LABOR CALENDAR; click here for latest listings
Union City Radio: 7:15am 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
Show your support for the strike: download the sign here, post on Twitter and tag @ATULocal689
ACS Washington, DC: The Past, Present, and Future of the U.S. Labor Movement: Tue, November 12, 5:30pm – 7:00pm
CWA Lobby Conference Room 501 Third Street Northwest Washington, DC 20001
REGISTER HERE
Solidarity with MAF Workers: Planning Call: Wed, November 13, 2pm – 3pm
Planning for Black Friday pickets at Guess Jeans to support workers (photo) at the Marciano Art Foundation (MAF) in Los Angeles fired after they organized with AFSCME.
Evening Conversation with Prince George's County Executive Angela Alsobrooks:Wed, November 13, 6pm – 8pm
Painters District Council 51, 4700 Boston Way, Lanham, MD 20706
RSVP to [email protected]
Fredericksburg Labor Meeting: Wed, November 13, 6pm – 8pm
Mill Creek Clubhouse, 6304 Cullin Stone Way. Spotsylvania, VA
Alexandria Dems Labor Caucus: Wed, November 13, 7:30pm – 9:00pm
Alexandria Democratic Committee, 618 N Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314
Transdev workers at Fairfax Connector overwhelmingly authorize strikeFairfax Connector bus drivers, another privatized transportation system in the region that's managed by the French multinational corporation Transdev, have overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike if necessary. The vote by more than 600 members of ATU Local 1764 comes as ATU Local 689 Transdev workers have been on strike since October 24. Local 1764 is currently in contract negotiations with Transdev, and workers are frustrated over poor treatment and unfair labor practices. Their current contract expires on November 30. “This strike vote sends a loud and clear message to Transdev that these workers demand to be treated with the respect and dignity they deserve,” says ATU International President John Costa. “A strike at the Connector would impact 91 routes and would paralyze the entire region. Once again Transdev has demonstrated their blatant disregard for their riders, their workers, and the community at large.” A rally has been scheduled for this Saturday, November 16 at 11am at Old Town Square in Fairfax, VA to link the struggles between Cinder Bed Road and the Fairfax Connector. Facebook rally calendar listing here; please post and share.
Tough talks at Safeway continue; "Time to turn up the pressure" says union
Cerberus Capital Management, the private equity firm that owns Albertsons/Safeway, is still proposing to abandon Safeway’s promise to secure the pension benefits of 29,000 current retirees and another 30,000 future retirees, reports UFCW Local 400. "And while Giant has indicated a willingness to work with us to keep its promise to our retirees, there is still a long way to go to get a fair deal that meets our goals."
In response, hundreds of Giant & Safeway shop stewards and members of the Contract Action Team held protests at three Safeway stores last Thursday to put pressure on the company to keep its promise to provide a secure retirement.
"Now we are preparing to escalate our pressure on the company to negotiate a fair deal. We will not allow Safeway to abandon its commitment to retirees." This week, the union will announce a new series of actions "to put pressure on Safeway to do the right thing. We need everyone to stay united and get involved while negotiations continue."
1970 Garrett County road workers strike historical marker approved
The proposal for a roadside historical marker to recognize the 1970 Garrett County road workers strike has been accepted, “pending final approval,” reports Len Shindel, the union retiree (USW and IBEW) who’s been working on the project. “A monument to workers may seem a small thing,” says IUOE 99 delegate Kathleen Moors, “but it is a big thing in Garrett County where we have very low union density and a lot of building and education to do.” Added Shindel, “Thanks for helping spread the history and make it relevant.” Find out more on the Labor History Today podcast: A Tale of Two Strikes, Part 1 and Part 2. photo ccourtesy Walter P. Reuther Library
Today's Labor Quote: John A. Byrne
Byrne was the author of the 1999 biography “Chainsaw,” about CEO Al Dunlap, infamous for inflating short-term profits by firing thousands of employees in the name of efficiency and cutting costs. Byrne later said:
“(Dunlap) sucked the very life and soul out of companies and people. He stole dignity, purpose, and sense out of organizations and replaced those ideals with fear and intimidation.”
On this date in 1996, “Chainsaw Al” Dunlap announced he was restructuring the Sunbeam Corp. and laid off 6,000 workers—half the workforce. Sunbeam later nearly collapsed after a series of scandals under Dunlap’s leadership that cost investors billions of dollars.
Today's Labor History
Labor History Today (11/10): Debs, Sanders, Socialism and 2020
Click here to check out this week's Labor History Today podcast. Leon Fink talks with Patrick Dixon about Eugene Debs, Bernie Sanders, American socialism and the 2020 race for president of the United States.
On this week’s Cool Things from the Meany Archive, Alan Wierdak and Chloe Danyo explore a document from two decades ago that links the newly-formed Pride@Work with a push to include alternative medicine in Medicare for All legislation.
Last week's show: (11/3/19): Precarious work in the movies
Ellis Island in New York closes after providing the gateway for 12 million immigrants from 1892 to 1924. From 1924 to 1954 it was mostly used as a detention and deportation center for undocumented immigrants - 1954
Labor history courtesy David Prosten. photo courtesy Ellis Island National Museum of Immigration.
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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. JACKIE JETER, PRESIDENT.
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