network in its latest newsletter. “The movement demands that employers reopening after a pandemic closure recall their furloughed employees instead of hiring low-cost replacements, a special problem in the hotel and restaurant industry,” the Network reported. “In Baltimore, the movement hit a roadblock when outgoing Mayor Bernard Young – spurning an appeal from representatives of nine Catholic parishes across the city – vetoed a ‘right to recall’ bill sent to him by the Baltimore City Council. Happily, Monday night the Baltimore City Council voted 10-4 to override his veto and protect the futures of thousands of hospitality workers in Charm City.” The DC bill comes up for s final vote next week; click here to tell councilmembers to pass a strong Right to Return to Work bill. Find out more about The Catholic Labor Network here.
News Guild: “No place for harassment in our union”
In the wake of the New York Times story last weekend about sexual misconduct allegations against the former president of the NewsGuild's Pittsburgh local, Washington-Baltimore News Guild president Steve Cook on Wednesday reminded the local’s members that the union “has zero tolerance for sexual harassment and assault by any of our leaders—whether at the local or unit level—staff or representatives, and we are committed to investigating any such allegations quickly and fairly for violations of the CWA’s Policy on Mutual Respect.” Cook added that while “Investigations inside the workplace are primarily the responsibility of HR,” members who “have information about such misconduct in our union at any level—CWA, the NewsGuild, or the Washington-Baltimore News Guild” are urged to contact WBNG leadership. Harassment complaints or tips also may be sent to [email protected]. Cook also shared an open letter from News Guild president Jon Schleuss declaring “No place for harassment in our union.”
Today's Labor Quote: Universal Declaration of Human Rights
“Everyone has the right to form and join trade unions for the protection of his interests”
Signed on International Human Rights Day in 1948 at the United Nations. photo: Eleanor Roosevelt and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, November 1949.
Today's Labor History
This week’s Labor History Today podcast: America’s last general strike
Last week’s show: Monopoly and Class Struggle: The games we play
First sit-down strike in U.S. called by IWW at General Electric in Schenectady, N.Y. - 1906
American Federation of Teachers Local 89 in Atlanta, Georgia disaffiliates from the national union because of an AFT directive that all its locals integrate. A year later, the AFT expelled all locals that refused to do so - 1956
- David Prosten
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