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 9, 8:15am – 9:15am Windmill Hills Park, 500 S. Lee St., Alexandria, VA
Working-Class Writing: From the Community to the Archives: Wed, February 9, 10am – 12pm REGISTER HERE
Union City Radio: Your Rights at Work: Thu, February 10, 1pm – 2pm WPFW 89.3 FM or listen online.
Arlington Dems Labor Caucus: Thu, February 10, 6pm – 7pm
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Congressional workers organize
The Congressional Workers Union last week announced staff unionization efforts. “After more than a year of organizing as a volunteer group of congressional staff, we are proud to publicly announce our efforts to unionize the personal offices and committees of Congress, in solidarity with our fellow workers across the United States and the world,” said CWU. “We strongly believe that to better serve our constituents will require meaningful changes to improve retention, equity, diversity, and inclusion on Capitol Hill. That starts with having a voice in the workplace. We call on all congressional staff to join in the effort to unionize, and look forward to meeting management at the table.” CWU is in discussions with several unions regarding potential affiliation and representation.
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Union TweetWatch
Washington-Baltimore News Guild @WBNG32035 We're thrilled to announce that @ConcertedAct has voluntarily recognized our union! Building @ConcertedU means that we will be empowered to build a workplace that reflects our pro-worker values. We look forward to beginning the collective bargaining process as part of @WBNG32035. (Jan 20)
ATU, @ATUComm With MetroAccess workers being forced to work overtime due to the shortage of workers, @ATULocal689 - Washington, DC, is calling for better wages and benefits to attract and retain workers. #TogetherWeFightTogetherWeWin (Feb 7)
AFSCME Council 3, @AFSCMEMaryland
Maryland shortchanged Jessup prison guards nearly half a million dollars in overtime over two-year period, U.S. Department of Labor finds. Union contends issue was widespread throughout state prisons. https://t.co/CnAgyz5TYW
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White House announces 70 ways to boost unions
While Republicans continue to block efforts to beef up the nation’s labor laws, the White House on Monday released a highly anticipated report that outlines dozens of ways the government can take action now to help workers join labor unions and bargain collectively. For example, the government will offer unions greater access to federal employees; more than 300,000 are currently eligible to join a union but have not. The report also asks the Labor Department to ensure that workers who face retaliation when engaged in organizing receive full protection, and it aims to prevent the misclassification of workers as independent contractors.
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Scholarship launched for DC youth affected by gun violence
The TraRon Center has launched the Jerry Black scholarship to support youth who have been impacted by gun violence in wards 5,7 and 8 in the District. The scholarship honors Jerry Black, AFL-CIO International Department Director Cathy Feingold’s husband, whose life was taken by gun violence in 2021. The scholarship provides a one year $4000 stipend to a high school senior for continuing education, including college or vocational training programs. Applicants must fill out an application by March 31, 2022. “We hope you will share this opportunity broadly and consider making a contribution to the scholarship fund so that we can continue to support the futures of youth in our community,” says Feingold. Click here for an NBC4 piece about TraRon and the fund. For more info email and access to the application [email protected]
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Today’s Labor Quote: Liz Shuler
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Responding to this week's White House report (see above):
“I think this could be a game changer, to have the power of the federal government examining itself and how its practices can be utilized to advance worker organizing.” |
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Today's Labor History
This week’s Labor History Today podcast: City Workers Strike Song. Last week's episode: “America Works” launches new season.
Feb 9 Wobblie activist Tom Mooney convicted in bombing frame-up orchestrated by Pinkerton Detective Agency. He was pardoned and released 22 years later - 1917
U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy falsely charged that the State Department was riddled with Communists. It seems that just about everyone else the Wisconsin senator didn’t like was a Communist as well, including scores of unionists. This was the beginning of "McCarthyism." He ultimately was officially condemned by the senate and died of alcoholism - 1950
Some 19,000 Boeing engineers and technical workers in Washington state and Oregon begin what is to become a 40-day strike over economic issues - 2000 Feb 10
The American Federation of Labor (AFL) founds the Building and Construction Trades Department as a way to overcome the jurisdictional conflicts occurring in the building and construction unions - 1908
Eleven members of the Carpenters’ union in Reesor Siding, Northern Ontario are shot, three fatally, by independent local farmer-settlers who were supplying wood to a Spruce Falls Power and Paper Co. plant. Some 400 union members were attempting to block an outbound shipment from the plant. The action came as the company was insisting on a pay freeze and two months of seven-day-a-week work - 1963
Forty workers are killed on Staten Island, NY when a huge storage tank filled with liquefied gas explodes - 1974
- David Prosten.
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Hiring Hall: DC-area union jobs, plus click here for more listings! |
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Info Tech Network Analyst I – Information Technology, AFSCME, based in Washington, DC (Posted: 2/1/2022) District of Columbia Legal
Senior Staff Attorney – Work Quality, NELP, based out of Berkeley, CA; Washington, DC; or New York City, NY (Posted: 2/7/2022) California, District of Columbia, New York Aviation Benefits Attorney, ALPA, based in Tyson (McLean), VA (Posted: 2/3/2022) Virginia
Misc
Labor Economist II – Research and Collective Bargaining Department, AFSCME, based in Washington, DC (Posted: 2/4/2022) District of Columbia Human Resources Associate II – Human Resources, AFSCME, based in Washington, DC [Headquarters] (Posted: 2/2/2022) District of Columbia
Labor Economist I – Research and Collective Bargaining Department, AFSCME, based in Washington, DC (Posted: 2/1/2022) District of Columbia Membership Services Coordinator, NATCA, based in Washington, DC (Posted: 2/7/2022) District of Columbia
Director of Health Care Department, IAMAW, based in Upper Marlboro, MD (Posted: 2/2/2022) Maryland Executive Assistant, SMW NPF, based in Falls Church, VA (Posted: 2/2/2022) Virginia
Billing Clerk, SMW NPF, based in Falls Church, VA (Posted: 2/2/2022) Virginia
Organizing Member Strength Organizer, SEIU 500, based in Metropolitan DC area and some parts of Maryland – including Baltimore (Posted: 2/4/2022) District of Columbia, Maryland
Political 3 Months Temporary Legislative Representative – National President, AFGE, based in Washington, DC (Posted: 2/3/2022) District of Columbia
Research
State and Local Legislative Issues Researcher / Writer – Political, Electoral and Issues Mobilization, AFL-CIO, based in Washington, DC [Headquarters] (Posted: 2/2/2022) District of Columbia
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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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