Today’s Labor Calendar
Click here for the complete calendar and details. Got something to add or update? Email us at [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: Local 689 Loudoun County Transit Strike Fund by clicking here.
We Are Worth Fighting For: Organizing and the University: Fri, March 3, 3pm – 5pm
Howard U, Blackburn 144-146 (map)
HU Teaching Faculty Union Forum co-sponsored with the Claudia Jones School for Political Organization. In Truth and Service,The HU Non-Tenure Track Faculty Union/SEIULocal 500
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Loudoun County transit workers want a contract, not cake
"Like Marie Antoinette, @KeolisNA is telling working families to eat cake," tweeted ATU 689 yesterday. "51 days on strike and we gladly will. In the meantime, @LoudounCoGovt should finally do its job, stand with workers and the riding public, and tell Keolis enough is enough. #1u #ATUStrong #FireKeolis" |
Lawmakers introduce new PRO Act; Schumer vows to push it
Key lawmakers on worker rights’ issues—Senate Labor Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, Ind-Vt., and Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Va.--introduced the newest version of the Protect The Right To Organize (PRO) Act on Feb. 28. “Joining a union should be a right, not a fight,” said Scott, alluding to the roadblocks bosses erect against organizing drives, almost all of which the PRO Act would outlaw. Many speakers described the benefits of unionization, not just for workers in terms of higher wages, better working conditions, safer workplaces and voices on the job, but for the economy as a whole. Citing her predecessor, the late AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka—whose name is attached to the PRO Act—Shuler said he “knew we could not build an equitable economy without changing the law.” Besides overriding right-to-work laws and imposing higher fines, the new version of the PRO Act would mandate instant recognition and a quick start, within days, to bargaining when the union wins a National Labor Relations Board recognition election. Bosses who stall on reaching a first contract would be forced into mandatory mediation and arbitration.
Mark Gruenberg, PAI Staff Writer |
2023 EVENING WITH LABOR PREVIEW: ATU 689’S Raymond Jackson is this year’s Trade Unionist of the Year
The J.C. Turner Award for Outstanding Trade Unionist of the Year is the top award at the annual Evening with Labor, selected by peers for outstanding commitment to the labor movement in all areas.
In 2018 when Raymond Jackson was elected President of ATU 689, he vowed to make positive change and fight to secure fair contracts for his members and promote safe, affordable, and reliable public transportation.
Since then, President Jackson has successfully negotiated at least eight contracts that provided significant wage and benefit packages for close to 10,000 transit workers. At times when contract negotiations stalled due to companies’ willingness to bargain fairly, Jackson held to his words, and ATU 689 members went on strike. Under his leadership, ATU 689 led the longest transit strike in the region’s history for 85 days resulting in a contract with a path for retirement, better healthcare, sick leave, and increased wages for 120 workers.
He began his career in 1987 as a Bus Maintenance Member and joined his first picket line during the 1990's Greyhound Strike. Over the years, he was elected by his members to serve in various leadership positions- Shop Steward in 1998, in 2016 Business Agent, and in 2018 President.
Jackson has received recognition for his efforts from Labor councils throughout the region and DC Jobs with Justice. Last Fall, he was elected to serve as Vice President of the Maryland State AFL-CIO. In addition, he is rightfully referred to by his members as "Contract Jack" for his tireless efforts to fight for his members and his commitment to labor. |
Labor Quote: Mother Jones
“The first thing is to raise hell. That’s always the first thing to do when you’re faced with an injustice and you feel powerless. That’s what I do in my fight for the working class.” |
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Today’s Labor History
This week’s Labor History Today podcast: Buffalo Soldier turned revolutionary. Last week’s show: Celebrating Black History Month.
March 3
Birth date in Coshocton, Ohio of William Green, a coal miner who was to succeed Samuel Gompers as president of the American Federation of Labor, serving in the role from 1924 to 1952. He held the post until his death, to be succeeded by George Meany – 1873
March 4
President Franklin D. Roosevelt names a woman, Frances Perkins, to be Secretary of Labor. Perkins became the first female cabinet member in U.S. history – 1933
March 5
British soldiers, quartered in the homes of colonists, took the jobs of working people when jobs were scarce. On this date, grievances of ropemakers against the soldiers led to a fight. Soldiers shot down Crispus Attucks, a black colonist, then others, in what became known as the Boston Massacre. Attucks is considered the first casualty in the American Revolution – 1770
David Prosten. photo: Perkins meeting with Carnegie steelworkers
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Material published in UNION CITY may be freely reproduced by any recipient; please credit Union City as the source.
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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