TODAY'S LABOR CALENDAR; click here for complete and latest listings
Union City Radio: 7:15am daily
WPFW-FM 89.3 FM; click here to hear today's report Wednesdays with Warner: Wed, February 2, 8:15am – 9:15am
Windmill Hill Park, 500 South Lee St., Alexandria, VA. (map)
What Does Transit Equity Mean for Transit Workers? Wed, February 2, 12pm – 1pm
Livestream in preparation for 2022 Transit Equity Day; RSVP HERE
Arts Union Caucus: Wed, February 2, 3pm – 4pm
RSVP HERE
Union City Radio: Your Rights at Work: Thu, February 3, 1pm – 2pm
WPFW 89.3 FM or listen online.
THIS WEEK'S GUESTS: ATU Local 689 President Jackson and LNS Maryland Director Elizabeth Bunn on Transit Equity Day; Michael Honey on "Revolutionary Nonviolence, Organizing for Freedom" and The Checkout Podcast host Errol Schweizer.
Memorial Mass for AFL-CIO President John Sweeney*: Thu, February 3, 6:30pm – 7:30pm
St. Camillus, 1600 St. Camillus Drive in Silver Spring MD. *on the first anniversary of his death.
Labor Book Club: Thu, February 3, 7pm – 8pm
RSVP HERE
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Transit workers win protections from assault
Federal lawmakers last week announced new measures to protect transit employees while on the job. The bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act requires transit and rail agencies to implement risk-reduction programs, including assault mitigation infrastructure, which can include barriers around a bus operator; de-escalation training and blind spot reduction to protect pedestrians. The law also mandates federal reporting of assaults on employees. "As an operator, I have been verbally and physically assaulted on more than one occasion,” said transit worker Darlene Knox. “I was hit with a metal object, then a double assault took place," she said. "I have to work to earn a living. While at work, I shouldn't have to fight to stay alive." Members of ATU locals 689 and 1300 joined U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin, Congressman John Sarbanes, and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott at Mondawmin Bus and Metro Station to tout the key safety provisions the ATU had advocated for in the landmark legislation to protect transit workers from the epidemic of attacks on the job.
- adapted from a report by WBALTV |
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Report: “Invest in Transit Equity, Invest in Transit Workers”
This Friday, February 4, on Transit Equity Day and Rosa Parks’ birthday, the Alliance for a Just Society, Labor Network for Sustainability and TransitCenter will be releasing a new report showing how investments in the public transit workforce are needed to reverse service cuts in cities and states across the country. The report is being released as more than 40 events are being held across 20 states for Transit Equity Day (the DC event is today at noon; see Calendar, above). The report highlights how working people and people of color are most impacted by these cuts, and how investments in the public transit workforce — in addition to providing better service — boost local economies, expand opportunity and racial equity, and increase environmental sustainability. The report calls on transit agencies to work with their employees' union representatives to prioritize workforce investments.
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AFSCME “Never Quit” winner provides ‘safe space,’ ‘comfort’ to D.C. elementary school students
Saqiyna Gray, known as “Ms. K” to students and their families at Stanton Elementary, is a paraprofessional/small group reading specialist. But everyone around her, including the principal, agrees that she is so much more than that. “I feel like Ms. K is really like the heartbeat of Stanton,” says Stanton principal Harold McCray. “I’ve never seen someone work as hard as her. She’s one of the first ones here and one of the last ones to leave.” For her service to her community, Gray, a member of AFSCME Local 2921 (District Council 20), is a winner of the union’s Never Quit Service Award, which recognizes public service workers who go above and beyond the call of duty to make their communities better. “Ms. K, to me, has this uncanny ability to be firm but so nurturing at the same time,” fellow teacher Jessica Salute says. “She just has it so naturally, and so for the kids, I think they feel the ultimate comfort with her because they know she expects so much from them, but she follows that up with all the care, love and respect that they need.” Read more here.
- photo by Javier Pierrend |
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Solidarity Center Report: Striking Casino Workers in Cambodia Protest Union Leaders' Arrests
Striking hotel and casino workers at NagaWorld in Cambodia are protesting the arrest of union leaders on the picket line. Their arrest has drawn worldwide condemnation, including International Labor Organization Director General Guy Ryder. Thousands of slot machine workers, dealers, housekeepers and technicians have been on strike for more than a month, demanding the reinstatement of 365 employees who were fired in April. Find out more at Solidarity Center.
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Today’s Labor Quote: Virginia AFL-CIO
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Today's Labor History
This week’s Labor History Today podcast: “America Works” launches new season. Last week's episode: The Bread Uprising.
January 2
Sixteen thousand silk workers in Paterson, NJ and 32,000 in Lawrence, Mass. strike for shorter work week with no cut in pay - 1919
Legal secretary Iris Rivera fired for refusing to make coffee; secretaries across Chicago protest - 1977
The 170-day lockout (although management called it a strike) of 22,000 steelworkers by USX Corp. ends with a pay cut but greater job security. It was the longest work stoppage in the history of the U.S. steel industry - 1987
January 3
The US Supreme Court rules the United Hatters Union violated the Sherman Antitrust Act by organizing a nationwide boycott of Danbury Hatters of Connecticut - 1908
U.S. Supreme Court upholds the Wages and Hours (later Fair Labor Standards) Act banning child labor and establishing the 40-hour work week - 1941
- David Prosten.
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Hiring Hall: DC-area union jobs, plus click here for more listings! |
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Communications
Digital Communications Specialist – Communications Department, AFSCME, based in Washington, DC (Posted: 1/31/2022)
Social Media Specialist, NNU, based in Oakland, CA; Glendale, CA; San Diego, CA; Sacramento, CA; or the Washington, DC area (Posted: 2/1/2022)
Communication Director, NWSEO, based in Washington, DC / remote (Posted: 1/31/2022)
Communications Specialist, UNITE HERE, may be based in Washington, DC or Philadelphia, PA (Posted: 1/27/2022) District of Columbia, Pennsylvania
Digital Organizing Manager, SEIU 500, based in Gaithersburg, MD (Posted: 1/27/2022) Maryland
Info Tech
Database Analyst I – Data & Analytics Department, AFSCME, based in Washington, DC (Posted: 1/28/2022)
Legal
(NVAC) Staff Counsel – General Counsel’s Office, AFGE, based in Washington, DC (Posted: 1/28/2022)
Attorney, KCNF, based in Washington, DC (Posted: 1/31/2022)
Misc
Program Coordinator – Department of Academic Freedom, Tenure, and Governance, AAUP, based in Washington, DC or Remote (Posted: 1/31/2022)
Senior Program/Policy Specialist/Analyst – Health Policy/Benefits, NEA, based in Washington, DC (Posted: 1/27/2022) District of Columbia
Union Staff (Posted: 2/1/2022), NNU
Assistant Director for Federal Initiatives, SEIU, based in Washington, DC (Posted: 1/28/2022) District of Columbia
Senior Accountant I, UANPF, based in Alexandria, VA (Posted: 1/26/2022) District of Columbia, Virginia
Contract Administration Representative, SEIU 500, based in Gaithersburg, MD (Posted: 1/27/2022) Maryland
Organizing
Senior Organizer, SEIU 500, based in Gaithersburg, MD (Posted: 1/27/2022) Maryland
Organizer, SEIU 500, based in Gaithersburg, MD (Posted: 1/27/2022) Maryland
Bilingual (Spanish/English) Internal Organizer/Grievance Representative, SEIU 1, based in Cincinnati, OH (Posted: 1/28/2022)
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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. DYANA FORESTER, PRESIDENT.
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