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ATU calls on Loudoun County to fine Keolis for missed bus service

VA box office workers score wins; Starbucks baristas need support

2023 EVENING WITH LABOR PREVIEW: Boardman and Clay to receive Vanguard Award

CWA President Chris Shelton announces retirement

Labor Quote

Today's Labor History

 

Today's Labor Calendar

[link removed] Click here for the complete calendar and details. Got something to add or update? Email us at mailto:[email protected] [email protected].

Union City Radio: 7:15am, WPFW-FM 89.3 FM

2-minute audio version of the Metro Washington Labor Council's Union City newsletter.

Transit Strike Picket Lines in Leesburg, Woodbridge and Manassas: Feb 27 - Mar 3, 2023
Prince William County Transit - Teamsters Local 639: 14700 Potomac Mills Rd, Woodbridge,VA. (3:30 am to 5 pm); 7850 Doane Drive, Manassas, VA ( 9 am - 5 pm)
Loudoun County Transit - ATU Local 689: 43031 Loudoun Center Place, Leesburg - 3:30 am to 3 pm

Donate to the ATU689 strike fund at: [link removed] Local 689 Loudoun County Transit Strike Fund.

MWC Evening with Labor: Fri, March 3, 6:30pm - 11:00pm

Martin's Crosswinds, 7400 Greenway Center Dr, Greenbelt, MD 20770, USA ([link removed] map)
[link removed] CLICK HERE TO ORDER TICKETS

Free Virtual Labor Film Screenings in Honor of Black History Month: On-Demand through Feb 28th; [link removed] CLICK HERE for details and free tickets. Hosted by Global Labor FilmFest Network (GLFF) 2023 Online Screening Series.

ATU calls on Loudoun County to fine Keolis for missed bus service

With Loudoun County Transit riders left without service for the past six weeks, the Amalgamated Transit Union last week called on the county to assess contractual damages against contractor Keolis for its failure to provide transit services while their employees, ATU Local 689 members, are out on strike for a fair contract. "Loudoun County has a tool it can use to end this strike," ATU President John Costa said in a letter to the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, expressing concern over the County's refusal to seek $1.5 million in federal transit funds that could resolve the dispute. "The Union is ready to reach a contract, we believe the money is available to make a deal, and Keolis is simply refusing to work with us. Keolis is dragging out this strike, and you are letting them do so by refusing to assess contractual damages." photo: Costa and ATU leaders on Jan 27 Keolis strike picket line; photo by Chris Garlock/Union City.


VA box office workers score wins; Starbucks baristas need support

Box office workers at Capital One in Tysons (IATSE Local 868) have won a wage increase from $16/hour to $22.50/hour, paid sick leave, paid bereavement leave, paid breaks. Zo Baker, a barista at the Newport News Starbucks is one of hundreds fired for union organizing, and many Starbucks union leaders have also had their hours slashed; [link removed] click here to support them while they wait for the Labor Board to order their reinstatement.


2023 EVENING WITH LABOR PREVIEW: Boardman and Clay to receive Vanguard Award

The Joslyn N. Williams Vanguard Award recognizes awardees' ability to impact labor's future beyond traditional means, for making a significant difference in promoting the rights of all workers, and on-going commitment to expand the influence of unions at all levels. This year's winners are John Boardman (UNITE HERE 25) and Chuck Clay (IATSE 22). The 2023 Evening with Labor will be held this Friday, March 3, at Martin's Crosswinds in Greenbelt; [link removed] click here to order tickets.


John Boardman (left) began his career in the labor movement in 1976 with the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union, organizing garment plants in the South. In 1978, following work with the Garment Workers, John joined the staff of Local 25 - then known as the Hotel, Restaurant & Bartenders Union. Over his 43 years with UNITE HERE Local 25 he held a number of staff and elected positions. In June 2022 John retired from the position of Executive Secretary-Treasurer, the union's chief elected officer, a position which he held for 25 years. He also served as Executive Vice President of UNITE HERE International Union since 1996.During his more than forty years in the labor movement John acquired extensive collective bargaining experience, successfully directed the operation of a number of welfare and pension funds and has engaged in local and national political organizing. He also received a number of political appointments to various Boards and Commissions both locally and nationally.


Irving "Chuck" Clay III (right) is the 2nd Vice President of the Metropolitan Washington Council (MWC). His home local is the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (I.A.T.S.E.) Local 22, "the Union Behind Entertainment." Prior to being a member of Local 22, he was a proud member of IATSE Local 224A, the last Black IA local in the United States. He's been an IATSE member in good standing for over 43 years, and has served the local as Vice President and then President for three terms and currently serves as Chair of the Local 22 Pension & Welfare Board of Trustees. Chuck's career in stagecraft covered many theatrical productions including the "Best of Broadway" and he was Head Flyman at the Warner Theatre and Head Audio at the National Theatre as well as a free-lance Audio Engineer at various theatres in the Kennedy Center.


CWA President Chris Shelton announces retirement

CWA President Chris Shelton, who has spent over 50 years fighting for the rights and dignity of working people, announced last week that he will not seek re-election at the CWA Convention in July. In a letter to local officers, he wrote that it was a "tough decision" prompted by family health concerns. Shelton joined CWA after starting work as an outside technician for New York Telephone in 1968. He quickly became a CWA Local 1101 shop steward, joined the CWA staff in 1988, and served as Vice President of CWA District 1 for ten years. He was elected CWA President by CWA Convention delegates in 2015.


Labor Quote: Gene Debs
"No strike has ever been lost."

Legendary labor leader and socialist presidential candidate Eugene V. Debs became a charter member and secretary of the Vigo Lodge, Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen on this date in 1875. Five years later he was leading the national union and in 1893 helped found the nation's first industrial union, the American Railway Union.

Today's Labor History

This week's Labor History Today podcast: [link removed] Buffalo Soldier turned revolutionary. Last week's show: [link removed] Celebrating Black History Month.

Birth of John Steinbeck in Salinas, Calif. Steinbeck is best known for writing "The Grapes of Wrath," which exposed the mistreatment of migrant farm workers during the Depression and led to some reforms - 1902

450 Woolworth's workers and customers occupy store for eight days in support of Waiters and Waitresses Union, Detroit - 1937

The Supreme Court rules that sit-down strikes, a major organizing tool for industrial unions, are illegal - 1939

David Prosten

 

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Published by the Metropolitan Washington Labor 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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