Union City Radio: 7:15a M-F; WPFW-FM 89.3

Transdev bus driver picket line (ATU 689): Daily 4:00am – 5:00pm
Gates of the Cinder Bed Road Division, 7901 Cinder Bed Road, Lorton, VA

Rally to Support Striking Cinder Bed Bus Garage Workers: Wed, November 6, 12pm – 2pm
WMATA HQ; 600 5th St NW, Washington, DC 20001-2610; Nearest Metro: Judiciary Square (Red)

Ideas @Work: ‘American Factory’: Wed, November 6, 4:30pm – 6:30pm
The U.S. Capitol Visitor Center, First St NE, Washington, DC 20515

Union City Radio: Your Rights at Work: Thu, November 7, 1pm – 2pm
WPFW 89.3 FM or listen online http://www.wpfwfm.org/radio/

Ideas@Work: Beaten Down, Worked Up (with Steven Greenhouse): Thu, November 7, 3:30pm – 5:00pm
AFL-CIO, 815 16th St NW, Washington, DC xxxxxx
RSVP here

photo: Wisconsin ATU members show their support for Transdev strikers; download the sign here, post on Twitter and tag @ATULocal689

Labor helps Dems flip VA Senate and House; bus driver wins in Bowie
It was a good night for labor-supported candidates around the metro region in Tuesday’s elections. In Virginia, “we flipped both the Senate and House of Delegates!” said Virginia Diamond, president of the Northern Virginia Labor Federation. “First time in 23 years!” Diamond hailed the “historic sweep for labor-endorsed candidates at the state and local level,” saying that “Union members worked tirelessly knocking doors and making calls to win this important victory." And in Maryland, bus operator Derrick Mallard was elected to Bowie Maryland's 4th District Council seat. This is the first time running and winning a public office for Mallard, a veteran WMATA worker and a Local 689 member for more than 20 years. "As we move into 2020, it is more important than ever that we keep up our momentum with candidates good for labor and working families up and down the ballot," said Jackie L. Jeter, President of the Metro Washington Council. "We’re proud to support candidates who stand up for working people, advocate for good jobs and fair wages, and reject privatization of public services that put profits ahead of people. We know that Derrick stands for those things, and we’re really proud to see his victory."
- David Stephen; photo: at NoVA's big push last Saturday

Transdev abandons attempt to shut down picket line; big rally today at noon
WMATA contractor Transdev on Tuesday dropped their lawsuit against bus drivers striking at the Cinder Bed Road Bus Garage in Lorton, VA. "The ATU remains fully prepared to defend the Cinder Bed Road Bus Garage workers’ rights in the court room, at the bargaining table, and in the streets," said ATU and ATU Local 689 in a statement. “We await WMATA’s and General Manager Paul Wiedefeld’s decision to send Transdev back into negotiations," they added. "That’s the message we will deliver tomorrow at a rally outside WMATA headquarters.” See flyer below and Calendar above for rally details.

How to support CSA’s Holiday Basket Program
The holidays are fast approaching, which means it’s time to consider donating to the Community Services Agency’s Holiday Basket Program. Deadline for Thanksgiving contributions is Thursday, November 14 and for Christmas the deadline is December 11. There are three ways to help:
1. Make a financial contribution to the Community Services Agency earmarked for "Holiday Baskets'
2. Donate grocery store gift cards from area union grocery stores
3. Adopt a needy family for Christmas/Holidays and provide gift cards, toys, clothing, etc.
CLICK HERE for complete details.

Labor Chorus program book ad deadline 11/15
The DC Labor Chorus’ free “Evening of Favorite and Sacred Songs Concert” is set for Saturday, December 7 and the Chorus -- described in the Washington Post as the 'Musical Arm of the Resistance' -- is once again defraying expenses with a program book. Ads range from $25 for a 2-line greeting to $125 (1/4-page), $250 (1/2-page) or $400 (full). Deadline is November 15; click here to reserve your ad. photo: Matt McClain/The Washington Post

Today's Labor Quote: George Meany

“The labor movement's political activity is aimed at encouraging the greatest possible participation in elections. Democracy cannot succeed if only the rich and powerful have and use the votes.”

Meany was a key figure in the creation of the AFL-CIO, serving as the AFL-CIO's first president, from 1955 to 1979.

Today's Labor History

Labor History Today (11/3): Precarious work in the movies
Click here to check out this week's Labor History Today podcast. Tom Zaniello talks with Sherry Linkon about his next book, an exploration of media accounts of precarious work, ranging from Edward R. Murrow's famous 1960 documentary Harvest of Shame to the storytelling of modern video games.
Kalmanovitz Associate Director Lane Windham on “The Uprising of the 20,000” in 1909.
October was LGBTQ History Month, and for this week’s Cool Things from the Meany Archive, Chloe Danyo digs into the archive’s Pride At Work collection and comes up with a historic pamphlet on organizing for lesbian and gay rights in unions.
Last week's show: (10/27/19): Cannabis organizing; 2007 Writers Guild Strike

A coal mine explosion in Spangler, Pa. kills 79. The mine had been rated gaseous in 1918, but at the insistence of new operators it was rated as non-gaseous even though miners had been burned by gas on at least four occasions - 1922

Labor history courtesy David Prosten. photo courtesy Union Timeline

Material published in UNION CITY may be freely reproduced by any recipient; please credit Union City as the source for all news items and www.unionist.com as the source for Today’s Labor History.

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. JACKIE JETER, PRESIDENT.

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