ATU Local 689 reaches tentative agreement with Transdev at Cinder Bed Road after 82-day strike
After 82 days -- the longest transit strike in the region's history-- the Cinder Bed Road bus strike may be over. ATU Local 689 announced late Tuesday that it had reached a tentative agreement with Transdev that covers the workers at WMATA's Cinder Bed Road Facility. "Our members at Cinder Bed Road sacrificed for months to ensure that public transit careers were steady paths to the middle class," said Local 689 President and Business Agent Raymond Jackson. "With this tentative agreement it solidifies that transit companies can't cut costs at the expense of workers' ability to feed their families." The strike drew widespread support from the labor movement both locally and globally, along with allies, including elected officials. “I am very proud of our sisters and brothers at Cinder Bed Road," said ATU International President John Costa. "Their courage, solidarity, determination and resolve on the picket lines led to the agreement that should end this strike.” Costa called the drivers “the heroes in halting the ill-advised march to transit privatization in the DMV." The tentative agreement includes improved healthcare and retirement plans along with substantial wage increases. Further details about the agreement will be released following a vote by the Cinder Bed drivers, expected later this week. The union said the strike will continue until members have approved the agreement.
photo: Cinder Bed strikers with Fairfax County Supervisor John Foust in December 2019

Repealing VA’s “Right to Work”
Virginia was one of the first of 28 states to adopt “Right to Work” laws, back in 1947. This year, it may be the first to repeal such laws. Legislation, HB 153, has been introduced to repeal Virginia’s “Right to Work” law, and supporters are collecting signatures on an online petition which will be delivered to members of the hearing committee of the Virginia General Assembly in advance of the January 27 AFL-CIO lobby day in support of HB 153. "Labor worked very hard to flip the General Assembly," said NoVA Labor president Virginia Diamond, "and we expect the Democrats to repeal this anti-worker law which grew out of the state's racist Jim Crow past."
photo: at last month's Coalition meeting; the next meeting is Tue, January 28, 7pm – 9pm at the Shirlington Busboys & Poets

WILL Empower’s growing movement of women leaders
WILL Empower (WE) closed out the decade with “a remarkable year that grew and deepened our network of women labor leaders including apprentices, emerging and executive leaders, mentors, advisory council members, sponsors, and more,” says Co-director Lane Windham. WE hosted the second class of apprentices, launched the first emerging leaders cohort and the first executive leadership cohort which represents diverse and dynamic women leading in labor across the country. WE will be accepting applications for the Apprenticeship program until April 15, 2020. Apprenticeship Host Site applications will be accepted until March 31, 2020.
Hear Windham and Co-director Sheri Davis-Faulkner on Your Rights At Work on WPFW 89.3 FM at 1p on Thursday, January 16.

Martin Luther King Holiday Ball
Dancing, drinks, light refreshments and of course, music will “Celebrate our commitment to make real Dr. King's dream of peace, justice and equality for all” at the annual Martin Luther King Holiday Ball this Sunday (see Calendar). DJ Wah-Heed will provide dance music, and there’ll also be performances by DC Labor Chorus and other guests.

Today’s Labor Quote: “Solidarity Forever”

When the union's inspiration through the workers' blood shall run,
There can be no power greater anywhere beneath the sun;
Yet what force on earth is weaker than the feeble strength of one,
But the union makes us strong.

Wobblie Ralph Chaplin was in Chicago on this date in 1915 for a demonstration against hunger when he completed the writing of the labor anthem “Solidarity Forever.” He’d begun writing it in 1914 during a miner’s strike in Huntington, WV.
Video: Labor Heritage Foundation Executive Director -- and DC Labor Chorus Director -- Elise Bryant sings "Solidarity Forever" at the Women's Fair Practices Luncheon at the 2015 AFGE Grassroots and Mobilizations Legislative Conference.