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Union City Radio: 7:15am M-F; WPFW 89.3FM

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

CSA "Bowling for Gold" Tournament: Sun, January 26
Crofton Bowling Centre, 2115 Priest Bridge Dr, Crofton, MD 21114
Details/sign up here 

Union bowlers unite to support CSA
With the Community Services Agency's annual "Bowling for Gold Union Bowling Tournament" just over two weeks away, union bowlers are getting excited. "We always have a fun time bowling with our union sisters and brothers, friends and family and helping to raise money for CSA’s Emergency Assistance Fund makes it even more rewarding!" said Dan Fields, president of SEIU Local 722. The tournament is scheduled for Sunday, January 26 at the Crofton Bowling Centre, in Crofton, MD. "This is going to be a great tournament!” says CSA Executive Director Sonte DuCote. “Lanes are filling up for both the 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM time slots so get your registrations in soon!” Email [email protected] or click here for registration information. Tournament proceeds help support CSA's Emergency Assistance Fund which assists union members during times of hardship. photo: 2019 SEIU 722 bowlers; photo by Chris Garlock

Solidarity Center Report: Workers Still Struggle 10 Years After Earthquake

Ten years after the earthquake in Haiti killed more than 300,000 people and injured 1.5 million more, workers and their families have not benefited from the billions in global aid that poured into country after the disaster. Nor has the government’s response—expanding low-wage, garment-sector jobs—alleviated poverty. “Workers live day by day,” says Reginald Lafontant, secretary general of GOSTTRA, a garment worker union and Solidarity Center partner. Read more at Solidarity Center.

Today's Labor Quote: George Meany
“Labor never quits. We never give up the fight – no matter how tough the odds, no matter how long it takes.”

The former AFL-CIO President died on this date in 1980 at age 85. The one-time plumber led the labor federation from the time of the AFL and CIO merger in 1955 until shortly before his death. 
photo: George Meany (seated) reviews AFL-CIO merger documents with (l-r) James B. Carey, Albert Woll, William F. Schnitzler, Walter P. Reuther. photo courtesy Meany Labor Archives

Today's Labor History

This week’s Labor History Today podcast: A very unusual strike
On today’s show, originally released January 6, 2019, we talk with historian Erik Loomis about frustrated workers in a very unusual place who decided to strike in a very unusual way.
Last week's show: (12/29): 100 years of the ILO

January 10
Wobblie organizer and singer Joe Hill allegedly kills two men during a grocery store hold-up in Utah. He ultimately is executed by firing squad (His last word was “Fire!”) for the crime despite much speculation that he was framed - 1914

January 11
The IWW-organized “Bread & Roses” textile strike of 32,000 women and children begins in Lawrence, Mass. It lasted 10 weeks and ended in victory. The first millworkers to walk out were Polish women who, upon collecting their pay, exclaimed that they had been cheated and promptly abandoned their looms -
1912

January 12
Nearly two weeks into a sit-down strike at GM’s Fisher Body Plant No. 2 in Flint, MI., workers battle police when they try to prevent the strikers from receiving food deliveries from thousands of supporters on the outside. Sixteen strikers and spectators and 11 police were injured. Most of the strikers were hit by buckshot fired by police riot guns; the police were injured principally by thrown nuts, bolts, door hinges and other auto parts. The incident became known as the “Battle of the Running Bulls.” - 1936

Ford Motor Co. announces it will eliminate 35,000 jobs while discontinuing four models and closing five plants - 2002

Seattle Mayor Ole Hanson orders police to raid an open-air mass meeting of shipyard workers in an attempt to prevent a general strike. Workers were brutally beaten. The strike began the following month, with 60,000 workers walking out in solidarity with some 25,000 metal tradesmen - 1919

Pres. Roosevelt creates the National War Labor Board to mediate labor disputes during World War II. Despite the fact that 12 million of the nation’s workers were women -- to rise to 18 million by war’s end -- the panel consisted entirely of men - 1942

- David Prosten; graphic: “Lawrence,1912:The Bread and Roses Strike," by Ralph Fasanella