Coalition of GMU faculty, students, alumni, employees and contract workers.

Fight For Our Future: Rally For Climate, Care, Jobs And Justice: Sat, April 23, 1pm – 4pm

Lafayette Square, Pennsylvania Ave NW &, 16th St NW, Washington, DC 20001, USA (map)

President Biden and Congress are finally on the edge of taking climate action at the scale the crisis demands – creating millions of union clean energy and care jobs, racial, economic, and environmental justice are all on the line. But they won’t take action without a push from us! Union sponsors include SEIU, Painters and the AFT.

CLUW's Union Women in Uniform Fashion Show: Sun, April 24, 2pm – 5pm

Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 689, 2701 Whitney Pl, District Heights, MD 20747

Hosted by Chesapeake Bay Chapter Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW)
To purchase tickets contact Angel Savoy at [email protected] or 240-551-4978.

Unity Fest in Richmond: Sun, April 24, 4pm – 8pm

Starbucks Workers United presents a free festival to celebrate the union organizing campaign! Featuring ten local bands plus Bernie Sanders as well as other speakers including Marianne Williamson. At The National Theater, 708 East Broad St., Richmond.

CLICK HERE to listen to yesterday’s Your Rights At Work radio show: Barista J FLETCHER on this week’s vote by workers at five Richmond Starbucks to unionize; JOHN DOHERTY (Painters union) on the April 23 Fight for Our Future rally for climate, care, jobs and justice; ROBIN RUNGE on Stopping Gender-Based Violence and Harassment at Work: The Campaign for an ILO Convention (April 26 book talk); labor historian and journalist MICHAEL MATEJKA on the April 28 Steve Sutton Memorial Dedication in Marseilles, Illinois.

WSSC workers join Teamsters 730
With over 90 percent of those eligible in favor of representation, workers at the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) have voted to join Teamsters Local 730. “This is the culmination of a long-term effort and I couldn’t be prouder or more inspired by everything these workers did to fight for union representation,” said Ritchie Brooks, Local 730 President. “We’re going to do everything in our power to get these brave women and men the best contract possible – this is only the beginning.” Organizing at WSSC began four years ago, but the workers were initially ineligible to be union members. That changed after the passage of H.B. 1280, a Maryland law that amended the qualifications for union representation at WSSC. “After such a long campaign, we’re overwhelmed with happiness,” said Wendi Corbin, a WSSC worker for over thirteen years whose father was a member of Teamsters Local 456 in New York. She also served on the organizing committee. “We have to stand united, though,” Corbin added, “Everybody is under the Teamsters now, it’s time to speak our piece and stand together in solidarity.” photo: Local 730 Board.

AU workers picket Monday

Adjunct faculty, graduate student workers and Academic Affairs staff at American University will picket at AU on Monday (see Calendar). “We have been working hard at the table for over a year to negotiate contracts that secure a living wage, affordable healthcare, and job security,” said SEIU Local 500, which represents the workers. American University has proposed $1.67/week raises for Adjuncts, minimum wage for Graduate Student Employees, and has yet to propose anything for Academic Affairs Staff, the union reports. “Now, the University is refusing to provide adequate dates for bargaining before the end of the semester. We know that taking action is the only way to get the contract that we deserve.” The picket will begin at 11:00am on the last day of classes at Katzen, and proceed throughout the AU campus.
photo: TA’s and adjuncts hold office hours outside of AU president Sylvia Burwell’s house last Thursday "as a reminder of all we do for AU students."

Today’s labor quote: Bernie Sanders

Who told Starbucks workers earlier this year: "you're an inspiration to me... Especially after a day at the United States Senate, it is a pleasure to see folks stand up and fight for what's right, for justice, for workers' rights."

TODAY'S LABOR HISTORY

This week’s Labor History Today podcast: Working on Earth Day; Last week's show: Big Top Labor: Life and labor in the circus world.

April 22
One of the worst disasters in Virginia mining history occurs at the Red Jacket Coal Corporation mine near Grundy in Buchanan County. All 45 men in the mine at the time died when coal dust ignited, causing blasts that were felt two miles away. - 1938

April 23
Death of Ida Mae Stull, nationally recognized as the country’s first woman coal miner – 1980

United Farm Workers of America founder Cesar Chavez dies in San Luis, Ariz., at age 66 – 1993

April 24
The International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union halts shipping on the West Coast in solidarity with Mumia Abu-Jamal, a Philadelphia journalist whom many believed was on death row because he was an outspoken African-American - 1999

- David Prosten

Material published in UNION CITY may be freely reproduced by any recipient; please credit Union City as the source.

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.

Story suggestions, event announcements, campaign reports, Letters to the Editor and other material are welcome, subject to editing for clarity and space; just click on the mail icon below. You can also reach us on Facebook and Twitter by clicking on those icons.

You are receiving this email because our records indicate that [email protected] signed up to receive this newsletter. Click here to edit your subscription preferences