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.
Spotlighting Workers’ Rights in Labor Spring: Mon, March 20, 3pm – 5pm
FREE; REGISTER HERE
Targeting the Dirty Four Mega Banks Bank of America | Chase | Citibank | Wells Fargo: Tue, March 21, 10:45am – 12:45pm
FRANKLIN PARK (13th & I St. NW) (map)
MWC Delegates Meeting: Tue, March 21, 5pm – 7pm
RSVP HERE
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Act now to protect unionizing nurses!
Just hours after nurses at The George Washington University Hospital (GWUH) filed an election petition with the National Labor Relations Board to unionize on March 15, hospital leadership “unlawfully suspended registered nurse Angelo Estrellas, who has faithfully cared for the patients of GWUH for over 10 years, due his alleged involvement in the union organizing campaign,” reports DC Nurses Association (DCNA). “This action by management is a violation of the National Labor Relations Act, and a blatant effort to disrupt the union organizing campaign. We demand that management immediately rescind any disciplinary action against Angelo and allow him to resume his duties as a highly respected nurse at GWUH.” There are some 750 RNs at GWU Hospital, which is owned and operated by Universal Health Services, the 6th largest for-profit health care company in the US. Click here to sign the petition.
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Loudoun County transit workers return to work, still demanding a fair contract
For the sake of Loudoun County transit riders, ATU 689 Loudoun County transit workers are returning to work today after nine weeks on strike but continue their demand that Keolis come to the table with a fair contract offer. “We care, but Keolis doesn’t. Our riders have been suffering enough, and we want to go back to work,” said Local 689 President/Business Agent Raymond Jackson. “This doesn’t mean that we’re accepting Keolis’ subpar contract offer, which our members rejected by signing a petition refusing to even vote on it.” The 9-week strike “resulted in Keolis giving us wage increases, a boost in 401(k) contributions, and a reduction in our members’ health care costs, but it’s not enough,” said Jackson. “There are many issues that need to be resolved; now that our members have agreed to go back to work, it’s time for Keolis to engage in good faith bargaining.”
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UFCW 400 says Tyson plant closing “a disgraceful waste”
UFCW Local 400 reacted with “deep disappointment” to the news last week of the imminent closure of the Tyson Foods facility in Glen Allen, Virginia. “It has been our honor and privilege to represent the workers at this plant for decades, and we were appalled by today's news and the terrible impact it will have on close to 700 of our union members,” said Local 400 president Mark Federici. “These men and women risked their lives and the safety of their families to keep this plant operational during the pandemic, and this is the thanks they get?” said Federici. This is not how we show gratitude to essential workers in Virginia. Rest assured, our union will do everything in our power to help our members and their families through this difficult time.” Federici noted that Tyson Foods has received taxpayer funds to open a new facility in Pittsylvania County after promising to provide 400 jobs, “But with at least 700 jobs eliminated by the closure of the Glen Allen plant, Tyson Foods will continue to reap the lavish benefits of taxpayer dollars while Virginia will have 300 fewer jobs. What a disgraceful waste.”
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Labor Quote: Cesar Chavez
“When a man or woman, young, or old, takes a place on the picket line for even a day or two, he will never be the same again.” |
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Today’s Labor History
This week’s Labor History Today podcast: The Strange Career of “the Working Class”. Last week’s show: Fred Redmond: “Why Labor History Is Important”
Michigan authorizes formation of workers’ cooperatives. Thirteen are formed in the state over a 25-year period. Labor reform organizations were advocating "cooperation" over "competitive" capitalism following the Civil War and several thousand cooperatives opened for business across the country during this era. Participants envisioned a world free from conflict where workers would receive the full value of their labor and freely exercise democratic citizenship in the political and economic realms – 1865
More than 40,000 University of California employees strike for 24 hours to protest the university’s unacceptable “last, best and final offer” for members of a Communications Workers of America bargaining unit. AFSCME members joined the walkout in solidarity. 2020
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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