NoVA Labor Arts Caucus: Wed, January 6, 3pm – 4pm
Meeting of unions representing broadcast and performing arts to address common concerns about covid, unemployment, organizing and bargaining. Contact Jess Speaker for the link: [email protected]

Catholic Labor Network Briefing for 2021 MD Legislative Session: Wed, January 6, 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Click here to register.

Alexandria Dems Labor Caucus: Wed, January 6, 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Meeting of union members and community allies in Alexandria. Contact [email protected] for the link.

Union City Radio: Your Rights at Work: Thu, January 7, 1pm – 2pm
WPFW 89.3 FM or listen online
This week's guests: UNITE HERE 25's John Boardman & SEIU 32BJ's Jaime Contreras on how DC-area workers are surviving the pandemic; Peter Cole on "Ben Fletcher: The Life and Times of a Black Wobbly."

Arlington Dems Labor Caucus: Thu, January 7, 6pm – 7pm
Special guest speaker from George Mason University to address impact of the GMU Arlington campus on workers with Delegate Paul Krizek.

New year, same challenges for American workers? Teen Vogue labor columnist Kim Kelly & AFL-CIO director of policy Damon Silvers talk about it with Union City Radio's Chris Garlock on tonight's Labor Radio Podcast Network livestream at 7p EDT. Plus “Donnie Took a Dump All over Twitter” from folksinger George Mann!

Final results of Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff election – which drew massive labor participation including locally -- were not available at presstime; follow @dclabor on Twitter for the latest updates.

COVID relief checks: half a loaf
Half a loaf is better than none, but it’s still just half a loaf. The $600 COVID relief checks – delayed for months by the GOP in Congress -- have begun distribution, and some in the metro Washington area are beginning to receive payment. To qualify for the relief payment, you must have an adjusted gross income up to $75,000, or up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns. Additionally, those qualified will also receive $600 for each qualifying child. “This new assistance falls miserably short of the assistance that too many working families in DC, Maryland and Virginia need, but for too many, even this $600 may make the difference in paying rent, buying groceries, or paying down debt as we continue to live in the reality of the COVID epidemic,” said MWC President Dyana Forester. “The labor movement will continue to fight for the necessary relief that is so desperately needed and we will not stop until we get it.” Payments will arrive in the same form as the prior round in 2020. To check your payment status, visit the Get My Payment portal.
- David Stephen, MWC Political and Legislative Director

Rest In Power: Byron Charlton
The AFL-CIO is mourning the death of Byron Charlton (TNG-CWA). Most recently, Byron worked as a legislative representative at the AFL-CIO, “but his commitment to and history with the labor movement was deep,” reported https://aflcio.org/2021/1/4/service-solidarity-spotlight-rest-peace-byron-charlton the AFL-CIO Now blog. “Byron was a trade unionist to his core. From his days as a steelworker in Radford, Virginia, to his central role in organizing the Newport News Shipyard to his advocacy for the labor movement’s agenda on Capitol Hill, particularly around federal employee issues, Byron’s service to our movement spanned half a century.” He also served a stint as assistant to the executive director of the African American Labor Center. “His joyful presence will be deeply missed.” Read more here. An online service for Byron will be held this Saturday, January 9 at 1:30pm.
A service for Scott Reynolds will be held this Saturday, January 9 at 4:00pm (click here to RSVP). Read more about Scott here.

Today’s labor quote: Susan B. Anthony

“Join the union, girls, and together say Equal Pay for Equal Work."

Today's Labor History
This week's Labor History Today podcast: Cutting along the Color Line; Quincy Mills, Professor of History at the University of Maryland in College Park on black barbers, the evolution of their trade, and its political meaning as a skilled form of labor.
Last week’s show: Cordwainers strike of 1805

The Toronto Trades and Labour Council endorses the principle of equal pay for equal work between men and women - 1882

8,000 workers strike at Youngstown Sheet & Tube. The following day the strikers’ wives and other family members join in the protest. Company guards use tear gas bombs and fire into the crowd; three strikers are killed, 25 wounded - 1916
graphic: William Gropper, “Youngstown Strike” 1937, Butler Institute of American Art

- David Prosten

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