Support Substitute Teachers (WTU 6): Mon, February 7, 3:30pm – 6:00pm
The John Wilson Building, 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004

FILM/BOOK/TALK: Confessions of A Union Buster: Tue, February 8, 7pm – 9pm
FREE; RSVP HERE

Working-Class Writing: From the Community to the Archives: Wed, February 9, 10am – 12pm
REGISTER HERE

Baltimore Labor Council meeting: Thu, February 17, 7pm – 9pm
Email for call-in details: [email protected]

Missed last week’s Your Rights At Work radio show? Catch the podcast here: Transit Equity Day, grocery prices & "Revolutionary Nonviolence”

Union Kitchen workers stage 2-day strike
“Union yes, coffee no!” was the chant Saturday as striking Union Kitchen workers and their supporters picketed outside the store’s 9th Street location. As a bitterly cold wind froze fingers, management sent out hot coffee, but the picketers rejected the “scab” brew in favor of their own. A resounding cheer in the affirmative was the response as one speaker asked “How many of y’all want to make a living wage so you can live in this freakin’ city?” And an even bigger cheer after this: “How many of y’all want some job security so you can’t get fired for some bullshit?” Workers at two Union Kitchen locations staged a 2-day strike over the weekend after they said management retaliated against them for trying to organize a union, United Kitchen Workers, part of UFCW Local 400.

New America employees form staff union
A supermajority of eligible staff at New America, a nonpartisan DC-based public policy think tank last week requested voluntary recognition of their union, New America United (NAU). The union, which represents over 60 staff members across a wide range of roles, has affiliated with the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU). “We are all honored to work at New America and are deeply committed to its mission,” NAU’s organizing committee wrote in their letter requesting recognition. “We believe that a union is the best way to work towards the vision of New America we all hope to fulfill.” Read more here.

Tysons Capital One Hall box office workers organize
Box office employees at the new Capital One Hall in Tysons, Virginia, have voted to form a new union to be represented by IATSE Local 868 (Treasurers & Ticket Sellers), reports Jillian Gibson, Local 868’s Secretary and Political Coordinator. “After certification of the results, our next step is to sit down at the bargaining table with SMG/ASM Global to negotiate a contract,” says Gibson. “We are very excited by our success - 868’s first Virginia venue.”

Maskless Youngkin puts Safeway shoppers and workers’ health at risk, UFCW 400 charges
Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin’s decision to not wear a mask at a press event he held Friday at an Alexandria Safeway was reckless and disrespectful, putting workers’ and customers’ health at risk, the union representing Safeway employees charged. “Words cannot do justice to how irresponsible the governor’s behavior was,” said UFCW Local 400 President Mark Federici. “By refusing Safeway’s request that all customers wear masks and by failing to keep a six-foot distance from our members, he put their lives and health at risk. Gov. Youngkin owes our members and every customer present at Safeway an apology.” A video of a Safeway shopper calling out Youngkin for going maskless went viral on Friday. Read more here.

City Workers in Virginia’s Tidewater Region Demand Collective Bargaining Rights, End to Jim Crow Legacy
In January, municipal workers in two of the largest cities in Virginia’s Tidewater Region took their demands for a real voice for safety, dignity, living wages and an end to institutional racism on the job to their city councils. UE organizing committees in both Virginia Beach and Newport News were joined by allies from the faith community as they asked their respective city councils to pass resolutions supporting collective bargaining. A new law, effective since May of 2021, allows municipal workers in Virginia to exercise the right to collective bargaining once their city council passes a resolution supporting it. Five local governments across Virginia have passed such resolutions to date. The new law partially overturns the state’s ban on collective bargaining by public employees, a racist legacy of the Jim Crow era.

Union Leader Elected to People's Council on Eve of Myanmar Coup Anniversary
Union leader Phyo Sandar Soe was elected to a five-member People's Council in Myanmar, as unions, workers and others push for a return to democracy and stand strong in the face of the military junta's brutal repression. “We are facing a bloody crackdown, but all people protect each other. We are finding solutions to fight back,” Sandar said on a Solidarity Center Podcast last year. “That’s why I want to tell our brothers and sisters to endure this duration because we have very high motivation to fight back against the junta.” Find out more at Solidarity Center.

Today’s labor quote: Mark Federici

“If Gov. Youngkin wants to earn the support of Virginia’s working men and women, he’s off to disastrous start here.”

Federici, president of UFCW Local 400, referring to VA governor Youngkin's maskless appearance at an Alexandria Safeway on Feb. 4.

TODAY'S LABOR HISTORY

This week’s Labor History Today podcast: City Workers Strike Song. Last week's episode: “America Works” launches new season.

Union miners in Cripple Creek, CO begin what is to become a five-month strike that started when mineowners cut wages to $2.50 a day, from $3. The state militia was called out in support of the strikers – the only time in U.S. history that a militia was directed to side with the workers. The strike ended in victory for the union - 1894

Players formed The NHL Players Association in New York City after owners refuse to release pension plan financial information. The union was busted when owners transferred key activists, but it successfully re-formed ten years later - 1957

- 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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