Labor responds to mandated COVID-19 vaccines for DC government employees

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

Wednesdays with Warner for the PRO Act: Wed, August 11, 8:15am – 9:15am
Two locations! Click here for details

Warner Wednesday Rally In Norfolk, VA: Wed, August 11, 11:30am – 12:30pm
101 W. Main Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

Union City Radio: Your Rights at Work: Thu, August 12, 1pm – 2pm

WPFW 89.3 FM or listen online.

Arlington Dems Labor Caucus: Thu, August 12, 6pm – 8pm

Meeting of union members and friends of labor in Arlington.

Solidarity with IATSE 868 at Strathmore: Fri, August 13, 6pm – 8pm

Ticket sellers at Strathmore are fighting back against union-busting. Meet on the 4th floor of the parking garage at the Grosvenor-Strathmore Metro station.

Richard Trumka to Lie in Repose at AFL-CIO Headquarters: Sat, August 14, 10am – 3pm
AFL-CIO, 815 Black Lives Matter Plz NW, Washington, DC xxxxxx, USA (map)

CLICK HERE to listen to last week’s Your Rights At Work show: Labor historian Joe McCartin on the life and legacy of AFL-CIO president Rich Trumka, who died yesterday. PLUS: "I've Never Been More Optimistic": A Conversation with AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, on the AFL-CIO's State of the Unions podcast.

Labor responds to mandated COVID-19 vaccines for DC government employees

Saying that “We appreciate Mayor Bowser inviting labor to be a part of the implementation,” MWC president Dyana Forester joined DC Mayor Muriel Bowser at yesterday’s announcement that DC government employees must be fully vaccinated against #COVID19 by Sept. 19. Noting that ““We have lost leaders in the labor movement to COVID and we are doing everything we can to protect our members,” Forester said that “We understand it’s (the mayor’s) role to follow national guidelines to protect all residents of our city. Vaccines are a safe and effective method for preventing COVID-19 hospitalizations and death.” All government workers in DC will now be required to be fully vaccinated by September 19, 2021 and all new hires after August 14, 2021. Any unvaccinated employee, even those who qualify for medical or religious exemptions, will be required to conduct weekly COVID-19 testing.

UFCW 400 reaches tentative agreement with Kroger
After weeks of negotiations, conducted both over Zoom and in person with the assistance of a federal mediator, UFCW 400 has reached a tentative agreement with Kroger. “This tentative agreement accomplishes the goals we set for this bargaining,” said Local 400. “We maintain a say in our health care, put real money in our pockets, and get additional paid time off.” The agreement, recommended for ratification by the Local 400 bargaining advisory committee, will be reviewed by members on August 23.

Trumka service to be live streamed
President Trumka’s Thursday 11am ET service will be live streamed; visit this link for details. President Trumka will lie in repose at AFL-CIO headquarters this Saturday, August 14th, visiting hours are 10am-3pm. The AFL-CIO is working with the family on planning a public memorial service in the D.C. area in the next few weeks, and will share those details as soon as they are confirmed. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests considering donating to the Trumka Family Trustee Scholarship at President Trumka’s alma mater, Penn State. Donations can be made online at raise.psu.edu/TrumkaScholarship, or via check to: The Pennsylvania State University (note in memo line: Trumka Family Trustee Scholarship/SCBTK), Penn State Donor and Member Services, 2583 Gateway Dr., Suite 130, Bristol Place One, State College, PA 16801. (Should you need it, Penn State Tax ID number: 24-6000376)

Labor On The Move: DC JWJ staff updates
DC Jobs With Justice has two new DC JWJ organizers, Shayna Lonoaea-Alexander and Melinda Fiedler. Shayna will be taking on DC JWJ’s rent control related work while Melinda will be managing DC JWJ's Just Pay enforcement campaign and supporting their solidarity campaigns. Organizers Nikko Bilitza and Ina Padua are moving on, Nikko to grad school and Ina to Color of Change. Executive Director Elizabeth Falcon will be on maternity leave with her first child starting August 27. Celebrate at a Welcome/Goodbye Happy Hour tonight at 6p at Wundergarten.

Today's Labor Quote: Big Bill Haywood

“We desire to obtain control of the government that we may improve the condition of the working people generally."

TODAY'S LABOR HISTORY

This week’s Labor History Today podcast: Remembering Rich Trumka (1949-2021); Last week's show: Keokuk before the strike.

Federal troops drive some 1,200 jobless workers from Washington D.C. Led by unemployed activist Charles "Hobo" Kelley the group's "soldiers" include young journalist Jack London and William Haywood, a young miner-cowboy called "Big Bill" - 1884

One hundred "platform men" employed by the privately owned United Railroads streetcar service in San Francisco abandon their streetcars, tying up many of the main lines in and out of the city center - 1917

International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union receives CIO charter - 1937

- David Prosten

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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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