DC Labor FilmFest: Celebrating 20 Years of Great Labor Films!
Click here for tickets. All films available now: WORK SONGS * THE LUNCHROOM * IDA B. WELLS: A PASSION FOR JUSTICE * MISS MARX * THE CHAMBERMAID * THE WHISTLE AT EATON FALLS * NASRIN * THE NEW DEAL FOR ARTISTS

Union City Radio: 7:15am daily
WPFW-FM 89.3 FM; click here to hear today's report

Missed last week’s Your Rights At Work radio show? Catch the podcast here. After Wednesday’s shootings in San Jose, Nurse Consultant – and DCNA member -- Laverne Plater discusses workplace violence and mental health. Strathmore Music Center is threatening to replace ticket-sellers there with machines; Treasurers and Ticket Sellers Union, IATSE Local 868 Business Agent Anne Vantine tells us what’s at stake. DC workers notch a victory against wage theft; Elizabeth Falcon, Executive Director at DC Jobs With Justice, reports. Plus: WPFW’s Spring Pledge Drive; click here to support Your Rights At Work on Union City Radio (be sure to scroll down to Your Rights At Work) on the Jazz & Justice station in the nation’s capital.

Washington Gas workers reach agreement, avoiding strike
Teamsters 96 have reached a tentative agreement with AltaGas negotiators on a new contract for Washington Gas workers. “We’ve won a fair contract that delivers more than 15% in our paychecks over five years and protects quality, affordable healthcare for our members,” said Local 96 in a statement. Last week the Local 96 members had overwhelmingly approved a strike if no settlement was reached.

Labor Photo: IATSE 868 & Friends protest at Strathmore
At Sunday’s protest by IATSE 868, the Treasurers and Ticket Sellers Union, and allies. More actions are planned; details to follow.
- photos/collage by Chris Garlock

RetroLabor: 1980
This photo is from the 1980 Labor Songs and Labor Lore class at the George Meany Center, which was the precursor of the Great Labor Arts Exchange (this year’s edition runs June 17-20; click here for details). How many people can you recognize? Joe Glazer, Archie Green, Mike Seeger, Larry Penn, Joyce Kornbluh, Paul McKenna, Jerry Levinsky, Bobby McGee and Tom Harriman.

Today's Labor Quote: Teamsters Local 96

“Local 96 members sent a clear, united message of union power with a 97% YES vote to authorize a strike.”

TODAY'S LABOR HISTORY

This week’s Labor History Today podcast: The 1913 Dublin Lock-out. Last week’s show: Shootout in Matewan; General strike in KC

Congress passes the Erdman Act, providing for voluntary mediation or arbitration of railroad disputes and prohibiting contracts that discriminate against union labor or release employers from legal liability for on-the-job injuries - 1898

3,500 immigrant miners begin Clifton-Morenci, Ariz. copper strike – 1903

12,500 longshoremen strike the Pacific coast, from San Diego to Bellingham. Demands included a closed shop and a wage increase to 55 cents an hour for handling general cargo - 1916

As many as 60,000 railroad shopmen strike to protest cuts in wages – 1922

Extinguishing the light of hope in the hearts and aspirations of workers around the world, the Mexican government abolishes siestas –- a mid-afternoon nap and work break which lengthened the work day but got people through brutally hot summer days - 1944

Dakota Beef meatpackers win 7-hour sit-down strike over speed-ups, St. Paul, Minn. – 2000

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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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