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Transdev returns to table as bus driver strike continues

Safeway workers plan actions to save pensions

DC COPE looks ahead to 2020

LISTEN UP: Your Rights At Work; State of the Unions

Labor On The Move: Karla Pineda-Santos in as IED at LCLAA

In Memoriam: Jim Auerbach

Today's Labor Quote

Today's Labor History

LABOR CALENDAR; [link removed] 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: [link removed] download the sign here, post on Twitter and tag @ATULocal689

Take Action to Save Pensions at Safeway! (Annandale VA): Fri, November 15, 4pm - 6pm
Safeway 1588, 7414 Little River Turnpike, Annandale, VA 22003

Take Action to Save Pensions at Safeway! (DC): Fri, November 15, 4pm - 6pm
Safeway 4832, 5545 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20015

Take Action to Save Pensions at Safeway! (Fairfax VA): Sat, November 16, 10am - 12pm
Safeway 2616, 3043 Nutley St, Fairfax, VA 22031

Take Action to Save Pensions at Safeway! (Kensington MD): Sat, November 16, 10am - 12pm
Safeway 2753, 10541 Connecticut Ave, Kensington, MD 20895

Support Rally for Striking Bus Drivers: Sat, November 16, 11am - 12pm
Old Town Square, North St, Fairfax, VA 22030

Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO 32nd Biennial Convention: Nov 17 - 19, 2019
Maryland Live! Casino & Hotel 7002 Arundel Mills Circle, #7777 Hanover, MD 21076
410-269-1940 or email to mailto:[email protected] [email protected].

CANCELED: Metro Washington Council Delegate Meeting: Mon, November 18, 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Transdev returns to table as bus driver strike continues
After disappearing for eleven straight days and ignoring repeated requests by ATU Local 689 to negotiate, WMATA private contractor Transdev has finally agreed to return to the bargaining table in Lorton, Virginia, where bus drivers have now been on strike for 23 days. Transdev's return to the bargaining table comes just days after Transdev workers at Fairfax Connector overwhelmingly voted to authorize a strike if necessary. "We hope that this time, Transdev will stay at the table until a tentative agreement that is fair and just is reached," said ATU president John Costa. "Our members care about our riders," Costa added, noting that thousands of Metrobus riders have been left stranded and their commutes have doubled in length and cost. "It's time," Costa said, "for Transdev to bargain in good faith." [link removed] Click here for details on how to support the strike.

Safeway workers plan actions to save pensions
Cerberus Capital Management, the private equity firm that owns Albertsons/Safeway, "is trying to abandon Safeway's promise to secure our pension benefits," reports UFCW Local 400. "Without this promise, current and future retirees may see significant cuts to their pension benefits, or lose them all together." That puts nearly 60,000 current or future retirees at risk of losing their pension benefits. "Safeway, and its private equity owner Cerberus Capital Management, are profitable," says Local 400. "It's just plain wrong to take benefits away from retirees who spent their careers working hard to make these companies successful."
The Safeway workers are holding daily actions through Saturday (see Calendar).

DC COPE looks ahead to 2020
The DC Committee on Political Education (COPE) met yesterday for their monthly meeting under the new chairmanship of Herb Harris (BLET/IBT) and Chuck Cook (IATSE 22). About a dozen members of the committee gathered at the IATSE Local 22 union hall at their new 2:00 pm winter meeting time. Major topics of discussion included the organizational structure of the committee, the 2020 political calendar, and a briefing from David Stephen, the DC Council's new Political and Legislative Director.
The committee anticipates an intense and eventful election cycle as they prepare for the election of five DC council members and the 2020 presidential election. The 2021 elections for DC Mayor, DC attorney general, and DC Council chair will follow. The committee plans to roll out a schedule for 2020 endorsements in December that will include a candidate questionnaire and orientation for candidates.The DC COPE committee meets the 2nd Thursday of the month at 2:00 pm, and all affiliates are encouraged to attend.
- photo by David Stephen

LISTEN UP: Your Rights At Work; State of the Unions
[link removed] Your Rights At Work (WPFW 89.3FM): Mark Anner & Tula Connell; "Continuing the Struggle: The International Labor Organization (ILO) Centenary and the Future of Global Worker Rights; Nov 21 - 22 at Georgetown University"; Edward Gero, actor: plays Joseph Pulitzer in "Newsies" at Arena Stage; special labor performance December 13; [link removed] details here; Case Closed, with Bob Samet, Senior Partner at Ashcraft and Gerel. Hosted by Chris Garlock and Ed Smith.

[link removed] State of the Unions: Serving Those Who Served: A Conversation with Union Veterans Council Executive Director Will Attig. Julie and Tim talk with Will about his work connecting the labor movement and the veterans community.

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Labor On The Move: Karla Pineda-Santos in as IED at LCLAA
Karla Pineda-Santos has been appointed Interim Executive Director at the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. She became LCLAA's Director of Operations ten years ago, where she has successfully developed the planning and execution of some of LCLAA's key projects, campaigns and events. "Her passion for working closely with our chapters and members has greatly contributed to the overall growth of LCLAA," said LCLAA National President Yanira Merino.
Hector Sanchez Barba , who served at LCLAA's Executive Director for more than a decade, has accepted a new job as Executive Director of Mi Familia Vota.

In Memoriam: Jim Auerbach
James Auerbach (76) passed away peacefully at home in Silver Spring on October 7, after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. Auerbach was a past consultant for the Metro Washington Council's Community Services Agency. He served as the Assistant Director of Education for the AFL-CIO, and went on to be Senior Vice President of the National Policy Association, bringing together business, labor and education leaders to work cooperatively on social and economic policy issues. He taught labor history as an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Virginia and was an instructor in labor relations at the US Department of State Foreign Service Institute.

Today's Labor Quote: Tex Schramm

The Dallas Cowboys president, who told National Football League Player's Association executive director Gene Upshaw:

"You guys are cattle and we're the ranchers. And ranchers can always get more cattle."

On November 16, 1982, the National Football League Players Association ended a 57-day strike. The players wanted, but failed to win until many years later, a higher share of gross team revenues
photo: 1987 strike, courtesy [link removed] NFLPA

Today's Labor History

Labor History Today (11/10): Debs, Sanders, Socialism and 2020
[link removed] 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): [link removed] Precarious work in the movies

Nov. 15
Founding convention of the Federation of Trades and Labor Unions is held in Pittsburgh. It urges enactment of employer liability, compulsory education, uniform apprenticeship and child and convict labor laws. Five years later it changes its name to the American Federation of Labor - 1881

Nov. 16
A county judge in Punxutawney, Pa. grants an injunction requested by the Clearfield Bituminous Coal Co. forbidding strikers from speaking to strikebreakers, posting signs declaring a strike is in progress, or even singing hymns. Union leaders termed the injunction "drastic." - 1927

Nov. 17
The General Society of Mechanics and Tradesmen of the City of New York is founded "to provide cultural, educational and social services to families of skilled craftsmen." The Society remains in existence to this day - 1785
International Brotherhood of Longshoremen change name to Longshoremen's Association - 1959

Labor history courtesy David Prosten.

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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