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• Aug 18, 2014 Welcome to the DC Labor Archive Site! Union City Archives - all articles and photos published in Union City from 2005 through July 2014, searchable by keyword  Photo Albums: 2008-July 2014 Bowling for Gold team photos, Evening with Labor albums, Golf Tournament team photos, etc. Council Minutes...    more...  
• Aug 4, 2014 Landmark Union Building's New Life IBEW Local 26 features the new Marriott Marquis on the cover of the most recent edition of the local’s quarterly publication. Union-built and now staffed by union members, the Marquis incorporates the former headquarters of the AFL, a historic building at the corner of 9 th  ...    more...  
• Aug 4, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: African Union Leaders in DC, Highlight Decent Work Nearly 40 trade union leaders from Africa are meeting in Washington, D.C., over coming days for a series of events to highlight the concerns and needs of working people throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The meetings parallel the  August 4-6  White House Summit for African heads...    more...  
• Aug 1, 2014 Fort Belvoir Janitors Stage 1-Day Strike About 70 janitors staged a 1-day strike  Tuesday   at the Fort Belvoir military installation, saying that their employer, federal contractor Brown & Pipkins, refuses to bargain a contract in good faith with their union, 32BJ SEIU. Negotiations were underway ...    more...  
• Aug 1, 2014 DC Judges Find Justice in Joining Union After a two-year battle, DC judges finally got justice Thursday when they voted overwhelmingly to join the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE). “This has been a long time in coming,” said administrative law judge Jesse Goode. “Sometimes the wheels...    more...  
• Aug 1, 2014 MontCo Taxi Drivers To Join National Taxi Workers Alliance The newly-formed Montgomery County Professional Drivers Union (MCPDU)   on Thursday  received an Organizing Charter from the National Taxi Workers Alliance (NTWA). “You’ve taken a city where drivers have been invisible” and exposed their exploitation, said NTWA President...    more...  
• Aug 1, 2014 Smithfield Distribution Center Workers Vote in Union Some 56 workers at the Smithfield Distribution Center in Newport News, Virginia voted to unionize on July 23. "It’s a great honor and privilege to welcome the Smithfield Distribution Center workers to the Local 400 family,” said UFCW Local 400 President Mark Federici. “They are a...    more...  
• Aug 1, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: World Day Against Human Trafficking Over the decades, tens of thousands of Haitians have been trafficked to the Dominican Republic to toil as sugarcane harvesters and domestic workers. Now, the Dominican government is making it difficult for their children and grandchildren to gain citizenship—even though the Dominican...    more...  
• Aug 1, 2014 Met Postpones Lockout 72 Hours The   Metropolitan Opera   postponed a threatened lockout late on Thursday night, saying that it had done so at the request of a federal mediator who was brought in at the 11th hour to try to salvage its contract negotiations with the unions representing its orchestra and...    more...  
• Jul 30, 2014 Putting DC JWJ On The Map DC Jobs with Justice is now literally on the map. Click here to see a map – and contact info -- of the members of the labor-community organization’s coalition. Founded in 2001, the coalition of labor organizations, community groups, faith-based organizations, and student groups is...    more...  
• Jul 30, 2014 Local Unions Keep Eye on Possible NYC Lock-Out DC-area unions are keeping a close eye on negotiations at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, where general manager Peter Gelb is threatening to lock out workers when contracts covering some 15 unions expire on Thursday. With many international unions affected, a lockout is...    more...  
• Jul 30, 2014 Labor On The Move: Sneiderman Moves to Rutgers; Bobo to Transition Out at Interfaith Worker Justice Sneiderman Moves to Rutgers: After Marilyn Sneiderman’s most recent stint as Executive Director at AVODAH, the former director of the AFL-CIO’s Department of Field Mobilization has joined the faculty of the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations. “I have an opportunity to...    more...  
• Jul 30, 2014 Proposed Bill Would Increase Penalties for Firing Workers Who Organize After LA truck driver Alex Paz tried to organize his fellow workers into a union, he was fired. And when DC food service workers Keyona Dandridge struck for higher wages she was fired. If the Employee Empowerment Act were law, Paz and Dandridge would not only be able to sue their bosses,...    more...  
• Jul 29, 2014 Labor Photo: Silvery Line Members of Iron Workers Local 5 working on the Silver Line’s elevated platforms earlier this year with members of Operating Engineers Local 77 operating the heavy equipment, “moving the dirt, drilling the caissons and making the picks to complete a successful project," says Local 77...    more...  
• Jul 28, 2014 Iron 5's Martin Appointed to Safety Group endall Martin, Business Manager of Iron Workers Local 5, has been appointed to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A10 Accredited Standards Committee (ASC) for Construction and Demolition Operations by Iron Workers President Walter Wise. ANSI oversees and administers the...    more...  
• Jul 28, 2014 Nurses Offer Free Health Screening Get checked, get healthy.  The Registered Nurse Response Network and the Metropolitan Washington Public Health Association will offer a free health screening  this Thursday, July 31st at 6:30 pm at the Dorothy Height/Benning Library at 3935 Benning Rd NE. Volunteering Registered...    more...  
• Jul 28, 2014 Metro Council Golf Tourney Registration Opens Registration has opened for this year’s Metro Washington Council/Community Services Agency Golf Tournament, scheduled for September 22. Click here to download the registration form. The tournament is a fundraiser for CSA’s Emergency Assistance Fund. “Every dollar is so needed these...    more...  
• Jul 28, 2014 Celebrating Labor's Role in New Metro Silver Line When   Metro’s Silver Line officially opened in Northern Virginia on Saturday, local labor celebrated its role in the massive transportation project. “What a thrill to be part of the grand opening of this project that was partly built with union labor, will be operated union, and...    more...  
• Jul 27, 2014 20 Students Arrested at Rockville REI Protesting Sweatshop Conditions Over 20 students and REI members were arrested at the Rockville REI store Saturday as part of a national day of action at over 30 REI stores across the country. At issue is REI’s refusal to sever ties with The North Face, an apparel brand embroiled in international controversy over its...    more...  
• Jul 25, 2014 Hotel Workers Call on Trump to Hire DC Residents Inside, billionaire Donald Trump wielded a golden shovel, outside, the workers leafleted.  Hired security officers barred hotel workers and the general public from attending or viewing the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday for the Trump International at the Old Post Office Pavilion on...    more...  
• Jul 25, 2014 Job Training Program Helps DC Residents Land Green Jobs Three recent graduates from CSA’s Building Futures Construction Pre-Apprenticeship Program were honored at a ribbon cutting ceremony Wednesday for a new green roof at DC Water’s Fort Reno Reservoir in Northwest DC.  Following graduation from Building Futures, staff got Leon Green,...    more...  
• Jul 25, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: A New Vision for the African Growth and Opportunity Act The AFL-CIO and the Solidarity Center released a new policy brief detailing strategies for improving the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) to ensure it delivers on its ambitious goals of supporting democratic governance, enhancing civil society, combating corruption and promoting the...    more...  
• Jul 25, 2014 Streetheat: Two Days, Three Actions Today, 3p:  Rally to Protect Central American Children (White House, 16th and Pennsylvania Ave, NW); On Friday afternoon, the Presidents of El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras will be meeting with President Obama and Vice-President Biden to discuss the dire situation facing refugee...    more...  
• Jul 23, 2014 MedStar Washington Hospital Center Gets Low Marks From Staff on Key Safety Issues Staff at the region’s largest private hospital — MedStar Washington Hospital Center — have given it consistently low marks in key areas of patient safety over the past four years, according to results released   Friday . Washington Hospital Center officials released results from...    more...  
• Jul 23, 2014 IUOE 99's Murphy Injured Operating Engineers 99 Business Manager Mike Murphy and his wife Helen were hospitalized over the weekend with serious but not life-threatening injuries after a motorcycle accident   on Saturday . “Please join me in keeping Mike and Helen in our thoughts and prayers,” said Metro...    more...  
• Jul 23, 2014 Transit Workers Charge WMATA Chair With Conflict of Interest Hundreds of ATU Local 689 transit workers   called out WMATA Board Chair Tom Downs at an early-morning rally outside WMATA for Downs’ dual role as chair of a private transit company, Veolia, which the ATU says “has a reputation for wrecking transit service in American cities.”...    more...  
• Jul 21, 2014 Metro Workers -- and a Big Camel -- to Protest at WMATA This Morning Metro workers, supporters and a 15-foot inflatable camel will rally outside of WMATA headquarters early this morning to denounce WMATA Chair Tom Downs for blocking transit progress in D.C. and for his dual role as Chair of the Board of Advisors at Veolia Transportation. “It’s time...    more...  
• Jul 21, 2014 AFSCME Says Organizing is Answer to Attacks Despite all the attacks on public sector workers this year, AFSCME nearly doubled its goal of helping 50,000 people join the union, with more than 90,000 workers choosing AFSCME so far in 2014, AFSCME President Lee Saunders announced at the union’s international convention in Chicago...    more...  
• Jul 21, 2014 "Memorable" Night at the Nats The excited father with his son and daughter blended right into the sea of red-clad fans at Nationals Park Friday night. Until Secretary of Labor Tom Perez walked out onto the mound and fired the ceremonial first pitch of the 8th annual Labor Night at the Nats. But even as he realized a...    more...  
• Jul 18, 2014 Register Now for Fall Union Skills Training Registration for the Fall session of the Bonnie Ladin Union Skills Training Program is now open to union members and community allies. The program is designed for union leaders, staff and community activists and offers hands-on training around the areas of union administration; collective...    more...  
• Jul 18, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: Two Reports on Africa Just in time for the White House’s 2014 Africa Summit (Aug. 4-6), the Solidarity Center has released two key reports on African working people and their unions. In “ African Trade Unions and Africa’s Future ,” union leaders from a broad spectrum of sub-Saharan African countries...    more...  
• Jul 18, 2014 More Union Eats in DC Dozens of union-staffed cafeterias and cafes at area museums, universities and government buildings have just been added to the online DC Labor Map, which now has more than 50 area union dining establishments; click here to check them out .    more...  
• Jul 18, 2014 Citing Past Problems With Other Pay Schemes, AFGE's Cox Warns Lawmakers Against Trashing Federal Pay Grades Citing past problems, including discrimination against women and minorities, with so-called “merit” pay schemes tried in the Defense Department and a handful of other agencies, AFGE President J. David Cox is warning lawmakers against trashing federal pay grades. But whether the ruling...    more...  
• Jul 16, 2014 Labor Secretary Perez to Throw Out First Pitch at Labor Night at Nats Nearly 6,000 union members, their families and supporters will be honored at Friday night’s 8 th  annual Labor Night at the Nats. While tickets are no longer available through the Community Services Agency, they’re available online  for the 7:05p game against Milwaukee....    more...  
• Jul 16, 2014 DC City Council Passes Wage Theft & Ban the Box Bills DC workers won two victories Monday at the DC City Council with the passage of both the Wage Theft Prevention Act and Ban the Box bill. “Wage theft in particular has been a focus for this coalition for years and years, so it's amazing to see this day finally come,” said Ari Schwartz of...    more...  
• Jul 16, 2014 Staples' Announcement a 'Ruse,' Says APWU Monday’s announcement by Staples that it’s terminating its no-bid deal with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and replacing it with an “approved shipper” program, “is a ruse,” says American Postal Workers Union ( APWU ) President Mark Dimondstein.  “Staples and the USPS...    more...  
• Jul 16, 2014 Shoppers Food & Pharmacy Contract Extended UFCW Local 400's contract with Shoppers Food & Pharmacy has been extended "Due to very complex issues related to health and welfare and pension," Local 400 president Mark Federici told members on July 11. "All terms and conditions of your union contract remain in full force and effect" during...    more...  
• Jul 14, 2014 DC Union Hotel & Restaurant Listings Updated Union Shop DC hotel and restaurant listings have been completely updated, with 20 new union restaurants! Our handy Labor Map has also been updated: click here for union restaurants and union hotels .    more...  
• Jul 14, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: Taking Human Trafficking Issues to Capitol Hill Two events on Capitol Hill last week highlighted the plight of migrant workers around the world who are trafficked for their labor and often subject to slave-like working conditions. Solidarity Center Executive Director Shawna Bader-Blau led a briefing on migrant workers in the Arabian Gulf...    more...  
• Jul 13, 2014 New Contract Wins Hefty Raises for Low-Paid Johns Hopkins Workers Some 2,000 low-paid workers – janitors, maintenance workers and technical workers – at one of the nation's leading university hospital systems, Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, will be in line for hefty raises under a new contract reached July 8.  Workers overwhelmingly approved the...    more...  
• Jul 10, 2014 Labor On The Move: New Staffers at ATU 689 ATU Local 689 has just added two new staffers.   Katie Traber   (left)   is the new Assistant to the President and   David Stephen   (right)   is the union’s new  Communications Coordinator. Traber hails from Bridgeport,Connecticut, while...    more...  
• Jul 10, 2014 Former WTU 6 Leader Bill Simons Publishes Memoir Bill Simons’ memoir of the struggles and triumphs during his tenure as president of the Washington Teachers’ Union has just been released.   “A Giant for Justice”   recounts the 1968 march on the Capitol by DC teachers – their first walkout – to demand a pay raise...    more...  
• Jul 10, 2014 UFCW 400 Members Affected by High Court Ruling The ripple effect for employers, workers and unions seeking legal clarity is huge, in the wake of the Supreme   Court’s recent decision on presidential recess powers. The justices unanimously ruled that President Obama’s appointments to the NLRB in 2012 and 2013 were invalid, as...    more...  
• Jul 7, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: Liberian Workers Seek to Close Wage Gap Iron ore miners, forklift drivers and other workers at ArcelorMittal in Liberia are seeking to close the wage gap between residents and expatriate workers, who can receive up to 10 times the salary for the same work. UWUL Local 4 Secretary General Amos Monweh, discusses how the issues...    more...  
• Jul 7, 2014 June Minutes Posted Draft minutes of the June meetings have now been posted online . The Council will not meet in July or August; the next meeting is September 15.      more...  
• Jul 7, 2014 Golden Triangle Workers Join NFFE-IAM D.C. Golden Triangle employees have joined the union representing Downtown SAMs. The NLRB recently certified election results for the employees of the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District (BID) to be represented by NFFE-IAM, expanding the union’s expanding membership of city...    more...  
• Jul 7, 2014 Labor Photo: UC's Summer Home? Traveling in New Bedford, Massachusetts, Union Communication Services  publisher David Prosten spotted the perfect location for Union City’s summer office, especially as it’s located on Union Street.    more...  
• Jul 2, 2014 Obama Praises Federal Workers, But Forecasts More Fights Over Pay President Barack Obama is again praising federal workers, while forecasting more fights with Congress' controlling Republicans over those employees' pay and working conditions.  “It will be a tough negotiation just because everything is a tough negotiation in Washington right now,” he...    more...  
• Jul 2, 2014 Last Chance for Labor Night at the Nats Tix! Monday, July 7 is the deadline to get tickets for the July 18th Labor Night at the Nats! Tickets are $10 each to see the Nats battle the Brewers, watch Secretary of Labor Tom Perez throw out the first pitch and enjoy refreshments from the ballpark’s union vendors with over 5,000 area union...    more...  
• Jul 1, 2014 OPEIU 2's Long Ride to a Fair Contract at WMATA Capping more than five and a half years of struggle for a fair contract, OPEIU Local 2 members voted overwhelmingly earlier this year to accept an agreement with the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). Local 2 represents 1,000 salaried WMATA employees, who received a...    more...  
• Jul 1, 2014 Building Trades Restructuring Takes Effect Goodbye WBCTC, hello CHOICE. The Washington DC Building Trades Council (WBCTC) has been restructured and, as of July 1, is now C.H.O.I.C.E., the Community Hub for Opportunities in Construction Employment. C.H.O.I.C.E is an alliance of 28 local unions in the greater Baltimore and Washington,...    more...  
• Jul 1, 2014 Solidarity Salvages Flood Victim When a recent storm flooded out a member of SEIU Local 722, she turned to the Community Services Agency for help. “Her kids all had bedrooms in the basement and the flood destroyed clothes and other household items,” says CSA Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy. Insurance would only pay...    more...  
• Jul 1, 2014 Celebrating DC Wage Increase, Advocates Say There's More To Do The coalition of workers, business owners, faith leaders, labor organizations and community groups that in recent years has won increases in the city’s minimum wage and expanded the paid sick days law on Tuesday renewed their call to raise the tipped minimum wage and improve wage theft...    more...  
• Jul 1, 2014 July 4 Made-in-America Flags, BBQ, Beer & More Keep the red, white and blue in the 4th of July holiday with this made-in-America, union label backyard barbecue checklist , compiled from the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers ( BCTGM ), the   LA Labor 411's website ,   Union Plus...    more...  
• Jun 30, 2014 "To Kill A King" Play Reading Set for Tonight Josh Ford’s play “TO KILL A KING” is being read at the DC JCC’s Theater J tonight at 7:30 pm. It tells the story of the 1968 sanitation workers strike that brought Martin Luther King Jr. to Memphis where he was assassinated. The play looks at issues of history, destiny and...    more...  
• Jun 30, 2014 Letter Carrier Food Drive Delivers, Again For the 11th consecutive year, the Letter Carriers' (NALC's) Food Drive collected more than 72 million pounds of food to help restock food banks, pantries and shelters around the country. The annual food drive—the nation's largest—took place this year on Saturday, May 10, in more than 10,000...    more...  
• Jun 30, 2014 High Court Legalizes Some -- But Not All -- "Free Riders" In a decision that will harm unions, the Supreme Court voted 5-4 to legalize “free riders” in cases where state or local governments and individuals jointly employ caregivers.  Public workers employed only by governments are another matter.       But the court also turned...    more...  
• Jun 29, 2014 "House of Labor" Helps Immigrants Apply for Citizenship The “House of Labor” threw its doors open to immigrants last Saturday. As the Brazil-Chile World Cup match played on a large-screen TV, the local labor movement collaborated with CASA de Maryland and United We Dream to help green-card holders complete the lengthy and complex application for...    more...  
• Jun 27, 2014 Hopkins Strike Off, For Now The 4-day strike by service workers at Johns Hopkins Hospital planned to start Friday at 6a was called off after Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley called 1199 SEIU MD/DC and Hopkins management on Thursday and asked both sides to agree to a cooling-off period and go back to bargaining. “Having the...    more...  
• Jun 27, 2014 DC Brunei Action Joins Global Protest Chanting “We’re gonna beat beat back the Sultan!” dozens of labor and LGBT activists took to the quiet street in front of the Brunei embassy at noon on Friday as part of a global day of action in dozens of cities around the world. The protests targeted Brunei’s union-busting and human...    more...  
• Jun 26, 2014 More Nats Tix Available AFGE Local 476 has discounted Nationals tickets available for upcoming home games and will contribute a portion of each ticket sale to the Community Services Agency (CSA) of the Metro Washington Council. There are 4 lower level and 2 upper level tickets available for each home game, with...    more...  
• Jun 26, 2014 RNs at Children's OK 3-Year Contract Nurses at Children’s National Medical Center voted to accept a new contract. The 3-year deal “provides additional benefits for members without any losses from the previous agreement,” said District of Columbia Nurses Association’s (DCNA), the nurses’ union. “DCNA worked hard to...    more...  
• Jun 26, 2014 Brunei Protest at Noon Friday Workers, women and the LGBT community are protesting Brunei’s union-busting and human rights violations Friday at noon. The Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, owned by the Sultan of Brunei’s investment agency, in 2009 fired unionized workers and decimated their union. Brunei has also adopted a...    more...  
• Jun 26, 2014 DC Taxi Drivers Demand End To Illegal Ride Services: Hundreds of D.C. cab drivers affiliated with the Teamsters Union took part in a “Fairness NOW!” caravan Wednesday throughout the city to demand an immediate stop to illegal private sedan services until a fair resolution is reached. Click here for the complete report.     more...  
• Jun 25, 2014 Citizenship Fair Set for Saturday! Are you or someone you know eligible for U.S. citizenship? If so, this Saturday, June 28, the AFL-CIO national headquarters in Washington, D.C., is the place to be to get your citizenship process started (don't worry about missing the World Cup, the games will be playing on a big screen)....    more...  
• Jun 25, 2014 Results for Metro-Area Labor-Endorsed Candidates Click here to see how local labor-endorsed candidates did in Tuesday’s Maryland General Assembly and local primaries. In the four key races involving union members, labor notched two wins: in Legislative District 47A, Jimmy Tarlau (CWA District 2-13) topped a field of five candidates,...    more...  
• Jun 25, 2014 Union Voice/Readers Write: Election Software? “If any area unions have used online elections software to conduct union elections, we’d be very interested in hearing about your experience,” says Vickie Spence at DCNA. Email her at vspence@dcna.org or call 202-244-2705.    more...  
• Jun 25, 2014 7/11 Ad Deadline for DC CLUW Awards Adbook The deadline for ads in the DC CLUW Gloria Johnson Awards Luncheon adbook is July 11; email gwenjohn1@comcast.net for rate details. Honorees at the July 20 event are Kim Tucker, Admin Asst, MD & DC AFL-CIO/OPEIU and Wanda Shelton-Martin, New York State Nurses Assn/OPEIU. Tickets are $45...    more...  
• Jun 24, 2014 Serving Up The Truth About Sexual Harassment, With A Side of Commonsense By Nikki Lewis, Executive Director, DC Jobs with Justice and Liz Watson, Senior Counsel and Director of Workplace Justice for Women, National Women’s Law Center What do you call the person who can make you stay late at work, who decides who works the night shift and who works days, who...    more...  
• Jun 24, 2014 Deadline Looms for Nats Tix Time’s running out to get tickets for the July 18th Labor Night at the Nats! July 7 is the deadline to buy tickets -- $10 each -- to see the Nats battle the Brewers. Each ticket benefits the Community Services Agency of the Metro Washington Council.  Contact Kathleen McKirchy,...    more...  
• Jun 24, 2014 Students Swarm Rockville REI to Protest North Face Sweatshops United Students Against Sweatshops, Union Summer interns and the AFT swarmed the REI in Rockville, MD last Saturday to protest North Face sweatshops in Bangladesh, urging REI to drop the brand to show solidarity with the workers and force North Face to sign the Accord on Fire and Building Safety...    more...  
• Jun 24, 2014 Nurses Back Wage Transparency Bill in DC Council The more than 200 different wage rates “arbitrarily and unilaterally decided by hospital managers,” at Providence Hospital underscore the necessity for the Wage Transparency Amendment Act, RN Jowita Lyn testified at the DC Council’s Judiciary and Public Safety Committee on Monday. Bill...    more...  
• Jun 24, 2014 Social Media Campaigns Urge Solidarity with VA Kroger Workers Kroger, the largest supermarket chain in the country, is now “following the lead of anti-worker companies like Walmart and Harris Teeter,” says UFCW 400, which is coordinating a campaign supporting Virginia Kroger workers. A “KrogerStrong” online petition is gathering signatures...    more...  
• Jun 23, 2014 Federally-Contracted Low-Wage Women to Strike Today Hundreds of working mothers and grandmothers working on federal contracts will hold a strike and rally this morning at the National Zoo, on the same day that the White House Summit on Working Families meets to discuss the struggles of low-wage working women at the nearby Omni Shoreham Hotel. The...    more...  
• Jun 23, 2014 Labor Photo: MD/DC ARA Honors Stella Maryland DC ARA former president Frank Stella  (right)  and current president Jim Baldridge at Saturday's Maryland DC ARA Luncheon. Stella, the luncheon's honoree, was National Retiree Director for AFT for more than 20 years, helped create and serve on the Democratic National Seniors...    more...  
• Jun 23, 2014 MD State Fed Salutes Leadership Nearly 400 labor leaders from across Maryland, along with national, state and local political leaders, turned out for the Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO Salute to Leadership on June 20. Awardees included Metro Washington Council president Jos Williams (right) , Maryland Senator Norman Stone...    more...  
• Jun 23, 2014 Firefighter Film Wraps Up DC Labor FilmFest Tonight The 2014 DC Labor FilmFest wraps up tonight with the 7:30p screening of  Burn: One Year on the Front Lines of the Battle to Save Detroit  at the AFI in Silver Spring, MD.  Email streetheat@dclaborarchives.org  for free passes!  PLUS: the Fire Station 1 restaurant...    more...  
• Jun 23, 2014 Army of New "Rosie the Riveters" Strikes in Nation’s Capital  Hundreds of low-wage federal contract workers working for companies doing business at federal sites – like the National Zoo, Pentagon and Union Station – walked off their jobs today.  Led by an army of working women dressed like Rosie the Riveter, they marched through the...    more...  
• Jun 23, 2014 Hospital Center Buys Wheelchairs After Prodding from Nurses Just days after nurses at MedStar Washington Hospital Center held a “Donuts for Wheelchairs bake sale ( Nurses Hold Bake Sale to Raise Money for Wheelchairs at Wealthy Washington Hospital Center 6/16 UC) , the hospital announced the purchase of 60 new wheelchairs. Nurses working at the...    more...  
• Jun 23, 2014 Boots, Heels, Flats and Gym Shoes, Working Women Hit the Streets to Highlight Need for Collective Bargaining The labor movement isn't just boots on the ground, said Connie Leak, a UAW member and president of the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW). "It's heels, flats and sneakers." Working women are impacting the labor movement in a big way. Sunday, more than 250 women workers and labor participants...    more...  
• Jun 23, 2014 Labor-to-Labor Primary GOTV In addition to a professional phonebank GOTV campaign today and  tomorrow to get union members that did not take advantage of "Early Voting" out to vote on Election Day, Tuesday , June 24th  "we will ask union members to contact the campaign of their choice to volunteer," says...    more...  
• Jun 23, 2014 Services for ATU 689's James Allen Set for Thursday Services for former ATU 689 President James W. Allen will be held this Thursday, June 26. Allen, who passed away June 14 ( In Memoriam: Jimmy Allen 6/16 UC) , was president of Local 689 from 1998-2001, after serving as 1st Vice President from 1983-1998. After leaving office he served on Board...    more...  
• Jun 20, 2014 Justices Unanimously Back Public Employee Whistleblower In a win for unions, public workers and whistleblowers, the U.S. Supreme Court on June 19 unanimously backed an Alabama whistleblower whom his boss illegally fired for testifying about fraud to a grand jury and a trial jury. The 9-0 ruling cheered the National Education Association (NEA),...    more...  
• Jun 19, 2014 High School Teacher Gives Voice to Miner Ghosts Long after Kevin Corley, a high school history teacher from Springfield, Illinois, recorded interviews in the 1980’s with elderly miners and their families for the Abraham Lincoln Historical Museum, those voices haunted him. Eventually, he wove their words into an unpublished novel that he...    more...  
• Jun 19, 2014 AFGE: To Fix The VA, Staff The VA Saying short-staffing led to the widespread problems in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the union that represents VA's 210,000 workers is launching a new campaign to put pressure on lawmakers to fully staff the VA. The public education drive by the American Federation of Government...    more...  
• Jun 19, 2014 "Citizen Koch" Film Opens in DC "America -- they're coming for you next." That’s the warning from a Wisconsin state employee in the new film “Citizen Koch” after her union rights were destroyed by a Republican governor funded by corporate and billionaire donors whose ultimate goal is to break unions nationwide and...    more...  
• Jun 19, 2014 Labor In The News: Cement Masons 891's Mary Battle Operative Plasterers and Cement Masons 891 business manager Mary Battle is featured in last week's Washington Post story on how women still face barriers in construction trades. Women still face substantial barriers to entering the construction field and widespread harassment on job sites,...    more...  
• Jun 19, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: Former Child Domestic Worker Describes Years of Forced Labor At age 9, Evelyn Chumbow was trafficked overseas from Cameroon to become a domestic worker for a family in Maryland. She worked from 6 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, was forced to sleep on the floor without a room of her own and regularly beaten. Each day, she took her employer’s...    more...  
• Jun 19, 2014 Great Labor Arts Exchange Starts Friday, Includes Free Concert “A rejuvenating experience that reminds us why we do the work we do and teaches us new and exciting ways to do it,” the Great Labor Arts Exchange starts today at Montgomery College. “One of the best I have attended,” said a 2013 participant. “Beautifully organized, good programming,...    more...  
• Jun 19, 2014 New Jazz Labor Opera Premieres Saturday “Love Songs from the Liberation War” , a new jazz labor opera by Steve Jones, will have its world premiere this Saturday. Based on the real-life victory by striking North Carolina tobacco workers in the 1940’s, this riveting opera includes characters like RJ Reynolds, Jim Crow, Paul...    more...  
• Jun 19, 2014 UFCW 400 Takoma Park Police Member Wins "Officer of the Year" Award Local 400′s Takoma Park Police Department member Travis Ala (center), a Detective Private First Class, was recently honored as the department’s 2013 Officer of the Year. “D/Pfc. Ala’s work and actions have contributed significantly to the department’s visions and goals through his...    more...  
• Jun 19, 2014 Labor On The Move: Jerame Davis Appointed Pride at Work Interim Executive Director Pride at Work, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) constituency group of organized labor, has selected Jerame Davis as the interim Executive Director for the organization.  “Jerame’s experience in leading a national chapter-based organization will be invaluable to...    more...  
• Jun 17, 2014 DC Jobs With Justice Celebrates 12th Annual Former Metro Washington Council Assistant Legislative/Political Coordinator Alya  Solomon (left) was among those honored at the June 12 DC Jobs with Justice “I’ll Be There Awards.” Also recognized were Reverend Graylan Hagler, Trabajadores Unidos de Washington DC, and Youth-Led...    more...  
• Jun 17, 2014 Citizenship Fair Volunteers Wanted Volunteers are needed to assist applicants at the upcoming Citizenship Fair; click here to sign up for the brief training session being held Thursday, June 19 at 5:30p. The AFL-CIO, Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO, UFCW Local 400, LIUNA, LCLAA and CASA have partnered to host a Citizenship...    more...  
• Jun 17, 2014 Walmart Doc Kickstarter Deadline Wednesday It’s literally down to the wire for the Kickstarter campaign to fund “Can’t Take It No More,” an independent documentary by local filmmakers about workers across Walmart's global empire who are standing up for respect, fair pay and economic justice ( Help 'Kickstart' Walmart...    more...  
• Jun 17, 2014 Report Reveals Huge Negative Impact of Privatization on Workers & Local Economies The impacts of privatization – lower wages, no benefits and no protection on the job for workers, and forcing the workers to use public benefits – ripple throughout local economies, according to a new report. Race To The Bottom: How Outsourcing Public Services Rewards Corporations And...    more...  
• Jun 17, 2014 Gov. O'Malley Tours New IUOE 99 Training Facility IUOE Local 99 Business Manager Michael R. Murphy recently invited Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley to tour their new Training Facility “Engineer Center” in Largo, MD. While at the facility the Governor met with Training Coordinator Sam Redden and Business Representative Don Havard to...    more...  
• Jun 17, 2014 Council Endorses Staples Boycott The Metro Council Monday night unanimously endorsed a boycott of Staples. “We are asking all Council affiliates, allies and supporters to immediately take their business elsewhere,” said Council president Jos Williams. Options include locally-based Guernsey  or Office Depot ....    more...  
• Jun 16, 2014 Iron 5 Apprentices Sweep Competition; Martin Wins Another Term Iron Workers Local 5 apprentices took the top places at the Mid-Atlantic States Apprenticeship Competition in Richmond, VA last weekend. Andrew Hernandez took first place, Eli Ward was second and in third place was Jean Luc Leclerc. Hernandez moves on to compete at the National...    more...  
• Jun 16, 2014 In Memoriam: Jimmy Allen Jimmy Allen, former president of ATU Local 689, has passed after a long illness. Allen (at far right) had also served for many years on the Executive Board of the Metro Washington Council and on the board of the Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO, as well as president of the Maryland & DC...    more...  
• Jun 16, 2014 Today's Labor Action Highlights: Early Voting & Labor to Labor Lit-Drops; Nurses' Bake Sale, Minimum Wage Walking Tour, Metro Council Meeting; Labor FilmFest Today’s Labor Action Highlights: Early Voting & Labor to Labor Lit-Drops;   Nurses’ Bake Sale, Minimum Wage Walking Tour, Metro Council Meeting; Labor FilmFest "Billy Elliot" Screening Early Voting & Labor to Labor Lit-Drops: Early voting for Maryland voters runs...    more...  
• Jun 16, 2014 MontCo & PG Community Groups Launch Campaign to Help Workers Stand Up for Legal Wages The minimum wage in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties goes up to $8.40 an hour on October 1 but some local labor and community leaders worry that local workers may not see the increase they’re entitled to. UFCW Local 400 and the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA)...    more...  
• Jun 16, 2014 Nurses Hold Bake Sale to Raise Money for Wheelchairs at Wealthy Washington Hospital Center Offering “Donuts for Wheelchairs,” MedStar Washington Hospital Center registered nurses, affiliated with National Nurses United, conducted a bake sale early Monday morning to raise funds to help the hospital purchase working wheelchairs and other basic supplies. Nurses working at the...    more...  
• Jun 13, 2014 Union Voice/Readers Write: Love the Door Hanger! “The printable door hanger ( Metro Council Launches Labor-to-Labor Campaign 6/11 UC) is great!” writes IBEW 26’s Susan Flashman. “Allows us to hit our own neighborhood, and our union friends. Every union hall should have these at all the meetings between now and the election to...    more...  
• Jun 13, 2014 Without Highway Bill, 700,000 Jobs at Risk If Congress doesn’t act soon, more than 700,000 middle class jobs building the nation’s highways, bridges and transit systems will be at risk. While the legislation authorizing the spending for those vital projects doesn’t expire until Sept. 30, the Highway Trust Fund that helps states...    more...  
• Jun 13, 2014 Labor Walks Continue Saturday Labor Walks supporting labor-endorsed candidates continue tomorrow from three locations starting at 9:30a: IBEW 26 (Lanham), OPEIU 2 (Silver Spring) and UFCW 1994/MCGEO (Gaithersburg). Contact Rick Powell at 202-974-8154 or rpowell@dclaborarchives.org for more info.      more...  
• Jun 13, 2014 Free Noontime Screening of "At The River I Stand" Today “An eloquent and powerful film”… “Incredibly moving”… “One of the most powerful documentaries about the workers movement.” Memphis, Spring 1968 marked the dramatic climax of the Civil Rights movement. "At the River I Stand" skillfully reconstructs the two eventful...    more...  
• Jun 13, 2014 UMD Workers Ratify New Contract Housekeepers, administrators and other workers at the University of Maryland College Park have voted 477-8 to ratify a new three year contract. The agreement will save the workers, members of AFSCME Maryland Council 3, nearly a million dollars in parking costs over the life of the...    more...  
• Jun 13, 2014 Taxi Drivers Face Uber Trouble Metro DC-area taxi drivers dealing with incursions by Uber and other “rideshare” companies are not alone. Taxi drivers struck across Europe yesterday to protest the companies that pride themselves on “disrupting” the taxi industry. Drivers in Boston held a “rolling rally” last...    more...  
• Jun 12, 2014 DC LABOR FILMFEST THIS WEEK: At The River I Stand Friday, June 13, 12 noon (bring your lunch!) AFL-CIO, 815 16 th  Street NW Click here to see the trailer.   Memphis, Spring 1968 marked the dramatic climax of the Civil Rights movement.  At the River I Stand  skillfully reconstructs the two eventful months that...    more...  
• Jun 11, 2014 MGM National Harbor to Host Career Showcase On  June 19 , MGM will host a Career Showcase at Oxon Hill Manor   (6901 Oxon Hill Road Oxon Hill, MD; free parking)   from   11am-7pm , reports UNITE HERE Local 25. “Please come out, bring a friend, and learn more about the exciting opportunities at MGM...    more...  
• Jun 11, 2014 Metro Council Launches Labor-to-Labor Campaign Last Saturday, the Metro Washington Council began the big final push to support labor-endorsed candidates in the upcoming primaries on  June 24 .   Click here   to download handy PDFs listing labor-endorsed candidates as well as door-hangers for endorsed candidates in...    more...  
• Jun 11, 2014 Labor on the Move: Jeff Guido & Rod Easter Hired as Reps for CHOICE Jeff Guido and Rod Easter have joined Stephen Courtien as the field staff representatives for CHOICE, Community Hub for Opportunities in Construction Employment, the new building and construction trades organization for the national capital region ( Mark Coles Tapped to Lead New Capital...    more...  
• Jun 11, 2014 Local Walmart Worker Faces Tough Choices "I recently had to choose between paying the electric bill and covering my daughter Tikia's graduation fees," writes local Walmart worker Gail Todd   (left)   in Salon . "I wish I could say this was the first time that I was deciding between bills, but this is a constant...    more...  
• Jun 11, 2014 Fasanella Exhibits Continue Exhibits of painter Ralph Fasanella's work continue at both the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the AFL-CIO. "Fasanella, who would have been 100 this September, is being feted with   “Lest We Forget,”   an exhibition whose title refers to a mantra of this lifelong...    more...  
• Jun 9, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: Improving Worker Rights Through Rule of Law A recent Solidarity Center analysis of Mexican laws and policies through the lens of a key international standard offers an example of how to utilize legal instruments to help foster safe and healthy workplaces, family-supporting wages and social protections. One finding: Mexico’s labor law...    more...  
• Jun 9, 2014 DC Labor FilmFest Double Feature -- and Red Stapler Raffle -- Tonight! Tonight’s DC Labor FilmFest screenings include two comedies, the ever-popular “Office Space” at 7:30p and the classic “Nine to Five” at 9:30p, both at AFI in Silver Spring. The “Office Space” screening, co-sponsored by Union Plus , will be introduced by the OPEIU...    more...  
• Jun 6, 2014 Walmart Strike Comes to DC Today A nationwide strike against Walmart comes to DC today when AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre, union members, community groups and other allies march on Walmart in downtown DC, where they'll meet up with Walmart moms who are walking off the job. The march starts at 1P at Union...    more...  
• Jun 6, 2014 Volunteer at the FilmFest & Get a Free T-shirt See a great labor movie and get a free LaborFest t-shirt! Volunteer to help out at a June screening – next up is Office Space at 7:30p on Monday night and Nine to Five at 9:30 -- at the DC Labor FilmFest/DC LaborFest and you’ll get into the film and get a free t-shirt. Here's how:...    more...  
• Jun 6, 2014 Fletcher Launches Weekly Worker Show on WPFW Bill Fletcher has started a new show on WPFW that airs Fridays at 9a. “The show is called "ARISE!" and it is a one-hour show focusing on workers, unions and the struggle for justice,” Fletcher tells Union City. Check it out live on Fridays or go to the WPFW archives and click on ARISE....    more...  
• Jun 6, 2014 CSA's Building Futures Program Wins MD Grant The Community Services Agency’s Building Futures program has won an Implementation Grant from the Maryland EARN Program. EARN (Employment Advancement Right Now) is a new state job training program. The Implementation Grant follows the Planning Grant the Building Futures program won...    more...  
• Jun 6, 2014 Walmart Strikers March Through Downtown DC Walmart strikers, backed by hundreds of supporters, marched through downtown DC at midday on Friday to protest the mega-retailer's ongoing attacks on workers who speak up. The festive demonstrators gathered in front of Union Station as curious tourists watched,  including a group of...    more...  
• Jun 4, 2014 Labor Walks Update; Endorsements Posted Labor to Labor Walks continue this Saturday, June 7, at 9:30 AM at a new location: meet in the parking lot of OPEIU Local 2, 8555 16th Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910. “Eric Starin of Local 2 has graciously agreed to coordinate the walks,” says Metro Council Political Coordinator Rick...    more...  
• Jun 4, 2014 Book Talk Brings "Big Picture" to AFSCME Members A recent meeting of the Library of Congress Professional Guild, AFSCME Local 2910 covered subjects beyond the traditional agenda items of grievances, collective bargaining and working conditions. On Thursday, May 29, Local 2910 sponsored a Book Talk for its members and the general public...    more...  
• Jun 4, 2014 Firehouse Roulette? In what Firefighters Local 36 -- and DC Councilman Tommy Wells -- called “Firehouse Roulette,” DC officials took some fire trucks out of service last weekend to deal with a staffing shortage, raising concerns among neighborhood residents and firefighters. The move “continues to erode public...    more...  
• Jun 4, 2014 Fed Worker Unions Welcome Proposed Pay Raise Saying that “Federal employees have been taking it on the chin while the one percent gets richer and richer,” AFSCME Council 26 Executive Director Carl Goldman welcomed last week’s move by Sens. Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Ben Cardin of Maryland to provide federal employees with a 3.3...    more...  
• Jun 2, 2014 JWJ Awards Ad Deadline Today Today’s the deadline for ads in the Jobs with Justice "I'll Be There" awards program book; the awards are set for June 12th from 6-8p. This year’s awardees  are Reverend Graylan Hagler, Alya Solomon, Trabajadores Unidos, and the Sasha Bruce Youthwork. Email info@dcjwj.org for...    more...  
• Jun 2, 2014 Labor Arts Highlights Choose between labor journalist Steve Early’s talk tonight on his book "Save Our Unions" or the DC Labor FilmFest screening of Kinky Boots ; the FilmFest screens the terrific Men At Lunch tomorrow night for free; and don’t miss your chance to tour the Laborer’s museum before...    more...  
• Jun 2, 2014 Local WalMart Doc Crew Heads to AZ; Local Actions Planned “We're in Arizona for filming this week,” reports “Can’t Take It No More!” co-producer Michael Blain (Help 'Kickstart' Walmart Workers' Documentary 5/27 UC) . “We're documenting workers' stories at a series of events and actions there, and then we’re heading to Arkansas, to...    more...  
• Jun 2, 2014 Labor's Hall of Fame Inducts Fraser, Holleran Labor's International Hall of Fame  inducted the late UAW President Doug Fraser and the late AFSCME women's rights activist Susan Holleran on May 15 in Detroit, the Hall of Fame and the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) announced . Holleran, who died in 2007, was a labor journalist...    more...  
• Jun 2, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: Attacks Escalate on Bangladesh Garment Union Leaders More than a dozen garment factory union leaders in Gazipur, Bangladesh, have been physically attacked or threatened with violence and even death in the past two weeks, according to the Bangladesh Independent Garment Workers Union Federation (BIGUF). The attacks are centered on garment workers...    more...  
• Jun 2, 2014 Seasons Throws in the Towel at NEA Seasons Culinary is leaving NEA and its workers there are not sad to see it go. “We will now work on a transition to a union company with union standards,” said Emilio Abate, president of UNITE HERE Local 23, which represents the workers. Seasons, targeted by Local 23 for months over its...    more...  
• May 30, 2014 DC LaborFest Wraps, Labor FilmFest Continues The first annual DC LaborFest wraps up this Saturday but the 14 th  annual DC Labor FilmFest continues through the month of June, with screenings Monday nights at AFI, plus free screenings at Busboys & Poets and the AFL-CIO. Don't miss the free tour of the Laborers, your...    more...  
• May 29, 2014 Concrete Workers Strike in NW DC Striking construction workers temporarily shut down Military Road in upper Northwest Washington Wednesday morning in a dispute with Baker Concrete over wages and benefits. The members of CWU Local 202 – part of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Office of the Laborers – and allies including DC Jobs...    more...  
• May 29, 2014 Nat's Slump to End by Labor Night Sources tell Union City that the National’s slump will be over by July 18, coincidentally the same date as Labor Night at the Nats . Tickets are still available for the game against the Milwaukee Brewers; a portion of the $10 tickets benefit the Community Services Agency's Emergency...    more...  
• May 29, 2014 DC LaborFest This Week: Who Stole the American Dream? Last week of the first annual DC LaborFest, a month-long celebration of labor arts in the metro area. The DC Labor FilmFest continues in June. Thu, May 29 (12 noon):   Book Talk: Hedrick Smith: Who Stole the American Dream?   Presented by the Library of Congress Guild,...    more...  
• May 29, 2014 UFCW Tells Nat'l Capital Park and Planning Commission "Stop trying to mow us over!" Bargaining for a new contract for UFCW Local 1994 members who work at the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission has reached impasse, reports Local 1994. “The Commission is playing hardball and we need all Local 1994 members and allies to show support for the Park and...    more...  
• May 29, 2014 In Memoriam: Richard Evans Settle, AFGE 2798 Richard Evans Settle, formerly of AFGE Local 2798, passed away on Monday, May 26, 2014 at Meritus Medical Center in Hagerstown, Maryland. Local 2798 represents workers at the VA Medical Center, where Settle worked until his retirement.  “He was not only a member but also served as the...    more...  
• May 28, 2014 NoVA Labor Updates “Work is progressing very well with the update of the NoVA Labor office in Annandale,” reports NoVA President Dan Duncan. “If you haven’t seen it lately, you will be surprised at the differences. Also, the new NoVA Labor collared shirts ($30) and the NoVA YELL t-shirts ($10) have...    more...  
• May 27, 2014 AFL-CIO Seeks Volunteers for DC-Area Naturalization Workshop The AFL-CIO is working with local community organizations and worker centers to offer a naturalization workshop – help green card holders apply for citizenship – on Saturday, June 28   in DC. “We are looking for local unions and members who are interested in volunteering at this...    more...  
• May 27, 2014 Help 'Kickstart' Walmart Workers' Documentary Two local filmmakers are working to bring Walmart workers’ battle for justice to a wider audience. Michael Blain and Kiley Kraskouskas’ film “Can’t Take It No More!” will tell the stories of four workers across Walmart’s global empire who are standing up, mobilizing their...    more...  
• May 27, 2014 DC LaborFest This Week: TrashDance, Laborer's Tour & More Last week of the first annual DC LaborFest, a month-long celebration of labor arts in the metro area. The DC Labor FilmFest continues in June. Tonight (7:30p): Film: Trash Dance ($5 show!)   Sometimes inspiration can be found in unexpected places. Choreographer Allison...    more...  
• May 23, 2014 May Council Minutes Posted Draft minutes of the May 19 Metro Council Executive Board and Delegate meetings are now posted on the Council’s website . Comments and corrections are welcome: email them to us at streetheat@dclaborarchives.org . The June meeting will be held on June 16, 6:30p at the AFL-CIO.    more...  
• May 23, 2014 Census Bureau Hiring The U.S. Census Bureau is hiring field staff for temporary positions for the 2014 Census Test, testing a variety of new methods and advance technologies now under consideration for the 2020 Census. Through the use of technology and existing government data sources, the 2020 Census hopes to...    more...  
• May 23, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: Women Empowering Women in the Niger Delta A dynamic coalition of women from trade unions and community groups in the Niger Delta is training and mobilizing women and young people to effectively engage in the democratic political process, hold local lawmakers accountable and achieve concrete goals in their communities. Victory...    more...  
• May 23, 2014 NNU Testifies in Support of Pregnant Workers Fairness Act “All pregnant women need the protections of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act,” Registered Nurse Deborah Klaus, a member of National Nurses United (NNU), testified last week at the DC City Council. “This includes pregnant nurses who are on their feet for 12-hour-plus shifts taking care...    more...  
• May 21, 2014 In Memoriam: Acie Byrd & Lynn Williams Longtime local activist Acie Byrd has died at the age of 77 following a battle with cancer. Byrd (right) was among an estimated quarter of a million U.S. military personnel exposed to radiation from U.S. nuclear tests and became a leading advocate for fellow atomic veterans, calling for...    more...  
• May 21, 2014 May Metro Council Meeting Highlights: MontCo Endorsements & Affiliate Updates The Metro Washington Council voted Monday night to make no recommendation in the Montgomery County Executive race, as well as in County Council Districts 2 and 4 and the County Sheriff race. The vote frees Council affiliates to act as they see fit in those races. The Metro Council endorsed...    more...  
• May 21, 2014 Howard University Hospital Backs Off on Nursing Cutbacks Howard University Hospital has apparently backed away from planned layoffs of some of its nursing staff — at least for now, reports the Washington Business Journal . In April, union leaders were told “the Howard University Hospital reduction in force is on hold until further...    more...  
• May 21, 2014 Great Labor Arts Exchange Early-Bird Registration Extended to Friday Early-bird registration for the upcoming Great Labor Arts Exchange (GLAE) has been extended to Friday, May 23. Integrating arts, culture, and creative organizing, the 3-day Great Labor Arts Exchange is set for June 20-22 at Montgomery College in Takoma Park. “GLAE participants will learn...    more...  
• May 19, 2014 VA Employees' Union Calls for End to "Culture of Fear" for Whistleblowers The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) last week called on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to "end the culture of fear that has plagued the agency and negatively impacted veterans’ care." News broke last week that some VA management officials have been ‘gaming the...    more...  
• May 19, 2014 Kroger Workers & Allies Demand End to Anti-Worker Messages Faith leaders, community allies and other supporters joined two busloads of Kroger shop stewards from UFCW locals 400 and 23 on May 13 as they headed to Kroger Marketplace store 519 in Henrico, VA to show solidarity, talk with customers, and deliver a letter to management. The letter...    more...  
• May 19, 2014 Council Meeting Tonight Features Labor FilmFest Screening in Silver Spring Tonight’s Council  Delegate Meeting  at 6:30p will be held at the American Film Institute in Silver Spring (8633 Colesville Rd;  Metro: Red Line, Silver Spring;  parking info ). “After a brief business meeting we'll view the film  ‘ Dirty Pretty...    more...  
• May 16, 2014 Delegate Meeting Monday Features Film Screening: The Council's  May 19  Delegate Meeting  at 6:30p next Monday  will be held at the American Film Institute in Silver Spring (8633 Colesville Rd). “After a brief business meeting we'll view the film  ‘ Dirty Pretty Things’  as part of this...    more...  
• May 16, 2014 LaborFest T-shirts & Passes at Saturday Labor to Labor Walks The first five folks to show up at this Saturday’s Metro Labor Council Labor to Labor Walks will get a free 2014 DC LaborFest t-shirt “and everyone who comes out gets a pair of free  passes to the  ongoing DC Labor FilmFest!” says Metro Council Political/Legislative...    more...  
• May 16, 2014 Short Takes: Rebuilding America; History Tour; Perez to Throw 1st Pitch; Carpenters Picket Tompkins Builders Rallying to Rebuild America:  "We will not be denied. This is our country, it's time to take it back" said AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka at yesterday's Jobs and Infrastructure rally  (right)  at AFL-CIO headquarters. DC Labor History Tour  Tomorrow :  There...    more...  
• May 16, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: Women at Forefront for Rights in Middle East In Algeria, the Women’s Committee of the S yndicat National Autonome des Personnels de l’Administration Publique  (SNAPAP) has reached out to 600 marginalized and vulnerable women across 11 provinces through educational outreach and study circles. Women in Morocco and Tunisia also are...    more...  
• May 15, 2014 DC LaborFest Today: Ben Shahn WPA Murals The DC LaborFestcontinues today with a free noontime tour of WPA murals at the VOA headquarters (330 Independence Avenue, S.W., Enter through the entrance on C Street, 1 block south of Independence, between 3rd and 4th streets; Federal Center Metro station is a block south ; meet in...    more...  
• May 14, 2014 AFSCME Maryland Blasts UMES President Calling the move a corporate handout, the Maryland Chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees today sharply criticized University of Maryland – Eastern Shore President Juliet Bell for her decision to outsource the jobs of 85 Dining Services workers on the...    more...  
• May 14, 2014 Infrastructure Rally Calls for Rebuilding America A midday  rally  on Thursday  in  front of the AFL-CIO headquarters will focus on the vital need for upgrading infrastructure in the U.S. AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka will speak and Metro Council president Jos Williams will emcee the rally, which is part of...    more...  
• May 14, 2014 Union Print Shops, Updated Three area union printers unintentionally omitted from the 2014 Union Shop in the 2014 Directory of Local Unions are included in the online Directory  Union Shop listings :  Fast Print ,  National Ink & Stitch  and  Print Depot  are all signatories with...    more...  
• May 14, 2014 IBEW Tour benefits CSA Emergency Fund Last  chance to sign up for the  IBEW Museum Tour  tonight at 5:30p (update: tour canceled; stay tuned for updates on when it'll be rescheduled) , which offers a very special 1-hour guided tour of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) museum in downtown...    more...  
• May 13, 2014 LaborFest IBEW Tour Benefits CSA The  IBEW Museum Tour  this Wednesday at 5:30p offers a very special guided tour of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) museum. The IBEW museum – open only by appointment – presents an interactive history of the IBEW from its founding until today,...    more...  
• May 12, 2014 EJC's Worker's Rights Manual Goes Online The Employment Justice Center's Worker's Rights Manual, aprimary source for information about the legal rights of workers for lawyers and activists in DC, Maryland and Virginia, is   now available on-line at no cost . “Written with the help of contributing editors who are leaders in...    more...  
• May 12, 2014 Victory At Bestway Mt. Vernon Bestway Mt. Vernon employees are claiming victory after a final tally showed a 19-10 vote in favor of being represented by UFCW Local 400. As previously reported ( Bestway Mt. Vernon Votes for Union Recognition 5/2/2014) , the initial vote on April 24 was 16-10 with 9 challenged votes. On...    more...  
• May 12, 2014 DC LaborFest Today: Ravitch Memoir; Celebrating Craftmanship AFL-CIO Book Club: "So Much to Do: The Life of Business and Politics"    (12 noon, AFL-CIO, free)  Richard Ravitch has been a prominent figure in American life since the 1960s, linking the worlds of public service, investment and labor. Join AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka...    more...  
• May 12, 2014 Nurses Release Report Documenting Understaffing Registered nurses and community allies on Monday -- International Nurses Day -- released a new 24-page patient care report documenting scores of incidents of understaffing at District hospitals and government agencies over the past 15 months. The report was prepared for the DC City Council,...    more...  
• May 12, 2014 Super Shuttle Supporters Stage "Drive Thru Rally" at National Airport Dozens of supporters of Super Shuttle drivers at National Airport staged a “drive thru” rally Monday at National Airport after Veolia Transportation – the driver’s parent company – threatened them if they went ahead with plans to stage their own demonstration at the airport....    more...  
• May 10, 2014 DC LaborFest Today: Shakespeare in a Union Hall & The Mexican Revolution Comes to UMD ACTIVIST ALERT:  NALC Food Drive today!  Also today:  Metro Council Labor to Labor Walks  &  Mother's March for Justice   The DC LaborFest is a month-long celebration of labor arts in the nation’s capital. Work, workers and their lives and issues are...    more...  
• May 9, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: Bangladesh Union President Describes Challenges Organizing Garment Workers In Bangladesh, union organizers risk their physical safety for helping garment workers get safe workplaces. "We know and we are aware we will be threatened," says Nomita Nath, president of the Bangladesh Independent Garment Workers Union Federation. "But no matter what obstacles come our...    more...  
• May 9, 2014 MD Labor to Labor Walks Begin The Metro Washington Council’s Labor to Labor Walks commence tomorrow at 9:30 a.m. at UFCW Local 400 . “Please join in helping to elect our union sister and brothers Veronica Turner (1199 SEIU), Jimmy Tarlau (CWA) and Larry Greenhill Sr., (IBEW 26) to the Maryland General Assembly”...    more...  
• May 9, 2014 Shoppers Food Workers Mobilize UFCW 400 last week held Shoppers Food and Pharmacy member mobilization meetings in Maryland and Virginia so members could attend and discuss what they wanted in their upcoming collective bargaining agreement set to expire on July 12.  photo: Shoppers Food & Pharmacy Maryland...    more...  
• May 9, 2014 Letter Carrier Food Drive Tomorrow Before you head out to enjoy the weekend tomorrow, don’t forget to set your bag of non-perishable food by your mailbox: your letter carrier will pick it up as part of the 22nd annual Letter Carriers’ Food Drive. “Too many people in this country are still going hungry every day,” NALC...    more...  
• May 9, 2014 DC LaborFest Today: Iron Worker History, Fasanella's FamilyFest, Brother Hal & Sweet Joan Today (12 noon, free): Iron Workers History Tour; brief lunchtime tour highlights handmade motorcycles, a wall mural, historic tools, photos, convention paraphernalia, World Trade Center mementos and more: 1750 New York Avenue NW, Washington DC (meet in lobby) Saturday (11:30a,...    more...  
• May 8, 2014 DC LaborFest Today: Solidarity Awards; Iron Worker History; Fasanella Family Fest & More TONIGHT: Labor Heritage Foundation's Solidarity Forever Awards: Bob King, President of the United Auto Workers will be honored at this year's annual Labor Heritage Awards for his contributions to the labor movement, particularly through support and use of labor arts, culture and...    more...  
• May 8, 2014 Union Leaders To Lawmakers: Pay Freezes, Furloughs Hit Federal Workers' Morale By Mark Gruenberg, PAI Staff Writer A three-year pay freeze, unpaid furloughs, sequestration and congressionally ordered arbitrary increases in federal workers' pension payments – with no increased payouts planned in the future – hit federal workers' morale, top union leaders say....    more...  
• May 7, 2014 Labor Walks This Saturday The Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO Labor to Labor Walks announced yesterday will take place this   Saturday, May 10   (not   May 9 , as previously reported). The walks are in support of union members Veronica Turner (SEIU 1199), Jimmy Tarlau (CWA) & Larry...    more...  
• May 7, 2014 Major Rally Today Against Bad Trade Deals More than 1,000 activists from unions, greens, citizen groups,students and other groups will hear from members of Congress and rally for fair, 21st century trade today at 1:30p at the U.S. Capitol   (Upper Senate Park; Independence across from the Capitol). “Our failed trade...    more...  
• May 7, 2014 UNITE HERE 23 Urges NEA Head to Support Cafeteria Workers UNITE HERE Local 23 is calling on   National Education Association (NEA) Executive Director John Stocks to take a stand for NEA cafeteria workers. Seasons Culinary, the food service company that operates the cafeteria in the NEA headquarters “is still refusing to accept a contract that...    more...  
• May 7, 2014 ATU to Purchase Labor College Property The National Labor College expects that   the property that the college campus sits on “will be sold by the end of July to the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), so the beautiful property will stay in the labor family, which is wonderful,” the College   reports on its blog ....    more...  
• May 7, 2014 DC LaborFest Today: "Brother Hal" Helps CSA “Brother Hal” Helps CSA:   A percentage of all concession sales at all performances of   Brother Hal  and   Sweet Joan of the Textile Mills this weekend will go to CSA’s Emergency Assistance Fund. Discount Tix for “Redes”:   Union members...    more...  
• May 7, 2014 Unionists Ignore Downpour, Fight Fast Track Come hell or high water – in this case, the latest in D.C.'s year of downpours – hundreds of unionists gathered on Capitol Hill on May 7 to campaign against “fast-track” trade legislation and the anti-worker trade treaties the measure would lead to. And after hearing a parade...    more...  
• May 6, 2014 DC LaborFest Today: Cesar Chavez, Poetry at Work, Iron Workers & More Cesar Chavez & Poetry at Work: Busboys & Poets hosts two free DC LaborFest events tonight at their 5th Street location (5th & K NW), beginning with the free 6p screening of The Fight in the Fields: Cesar Chavez and the Farmworkers' Struggle . More than two years...    more...  
• May 5, 2014 Union Voice/Readers Write: Trumka's Father's Advice “At the recent National Labor College graduation ceremony, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka ended the commencement address with a word of advice from his father that I thought I would share with you,” writes Perry Levin. "His dad told him ‘Don't let anyone divide you, fight for what's...    more...  
• May 5, 2014 Omega Protein Ratifies Three-Year Contract Omega Protein fishermen unanimously ratified a three-year collective bargaining agreement on April 26 that improves the lives of 69 members working on the vessels fishing menhaden in the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay, when not docked in Reedville, VA along the Northern Neck. The...    more...  
• May 5, 2014 Rally Set for Tuesday to Support Wage Theft Bill With the Wage Theft Prevention Act bill expected to be voted on tomorrow, the Employment Justice Center and allies are planning a rally at the DC City Council at 9am. "Help us pack the room for the vote!" the EJC urges. "Chamber lobbyists have come out in strong opposition to the bill, and...    more...  
• May 5, 2014 CSA's News You Can Use: Stamp Out Hunger; Labor Night at the Nats On May 10, Join the Letter Carriers and Help ‘Stamp Out Hunger’: This Saturday, May 10, you can “Stamp Out Hunger” by joining with the Letter Carriers (NALC) union in its 22nd annual food drive—the largest one-day food drive in the nation. Letter Carriers collected more than...    more...  
• May 5, 2014 JUFJ's Spring 2014 Activist Trainings Whether you're a seasoned activist or looking to find out more about community organizing, Jews United for Justice's Spring Activist Trainings are "the perfect time to build your skills for more local liberation," says JUFJ. "We'd love for you to be there to bring your perspective, gain...    more...  
• May 5, 2014 LaborFest Today: Salt of the Earth The DC LaborFest continues tonight with a screening of the labor film classic Salt of the Earth at 7:30p at the AFI in Silver Spring. Originally banned by the U.S. government and now recognized by the Smithsonian as among “the greatest 100 films ever made,” this film -- celebrating...    more...  
• May 2, 2014 EJC Notches Another Wage Theft Win The Employment Justice Center and Murphy Anderson PLLC recently announced a settlement in a wage and hour case involving service employees who were owed unpaid wages.  Over 100 workers will receive approximately $400,000. However, the EJC reports that a group of thirteen workers who...    more...  
• May 2, 2014 Bestway Mt. Vernon Votes for Union Recognition Supermarket workers at the Mt. Vernon Bestway on April 24 voted for a union. The vote was 16-10 to join UFCW Local 400, with 9 challenged votes, which must be investigated by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) before it can be officially deemed a victory. Last October, Bestway workers...    more...  
• May 2, 2014 DC Gets a New Union Hotel The Marriott Marquis is not only Washington’s newest downtown hotel but the latest union one as well. The Marquis – which opened yesterday -- recognized both Unite Here 25 and IUOE 99 as the representatives for hotel workers and operating engineers on April 18. With 1,175 rooms, the...    more...  
• May 2, 2014 DC LaborFest Today A free   noontime screening of "Fasanella,"  an award-winning filmabout Ralph Fasanella   (left)   -- “the best primitive painter since Grandma Moses” – kicks off today’s DC  LaborFest offerings. Thenat 5p today,   Elizabeth Warren , the...    more...  
• May 2, 2014 DC LaborFest This Weekend: Pete Seeger Tribute, Brother Hal & Sweet Joan of the Textile Mills Happy Birthday Pete Seeger (Sat, May 3): Joe Uehlein (photo) performs his  Birthday Tribute to Pete Seeger  tonight starting at 7:30p at Zed’s in Silver Spring. Kids at Work (Sat/Sun, May 3-4):  Brother Hal  and  Sweet Joan of the Textile...    more...  
• May 1, 2014 Mother Jones Launches DC LaborFest The first annual DC LaborFest kicks off today, May 1 -- celebrated around the world as International Worker's Day -- with a mid-day May Day wreath-laying in honor of legendary labor organizer Mary Harris "Mother" Jones' 184th birthday.    more...  
• May 1, 2014 Mother Jones Wreath-Laying Launches DC LaborFest “Mother Jones always said that ‘The first thing is to raise hell,” Saul Schniderman reminded the small crowd gathered in Silver Spring Thursday to commemorate the feisty labor icon’s birthday and kick off the DC LaborFest. “She said ‘That’s always the first thing to do when...    more...  
• Apr 30, 2014 Union Voice/Readers Write: Labor Map Add “I love your labor map ,” writes Jamie Horwitz. “Really nice. It has one omission though, The National Press Club has two unionized restaurants, including The Fourth Estate Restaurant, which is open to the public. - Thanks for the catch! The map’s been updated and you’ll find...    more...  
• Apr 30, 2014 DC Jobs With Justice Awardees Announced This year’s DC Jobs with Justice “I'll Be There” awardees will be Reverend Graylan Hagler (right) of Plymouth United Church of Christ, Alya Solomon of the DC Office of the People's Counsel (former Political/Legislative Assistant at the Metro Washington Council), Trabajadores Unidos de...    more...  
• Apr 30, 2014 Mother Jones Launches DC LaborFest Tomorrow The first annual  DC LaborFest  -- a month-long celebration of labor arts -- kicks off tomorrow, Thursday, May 1, with a midday  May Day wreath-laying  in honor of legendary labor organizer Mary Harris “Mother” Jones’ 184th birthday. Join Metro Washington...    more...  
• Apr 30, 2014 Correct Link for MD/DC AFL-CIO Maryland Endorsements Click here for the complete list of endorsements . The link in Monday’s UC was incorrect; our apologies for the error.    more...  
• Apr 30, 2014 UNITE HERE Local 7 Affiliates with Metro Council Baltimore-based UNITE HERE Local 7, which represents over 100 metro-area workers at Martin’s Crosswinds  in Greenbelt, has affiliated with the Metro Council. “We’re proud to welcome our Local 7 members to the Council,” said Metro Council president Jos Williams, “and we’re...    more...  
• Apr 30, 2014 Dumbarton Oaks Workers Organize Employees at Dumbarton Oaks, a Harvard research library and museum in Washington, D.C., voted earlier this month to join the Harvard Union for Clerical and Technical Workers (HUCTW), the Cambridge, MA-based union affiliated with AFSCME. About 45 staff members at Dumbarton Oaks, who are...    more...  
• Apr 28, 2014 Labor on the Move: Amalgamated Names Mestrich President Keith Mestrich has been named President of Amalgamated Bank . Mestrich, who most recently served as the bank’s Chief of Staff and previously headed up the bank’s DC branch, worked in the labor and progressive movements for more than two decades prior to joining Amalgamated Bank in 2012....    more...  
• Apr 28, 2014 DC LaborFest Launches This Week The first annual DC LaborFest kicks off this Thursday, May 1 with a midday May Day wreath-laying in honor of legendary labor organizer Mary Harris “Mother” Jones’ 184th birthday. On Friday there’s a free noontime screening of the film Fasanella at the AFL-CIO – an exhibit of...    more...  
• Apr 28, 2014 AFT, First Book-DC Distribute 40,000 Free Books for Low-Income Kids The American Federation of Teachers and First Book-DC, along with other partners – including WTU Local 6 and the Metro Washington Council -- last Saturday distributed 40,000 free books to Washington, D.C.-area public school educators and representatives of more than 200 community groups...    more...  
• Apr 28, 2014 MD/DC AFL-CIO Releases Maryland Endorsements The Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO on Friday released endorsements in the 2014 Primary Election. In addition to endorsements for Maryland Governor (Anthony Brown), Lt. Governor (Ken Ulman), Comptroller (Peter Franchot) and Attorney General (Brian Frosh), the State AFL-CIO...    more...  
• Apr 25, 2014 NEA Staff & Cafeteria Workers Picket Culinary Seasons "If I had a little bit more money I could pay the bills and save some for my boys," said Jessica Reyes. "I want them to go to college and not have to work a job like mine." Reyes works in the cafeteria at the National Education Association's headquarters on 16th Street, which is operated by...    more...  
• Apr 25, 2014 Making a Difference for DC Residents “It’s really easy to just write checks and think you are helping your town,” said Community Foundation President Terri Lee Freeman. “But what’s really gratifying is to know that those checks go to agencies that are really making a difference for DC residents, and helping them...    more...  
• Apr 25, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: 1 Year After Rana Plaza The Rana Plaza building collapsed a year ago, killing more than 1,100 Bangladesh garment workers. Since the disaster, 54 people have died or been injured at garment factories in Bangladesh. Garment workers seeking to form unions are intimidated by factory managers, who sometimes threaten to...    more...  
• Apr 25, 2014 WPFW to Broadcast Special on "Salt of the Earth" The classic labor film “Salt of   the Earth” will be the focus of a special hour-long program Monday on WPFW Radio (89.3 FM) from 11a to 12 noon on April 28. “Salt of the Earth” is celebrating it’s 60th anniversary this year and   screens May 5   – 7:30p at AFI...    more...  
• Apr 24, 2014 Hitting the Streets for Thunderous Thursday Three demonstrations today headline a full day of local labor actions that also includes a noontime discussion on copyright and an evening town hall on Fast Track. First up is the  Postal Workers Protest at Staples at 11a  at 19th & L, followed by Unite Here...    more...  
• Apr 24, 2014 Postal Workers, Union Allies Protest USPS' Staples Privatization Scheme: Chanting “Whose post office? The people's post office!” and “The U.S. Mail is not for sale!” hundreds of postal workers and their union allies marched through downtown Washington on April 24, protesting the U.S. Postal Service's plan to run postal services out of Staples stores. The...    more...  
• Apr 23, 2014 Mother Jones: Alive and Still Kicking at 184 It’s turning out to be quite a year for Mother Jones. Once dubbed “the most dangerous woman in America,” Jones’ 184th birthday will be celebrated with a wreath-laying in Silver Spring on May 1 that kicks off the 2014 DC LaborFest  next week. On April 12, Jones was inducted...    more...  
• Apr 23, 2014 Teachers On The Move Speaking of the teachers, Washington Teachers Union Local 6 has just moved. Their new address is 1239 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003. Their phone number remains the same: 202-293-8600; Fax: 202-293-8635. Always get the latest info on Council affiliates on our  online...    more...  
• Apr 23, 2014 CSA News You Can Use: Help Distribute Free Books Volunteers are needed this Saturday at the AFL-CIO -- click here to sign up -- to help distribute 40,000 free books to teachers, school staff, parents and kids.  The Books on Wheels provides needy kids with free books and is sponsored by AFT, First Book and the Phi Beta Phi...    more...  
• Apr 23, 2014 DC-Area Events Mark Anniversary of Bangladesh Garment Factory Collapse Two DC-area actions this week mark the 1-year anniversary of the collapse of the Rana Plaza factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh, killing more than 1,100 garment workers and injuring thousands more. Today at 6p , DC Jobs with Justice will lead a community and worker delegation to deliver a...    more...  
• Apr 23, 2014 Protest Against USPS-Staples "Sweetheart Deal" Set for Thursday It won’t be easy getting into the Staples store at 19 th & L Streets tomorrow, with hundreds of postal workers and their supporters rallying at 11:30a as part of a national day of action with events at more than 50 Staples stores in 27 states to protest the sweetheart deal between...    more...  
• Apr 23, 2014 Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO Announces Local Endorsements The Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO - whose nearly 200 affiliated local unions represent over 150,000 area union members - today announced its endorsements in upcoming primary races in Montgomery, Prince George's,  St Mary's, Charles and Calvert Counties. "These candidates have...    more...  
• Apr 22, 2014 Labor Delegation To Lafayette Hunger Strikers' Base Camp Today Today at 5p, the AFL-CIO is coordinating a labor delegation to the ongoing hunger strike in Lafayette Park. Two weeks ago, a group consisting of several families torn apart by the government’s current deportation policy launched a 30-day hunger strike based across from the White...    more...  
• Apr 21, 2014 Thunderous Thursday Three demonstrations this Thursday, April 24 headline a full day of local labor actions that also includes a noontime discussion on copyright and an evening town hall on Fast Track. First up is the Postal Workers Protest at Staples at 11a at 19th & L, followed by Unite Here 23’s Stand...    more...  
• Apr 21, 2014 CSA's Building Futures Program Wins Another Grant The Community Services Agency’s Building Futures program landed another grant last week when the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region announced grant awards to 58 nonprofit organizations for the first round of grant-making from the City Fund. CSA’s Building Futures program...    more...  
• Apr 21, 2014 Guild Members Shine as Winners of 2014 Pulitzers More than half of the Pulitzer Prizes awarded this year went to journalists in TNG-CWA-represented newsrooms, including at The Washington Post . "We take enormous pride in the fact that Guild members and the news organizations they work for represent the very best of American journalism,"...    more...  
• Apr 21, 2014 Council Meeting Preview Tonight’s Council meeting – 6:30p at the AFL-CIO  features reports on the upcoming Postal Workers protest at Staples, the ongoing hunger strike by immigration rights activists in Lafayette Park, endorsement recommendations in Maryland races and a preview of next month’s first-ever...    more...  
• Apr 21, 2014 Click Here to Help CSA Win $10,000! “If you have a Facebook account, you can   help the Community Services Agency win $10,000   from WTOP with just a computer click,” reports Community Services Agency Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy.  “ The Community Services Agency is registered for the WTOP...    more...  
• Apr 18, 2014 Help CSA Win $10,000 The Community Services Agency is participating in WTOP’s "Click for a Cause" contest next week, in which winners will receive $10,000 in cash while runners-up get radio spots and support from the station. “This is a great chance for financial support and to get the word out about how...    more...  
• Apr 18, 2014 Maryland Passes Responsible Contracting Law Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley (D)   on Tuesday   signed a bill   that protects taxpayers by prohibiting private contractors who have broken the law from obtaining contracts with the state.   SB 669  gives Maryland residents important new protection...    more...  
• Apr 18, 2014 DC LaborFest Adds 3 More Events Elizabeth Warren, the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, will   discuss her new memoir on   May 2   at the AFL-CIO,   The American Nurse   film opens a week-long run on   May 8 , exploring some of the biggest issues facing...    more...  
• Apr 18, 2014 Global Labor Film Festival Returns in May The   May 5   DC Labor FilmFest screening   of Salt of the Earth   is part of the second annual   Global Labor Film Festival   which showcases the growing worldwide scope of nearly  three dozen film festivals  focused on films about work...    more...  
• Apr 18, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: How You Can Help Bangladesh Organizers Bangladeshi union organizer Hasina Akter was talking with garment workers in Dhaka when a group of at least 20 people accosted her and the three other union organizers and a worker leader with her. She and her companions were threatened and beaten, one into unconsciousness. The February...    more...  
• Apr 16, 2014 LaborFest Updates: Free Labor FilmFest Passes, Brother Hal Tix Now Available and the Mother Jones Marker Distribute DC LaborFest  “Hold the Date” cards to locations in your neighborhood (stores, bars, libraries, etc) and we’ll give you a pair of free passes to the upcoming DC Labor FilmFest! Email cgarlock@dclaborarchives.org for details. Also, tickets are now on sale -- and going...    more...  
• Apr 16, 2014 DC Labor Map Updated The online DC Labor Map has been updated again and now includes the  Amalgamated Bank on K Street, the Laborers District Council’s new office in Reston, the Transport Workers Union on 3 rd Street and Laborers’ Local 11 in Alexandria . Updates, corrections and additions...    more...  
• Apr 16, 2014 Labor to March in DC Emancipation Day Parade Today Local labor leaders and activists are once again participating in the annual D.C. Emancipation Day activities today. Emancipation Day is an official public holiday in the District of Columbia to remember April 16, 1862 when President Abraham Lincoln signed the DC Compensation Emancipation Act...    more...  
• Apr 16, 2014 Community Groups Reach Out to Walmart Workers DC Jobs With Justice and Respect DC volunteers made several visits to both DC Walmart stores last week to do “know your rights” outreach on Walmart workers' rights to the new minimum wage and paid sick days in the District. “We're going to continue this outreach throughout the year to...    more...  
• Apr 14, 2014 Union Voice/Readers Write: Fantastic Map! “Hey, I love the ‘DC Labor Map’  that you created on CommunityWalk!” writes J Grandestaff. “Would like you to add the location for IAM Capital Air Lodge 1759.” No problem! Click here  to see Lodge 1759 on the DC Labor Map and while you’re there check out the area...    more...  
• Apr 14, 2014 New Website Builders Generate Excitement Among Local Labor Communicators Local labor communicators were “blown away” by the ease of use, low cost and professional look possible with Weebly, SquareSpace and WIX, popular website builders explored in a presentation by IFPTE’s Chris Langford (right) at the group’s meeting last Friday. A real...    more...  
• Apr 14, 2014 NLRB Says NBC Universal Broke Law The National Labor Relations Board ruled on April 7 that NBC Universal violated federal labor law by refusing to recognize and bargain with NABET-CWA. The case stems from an attempt by NBC in early 2009 to unilaterally change the terms and conditions of employment for NABET-CWA members...    more...  
• Apr 14, 2014 Farmworker Children Essay & Art Contests With the recent release of “Cesar Chavez,” the Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs’ (AFOP) annual Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker Children Essay & Art Contest  is especially timely. This year’s theme is “From our Hands to Your Table” with cash prizes for...    more...  
• Apr 14, 2014 2014 Maryland Legislative Candidate Labor Questionnaires Posted (click on "show replies" to see responses) Montgomery General Assembly Prince George’s County Calvert, St Mary’s & Charles   Charles County      more...  
• Apr 12, 2014 AFL-CIO Urges Support for Lafayette Park Hunger Strikers The AFL-CIO is offering logistical and public support to a group of hunger strikers who, starting last week, have been protesting across from the White House, in Lafayette Park. “The group, consisting of several families of immigrants in detention centers or currently in detention proceedings,...    more...  
• Apr 11, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: End Child Labor with Decent Work for Adults Reducing and eliminating child labor requires a focus on decent work for adults, said Solidarity Center Executive Director Shawna Bader-Blau, speaking this week on Capitol Hill. Bader-Blau joined a panel of experts in a congressional briefing, “Combating Exploitative Child Labor,” with...    more...  
• Apr 11, 2014 Labor Political Updates Veronica Turner (right) , the labor-endorsed candidate for Maryland District 26 Senator is holding a Labor Rally  this Saturday, April 12 th from 10a to 12 noon at the Painters Union Hall. COPE candidate interviews are being held next Monday April 14 th and Tuesday, April...    more...  
• Apr 11, 2014 DC LaborFest "Save the Date" Cards Available The first annual DC LaborFest kicks off May 1 and “Save the Date” cards are now available for distribution to local members. The month-long labor cultural, film and arts festival includes the 14 th annual DC Labor FilmFest, an art exhibition on organizer/painter Ralph Fassanella at...    more...  
• Apr 10, 2014 Howard University Hospital Nurses Hit Street Against RIFS Janice Bashorun has been a clinical nurse for 38 years. On Thursday, despite trouble with her legs that requires a special walker, she found herself walking an informational picket line in front of Howard University Hospital (HUH), chanting “Nurses care for patient safety!” with dozens...    more...  
• Apr 9, 2014 NoVA Dinner Ad Deadline Extended The deadline for ads in the program book for the annual “Tribute to NoVA Labor” dinner and award ceremony has been extended a week to Thursday, April 17. “This is our only fundraiser and will allow NoVA Labor to support its membership as an established community and political force in...    more...  
• Apr 9, 2014 Turner Labor Rally Set for Saturday Veronica Turner, the labor-endorsed candidate for Maryland District 26 Senator is holding a Labor Rally on Saturday, April 12th from 10:00 AM to 12 Noon at the Painters Union Hall. Click here for full details .    more...  
• Apr 9, 2014 Goodwin Swears in OPEIU 2 Officers & Board, Presents UFW Award OPEIU Local 2’s newly-elected officers and Executive Board members were sworn in to their 3-year terms on April 1 by OPEIU president Mike Goodwin . Goodwin also presented the local with an award from the United Farm Workers in recognition of the “unwavering support for farm workers...    more...  
• Apr 9, 2014 Websites: What Every Union Communicator Needs to Know The latest and best options for easily building an inexpensive website for a local union or organizing campaign will be the featured presentation at this Friday's Local Labor Communicators meeting, scheduled for this Friday, April 11 at 9:15a. IFPTE’s Chris Langford will review...    more...  
• Apr 9, 2014 DCNA Plans Informational Picket at Howard Thursday The District of Columbia Nurses Association (DCNA), will stage an informational picket  at Howard University Hospital on Thursday at 11:30a . DCNA is concerned that Howard's failure to follow negotiated procedures after deciding to lay off registered nurses "will result in unnecessary...    more...  
• Apr 8, 2014 Immigration Bus Stops at Wolf's Door Marching and chanting "Yes we can!" in seven different languages, nearly 100 people rallied Wednesday morning in front of U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf's (R) 10th District office in Herndon, Va., urging his support for immigrant rights. Union members from Communications Workers of America (CWA), the...    more...  
• Apr 7, 2014 Democrats Call For Study of Declining Federal-Worker Morale Three Democrats on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee have asked the Government Accountability Office to examine recent declines in federal-worker morale and how to reverse the trend, reports The Washington Post . Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), who is the panel’s...    more...  
• Apr 7, 2014 Allen & Lanning Wins Seats on DC Democratic State Committee Labor-endorsed candidates Fred Allen (IBT/GCC) and Steve Lanning (LIUNA) won spots on the DC Democratic State Committee in last Tuesday’s primaries, while Dyana Forester, Vicky Leonard, Jasmine Harris and Gregory Cendana fell short in their bids. Click here for complete election results ....    more...  
• Apr 7, 2014 Library of Congress Guild Opposes Reduction of Services The Library of Congress Professional Guild (AFSCME Local 2910) last month called on the Librarian of Congress to stop the planned merger and reduction of specialized reference collections and services and to keep the LOC's Science and Business Reading Room (right) open. The Library’s...    more...  
• Apr 7, 2014 AFSCME Members Bus to DC "Raise the Wage" Rally, Hear Ruben Jones' Plea Maryland AFSCME Council 3 members bused down to DC last Thursday to meet up with the “ Give America a Raise” bus tour , sponsored by Americans United for Change, AFL-CIO and a coalition of allies. The rally at the U.S. Capitol concluded a tour that started March 24 and made 18 stops...    more...  
• Apr 7, 2014 Updating King's Fight For Economic Justice, Activists Call for a Tax on Wall Street DCNA’s Sandy Falwell (at right) joined Rev. Rodney Sadler, Rep. Keith Ellison, and Amanda Lugg and other activists at the U.S. Capitol last Friday to connect Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s fight for economic justice with a tax on Wall Street to fund efforts to reverse inequality. April 4...    more...  
• Apr 7, 2014 $10.10 Minimum Wage Bill Passes in the Maryland General Assembly Labor leaders and their allies hailed Monday’s passage of the $10.10 minimum wage by the Maryland General Assembly. “Raising Maryland’s minimum wage is a huge win for the hundreds of thousands of workers across the state who will get a raise, as well as the businesses and communities...    more...  
• Apr 4, 2014 Labor On The Move: Gabriel Pedreira in as LiUNA! Mid-Atlantic’s Communications Director Gabriel Pedreira has joined Laborers’ International Union of North America Mid-Atlantic Region (LiUNA! Mid-Atlantic) as its new Director of Communications. Pedreira (right) – who came on board in early January -- will run LiUNA’s Mid-Atlantic's Communications Department in...    more...  
• Apr 4, 2014 Fired Bargain Wholesale Workers Protest; Kroger Members Visit New Store in Henrico Bargain Wholesale workers, illegally fired by their employer Monday “for wanting to have dignity, respect on the job and fair wages,” successfully turned customers away Wednesday morning, reports UFCW Local 400 . The workers continue to push for reinstatement. In other Local 400 news...    more...  
• Apr 2, 2014 Union Voice/Readers Write: Remembering the Memphis Strikers' Union “Your piece on MLK and Memphis (3/28 Union City Labor History) failed to mention that these strikers were all members of AFSCME Local 1733, the city's sanitation workers,” writes Don Wasserman. “This is not to take away from the absolute first-rate work that you do in getting out...    more...  
• Apr 2, 2014 Labor On The Move: Mark Coles Tapped to Lead New Capital Region Building and Construction Trades Organization Mark Coles has been named Executive Director of CHOICE, the new building and construction trades organization for the national capital region. Coles   (right)   formerly served as the Business/Legislative Representative for the Washington DC Building and Construction Trades...    more...  
• Apr 2, 2014 Grand Budapest Hotel's Story of Worker Solidarity Wes Anderson’s new film “The Grand Budapest Hotel” is a lovely paean to a lost era “but it’s also a subtle story of workers and worker solidarity,” writes DC Labor FilmFest Director Chris Garlock in a  recent post on Working America’s Main Street blog. “Set...    more...  
• Apr 2, 2014 Support Urged for MontCo Trash Hauler Health Care Many of the sanitation workers who collect residential trash in Montgomery County do not have health insurance because they do not earn enough to afford it, reports the Mid-Atlantic Laborers. More than 100 county sanitation workers went on strike last year over this issue but “Despite...    more...  
• Mar 31, 2014 Trades Urge Support for Cove Point LNG Project Area building trades unions are urging support for a $3.8 billion liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility being planned by Dominion at its Cove Point facility in Lusby, MD. “Construction workers there will be covered by a Project Labor Agreement (PLA),” says Mark Coles of the Washington...    more...  
• Mar 31, 2014 AFL-CIO to Lead Protest at Heritage Foundation Today AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre (left) will lead  today’s protest  at the Heritage Foundation to highlight their efforts to restrict the minimum wage and strip workers’ rights. The protest  (which does not include civil disobedience)  starts at 11:30a at...    more...  
• Mar 31, 2014 Living in a Precarious World: Best-selling author Barbara Ehrenreich, acclaimed  novelist Justin Torres and DC Jobs with Justice leader Nikki Lewis are among those leading a series of discussions today and  tomorrow  about “our increasingly precarious work and lives in this rapidly changing economy.”...    more...  
• Mar 31, 2014 Unionists Take Minimum Wage Raise Fight to Heritage Foundation, Citadel of Radical Right Dozens of unionists, spotlighting how raising the minimum wage would help women workers in particular, took the fight to raise the wage on March 31 to the doorstep of a leading Radical Right foe, the Heritage Foundation. Led by AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre, the group picketed...    more...  
• Mar 28, 2014 Labor On The Move: Solomon Moves to DC Office of the People's Counsel Metro Council Assistant Political Coordinator Alya Solomon has accepted a position at the DC Office of the People's Counsel as the Consumer Affairs Liaison, "where I will continue my work to protect working families by advocating for consumers of natural gas, electric and telephone services."...    more...  
• Mar 28, 2014 UFCW 1994 Calls for Investigation After Judge Says Leggett Broke Election Law UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO this week called for criminal investigations by the Maryland State Prosecutor and the Montgomery County Inspector General after Maryland County Circuit Court Judge Ronald Rubin found that Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett (right) violated Maryland election...    more...  
• Mar 28, 2014 Labor Events Spring Forth Spring must be here, because local labor activity is bursting out all over! Tomorrow you can hear from DC workers organizing to change their workplace and learn how you can aid their struggles at the Low-Wage Workers Speak Out! And on Monday , Tell the Heritage Foundation to Stop...    more...  
• Mar 28, 2014 "I am AFGE" Offers Real Picture of Federal Employees A new campaign from AFGE takes a closer look at the hardworking men and women who are the dedicated public servants caring for our veterans, defending our borders and keeping our food safe to eat. The campaign aims “to break down the stereotypes that some folks have about federal...    more...  
• Mar 28, 2014 "Cesar Chavez" Opens This Weekend! "Cesar Chavez," the first major movie in years to show the labor movement in a positive light, opens in area theaters tonight. “Go see it!” urges Metro Washington Council – and DC Labor FilmFest Co-Chair – Jos Williams. “ Cesar Chavez tells a monumental story about an...    more...  
• Mar 26, 2014 PG & MontCo Candidate Interviews Today & Tomorrow Prince George’s and Montgomery County COPE candidate interviews will take place today and tomorrow, starting each day at 10a. The interviews will be in the basement meeting room of UFCW Local 400 (4301 Garden City Drive, Landover MD). Links to the candidate questionnaires are posted on the...    more...  
• Mar 26, 2014 DC Labor FilmFest Raffling Off Pair of Free Tix to Sunday "Cesar Chavez," a new major motion picture about legendary Farm Worker leader Cesar Chavez will debut March 28 in theaters nationwide, and the DC Labor FilmFest is raffling off two free tickets to this Sunday's special screening in DC. Click here to enter the drawing for the 5p screening...    more...  
• Mar 26, 2014 Labor FilmFest, Night at the Nats Updates Space is still available in the 2014 DC Labor FilmFest/DC LaborFest program guide, which so far includes nearly more than three dozen events celebrating labor art and culture in May and June. Email cgarlock@dclaborarchives.org for details or to reserve space. Bricklayers Local 1 is the...    more...  
• Mar 26, 2014 Labor On The Move: McElroy Returns to DC Elizabeth McElroy is the new Assistant Director of the AFL-CIO’S Political Department, where she serves as the point person for the Federation “to connect the labor movement to candidates and parties and find ways to work on areas of common interest,” she tells Union City. McElroy was...    more...  
• Mar 24, 2014 Unions Hit Doors for Medicaid Expansion in VA Volunteers from a dozen international unions placed door hangers throughout two different Northern Virginia legislative districts on Saturday, calling upon those members of the House of Delegates to support expansion of Medicaid to cover the 400,000 Virginians without health  care. "All...    more...  
• Mar 24, 2014 "Time for the Dough to Rise" Says Labor Seder A 40-year-old fast food worker in Randallstown, MD making $8 an hour spends his spare time looking for a second job to make ends meet...A pizza delivery driver making $7.25 an hour has to rotate paying her bills; when her car broke down she couldn't afford to fix it and lost her job...a...    more...  
• Mar 24, 2014 Labor Photo: Union Demo(lition) The Laborers posted this photo on Facebook last week of the demolition of the 16th street church of Third Church of Christ, Scientist. The concrete building’s lower walls are six feet thick and the upper walls are three feet thick. Answer to Friday’s Labor Photo quiz: AFSCME 2910...    more...  
• Mar 24, 2014 Nats Facility Workers Vote in Union Facilities workers at Nationals Park voted in Local 99 of the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) on Friday. The election was the culmination of a months-long campaign to organize the more than 20 skilled workers at the home of the Washington Nationals. “In the final...    more...  
• Mar 21, 2014 UNITE HERE Boycott Update While the global Hyatt boycott has ended, there are a number of local Hyatts with continuing labor disputes including boycotts, which UNITE HERE urges travelers to continue to support.  Here are the union’s “3 Steps to Avoid Labor Disputes and Support Hotel Workers”: 1: Use the...    more...  
• Mar 21, 2014 Slamdunk for Metro Transit Cops The Metro Transit Police Department (photo) won ATU Local 689’s 2014 Basketball Championship, defeating the Running Rebels 68-50. “The game stayed close until the midway point of the second half,” reports Local 689. Kenneth Nickerson was named the most valuable player for the Metro...    more...  
• Mar 21, 2014 Labor Photo: Guess Who? This photo from the mid-Seventies includes two currently-active local labor leaders. Who are they? Click here to submit your guess and you could win a free autographed copy of “How to Jump-Start Your Union” !    more...  
• Mar 21, 2014 Laborers Push for Healthcare for MontCo Trash Haulers Many of the sanitation workers who collect residential trash in Montgomery County earn less than $20,000 a year, reports the Mid-Atlantic Laborers. “And most of those sanitation workers do not have health insurance because they do not earn enough to afford it.” MALiUNA says that the...    more...  
• Mar 21, 2014 Labor FilmFest Ad Deadline Extended The deadline for ads in the 2014 DC Labor FilmFest program guide has been extended as planning continues for the 14 th annual labor film festival, scheduled for May and June. Email cgarlock@dclaborarchives.org to reserve your space now. Fourteen films about work and workers will anchor the...    more...  
• Mar 19, 2014 Union Voice/Readers Write: Looking for Union Printers "Do you know happen to know if there is any place in the area (preferably Montgomery County) that does printing and is a union shop?" asks UC reader Walter Hill. Absolutely! Our online Union Shop listings include the latest list of   area union printers , including Print...    more...  
• Mar 19, 2014 Early Voting Begins in DC Early voting has begun in the District of Columbia. DC voters can vote in person at One Judiciary Sq., 441 4th St. NW through this Saturday, March 29, from 8:30a-7p daily, and at all 13 Early Voting Centers   March 22-29   (Closed Sundays). Click here for   Early Voting...    more...  
• Mar 19, 2014 NoVA Labor Activists to Hit Streets Saturday Northern Virginia labor activists and their allies will be hitting the streets in Manassas and Ashburn   this Saturday   to promote Medicaid/health care expansion before the General Assembly returns to Richmond in special session next Monday . “We’re just dropping door...    more...  
• Mar 19, 2014 Evening with Labor Award-Winner Photos Posted Photos of award-winners at lastSaturday's 37th annual Evening with Labor have been posted on the Metro Washington Council's   Facebook page ; stay tuned for more photos from the reception and dinner soon!   photo: Metro Council president Jos Williams (left) congratulates Emilio...    more...  
• Mar 17, 2014 "We Can Make a Difference" Says Trades Unionist of the Year Jimmy Tarlau “We have to do something   different,” CWA 2-13’s Jimmy Tarlau said   Saturday night as he accepted the 2013 JC Turner Award for Outstanding Trades Unionist of the Year at the 37 th annual Evening with Labor. “We cannot just keep on getting the same people...    more...  
• Mar 17, 2014 CNN Workers Still Await Justice After 10 Years Calling it “incomprehensible” that ten years have passed “since CNN America hatched its scheme to unlawfully oust the union from CNN studios and field work at news bureaus in New York City and Washington, D.C.,” CWA  is urging calls to the NLRB to win justice for 250 fired...    more...  
• Mar 17, 2014 Trash Haulers Vote in Union at Unity Disposal Unity Disposal workers voted to join LiUNA Local 657 on   Friday, March 14. "The workers stayed united despite strong employer opposition which included attempts to divide workers based on race," reports LiUNA organizer Felix Rodriguez. The workers struck Unity last year. "The...    more...  
• Mar 17, 2014 Labor Photo: DC Labor Supports Obama Rule Changes to Expand Overtime Pay Area workers and labor activists – including MWC Assistant Legislative/Political Coordinator Alya Solomon   (to right of Obama)   -- attended President Obama’s March 13 White House signing ceremony ordering the Labor Department to revise federal rules on overtime pay to make...    more...  
• Mar 17, 2014 Hospital Workers Call for Expanded DC Patient Protection Act “Patient care is a team effort,” SEIU 722 president Dan Fields says. In addition to doctors and nurses, there are patient care techs who monitor vitals, phlebotomists who draw blood, transporters, environmental service workers, and respiratory service workers. Many of these...    more...  
• Mar 17, 2014 Labor On The Move: Ana Avendano Appointed VP of Labor Participation at United Way Ana Avendaño has been appointed Vice President of Labor Participation for United Way Worldwide, USA by AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka. “Ana has a long career in the labor movement, most recently as my assistant for immigration and community action,” Trumka said Friday . “In an...    more...  
• Mar 14, 2014 Last Chance for Evening with Labor Tickets Today is really, truly, positively your last chance to get tickets for  tomorrow   night's 37 th  annual Evening with Labor. Contact Kathleen McKirchy at  kmckirchy@dclaborarchives.org   or call   202-974-8221 . Local labor leaders,...    more...  
• Mar 14, 2014 Labor on the Move: Amalgamated Bank Names Reardon VP Alison Reardon has been named   Amalgamated Bank 's First Vice President and Director of the Washington, D.C. region to lead the bank’s expansion of its portfolio of D.C.-based labor unions, progressive organizations, non-profits and businesses. A veteran of both national and...    more...  
• Mar 14, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: Workers in Dominican Republic, Peru Stand for Their Rights In the Dominican Republic, workers marched at the Business Tower in Santo Domingo to oppose corporate-backed attempts to weaken labor code protections for workers. In Peru, women farm workers are networking to build their confidence and strengthen their leadership skills so they can...    more...  
• Mar 14, 2014 Labor Endorsement Timeline for Maryland Primary Elections Announced The Metro Washington Council’s Committee of Political Education (COPE) has announced the following timeline for labor endorsements in the upcoming Maryland primary elections: County Offices:  March 10 : send out questionnaires to County Office candidates;  ...    more...  
• Mar 12, 2014 Get on the Labor Notes Bus ATU 1764’s Kewana Battle-Mason is planning on attending the upcoming Labor Notes Conference  April 4-6 in Chicago, and has offered to drive anyone who wants to come along from DC. "I don't mind driving if somebody has a van or there is a group that wants to rent one,” says Battle....    more...  
• Mar 12, 2014 Busy Week for Area Activists: Mark Your Calendar Wednesday: Fair Budget Coalition "Tale of Two Cities" Action Thursday: BWI Airport Workers March for Equality Friday: Rally and Hearing on the Wage Theft Prevention Act Friday: Book Discussion: Getting Back to Full Employment (with Dean Baker and Jared Bernstein) Saturday:...    more...  
• Mar 12, 2014 What We're Reading: Labor News Roundup SuperShuttle Drivers Find Common Enemy in Veolia , Labor Notes (3/10): It’s been a bumpy road for SuperShuttle drivers attempting to organize at three D.C.-area airports. To win recognition, the drivers must prove they are employees—of a global corporation that’s making more money off...    more...  
• Mar 12, 2014 AFGE Officer Thrilled by Obama's New Initiative for Young Men of Color Yvette Martin-Gross, an AFGE officer and National Women's Advisory Coordinator for AFGE’s 14th District, has always been interested in women's upward mobility in the workplace. Martin-Gross, a single mom, says she's learned from the challenges in her life to be a stronger person and...    more...  
• Mar 12, 2014 Going Fast: Evening with Labor Tickets & Labor FilmFest Ads Tickets for this Saturday’s 37 th annual Evening with Labor are going fast but you can still get yours by contacting Kathleen McKirchy at kmckirchy@dclaborarchives.org or call 202-974-8221. Cocktails at 6:30p, dinner at 7:30. And though the EWL adbook has gone to press, there’s...    more...  
• Mar 11, 2014 Politicians: Building Trades Show The Way In Rebuilding U.S. By Mark Gruenberg, PAI Staff Writer WASHINGTON (PAI) -- With the federal government mired in partisan warfare, U.S. building trades unions are showing the way in rebuilding the country, while also reaching out – and putting to work – the women and minorities who will be the future of...    more...  
• Mar 10, 2014 JC Turner Award for Outstanding Trades Unionist of the Year: JIMMY TARLAU This top award for the union leader who most typifies the characteristics of a trade unionist is not necessarily awarded every year. CWA District 2-13’s Jimmy Tarlau   (right) , this year’s recipient, has earned our recognition several times over, having been a fixture at virtually...    more...  
• Mar 10, 2014 Labor Seder Tickets Going Fast The Labor Seder is coming up in just two weeks – March 23 -- and tickets are going fast, reports Jews United for Justice.   Click here to reserve yours now. JUFJ's annual seder celebrates the Passover freedom story through grassroots action on local issues. “At the 2014 Labor Seder,...    more...  
• Mar 10, 2014 Correction: Link to Support Patient Protection Act Our link to   sign a letter   to the DC Mayor and City Councilmembers supporting the bill mandating minimum nurse-to-patient ratios   ( DC RNs Call on City Council to End Delay on Patient Protection Act  3/7 UC)   was wrong;   click here for the...    more...  
• Mar 10, 2014 $10.10 Minimum Wage Bill Passes in Maryland House: The Maryland House of Delegates on Friday passed legislation to raise the state’s minimum wage to $10.10 per hour by 2017.  The Senate Finance Committee is expected to take action during the week of March 10. This is the first time that a minimum wage bill has been passed by the full...    more...  
• Mar 10, 2014 Evening with Labor Tix Still Available Don’t miss the 37 th annual Evening with Labor, this Saturday, March 15! Schmooze with labor friends and political allies, celebrate this year’s award-winners and dance the night away to music of The Ultimate Big Band! Cocktails at 6:30 at the Omni; dinner at 7:30. For tickets  ...    more...  
• Mar 10, 2014 Safeway Merger Underlines Importance of Union Friday’s announcement of the merger of Albertson’s and Safeway was a reminder of the importance of being a union member. “In our Union contract, we have language that requires any purchaser to agree to take our contract and all its benefits and to hire all of the current employees and...    more...  
• Mar 7, 2014 What We're Reading: Labor News Roundup In the D.C. fire department, a cold war simmers between the chief and the rank and file , Washington Post, March 1:  In the past three years, the D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department has been ravaged byplummeting morale, strife between the rank and file (members of...    more...  
• Mar 7, 2014 Solidarity Center Series Highlights Women's Day 2014 Each day this week, leading up to International Women’s Day on   March 8 , the Solidarity Center has been highlighting an example of how women and their unions are taking action to improve women’s lives on the job, in their unions and in their communities. Check out the series...    more...  
• Mar 7, 2014 IBEW Int'l Tapped as Thomas M. Bradley Community Services Award Winner The largest Labor Division United Way campaign, “the IBEW International not only adopts families for the annual Community Services Agency’s Holiday Basket project and has allowed CSA use of the IBEW’s building for strategic planning and board development activities,” says CSA...    more...  
• Mar 7, 2014 Labor Endorsement Update Nurses Endorse Vincent Orange for DC Mayor, Back Jim Graham, Charles Allen for Council :  National Nurses United, the nation's largest union and professional association of registered nurses, this week announced its endorsement of Councilmember Vincent Orange in the District of...    more...  
• Mar 7, 2014 UFCW 400 Joins Local 23 for Good Jobs Healthy Pittsburgh Action Macy's member   (UFCW 400) Kimberly Mitchell   (photo)   went to Pittsburgh on Monday, March 3, joining her union brothers and sisters at UFCW Local 23 for the Good Jobs Healthy Pittsburgh action protesting low wages at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Pro-union...    more...  
• Mar 7, 2014 DC RNs Call on City Council to End Delay on Patient Protection Act More than 50 DC nurses and community supporters   on Tuesday  protested in freezing weather in   front of DC's Wilson Building, demanding the DC City Council pass legislation to protect patients in hospitals by mandating minimum nurse-to-patient ratios. Nurses also took...    more...  
• Mar 5, 2014 Union Voice/Readers Write: Where are the 2013 Bowling Photos? “Why aren't the team photos from the 2014 CSA bowling tournament posted?” asks   Union City   reader Michelle. They were   posted on our Facebook page   on  January 26 ; we’ve added a link to the   photo gallery on our main...    more...  
• Mar 5, 2014 "How to Jump Start Your Union: Lessons from the Chicago Teachers Union" Tonight at Busboys & Poets Mark Brenner, Director of Labor Notes, Elizabeth Davis, President of the Washington Teachers Union and Daniel del Pielago, Education Organizer at Empower DC   tonight   celebrate the release of "How to Jump-Start Your Union" a new book from Labor Notes that...    more...  
• Mar 5, 2014 Tarlau Canvass Starts Saturday Canvassing for labor's own Jimmy Tarlau   -- CWA District 2-13 staffer and Metro Washington Council Executive Board member -- begins this Saturday, March 8 th . Tarlau is running for Maryland Delegate in District 47A. Meet at   10:30 am   at Urban Eats Café, 3311 Rhode...    more...  
• Mar 5, 2014 Reverend Curry "Outstanding Citizen Award" Winner verend Kendrick Curry   (right) , pastor of the Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church, is this year’s Wilhelmina J. Rolark Outstanding Citizen Award winner, which will be awarded at the 37 th   annual Evening with Labor on   March 15. T ickets still available; email ...    more...  
• Mar 5, 2014 Elevator Constructors Recognize Newest Mechanics The accomplishments of Elevator Constructors Local 10’s newest mechanics were   recognized at the local’s Graduation Dinner ceremonies on February 22. “These new elevator mechanics attend our apprenticeship for four years,” says Sonny Yeatman Jr., Area Coordinator for National...    more...  
• Mar 3, 2014 Unite Here 23 Wins Golden Picket Sign Award The   fight for workplace rights and decent wages for fast food workers and low-wage employees of federal contractors caught fire in 2013 as these workers walked out of their workplaces and onto the front pages of newspapers here and across the country to dramatize their demands for...    more...  
• Mar 3, 2014 UFW to Host "Cesar Chavez" Screening Fundraiser in DC The United Farm   Workers union is hosting a fundraiser on the opening weekend for “Cesar Chavez,” the new movie about the charismatic UFW founder. The film stars Michael Peña, America Ferrera, Rosario Dawson and John Malkovich and is directed by Diego Luna. The fundraiser will be...    more...  
• Mar 3, 2014 MontCo Young Dems Award "Old Bull" to UFCW 1994’s Gino Renne The   Montgomery County Young Democrats presented UFCW 1994/MCGEO president Gino Renne   (holding award)   with the 'Old Bull of the Democratic Party' award last week. “We honor his long-standing support for building the progressive movement forward,” said the Young...    more...  
• Feb 28, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: Bangladesh Union Organizers Attacked A Bangladesh garment worker leader and four union organizers were badly injured in recent days when about two dozen people beat, kicked and threw them to the ground as they were speaking to workers. According to several witnesses, factory managers carried out the attack with others, some of...    more...  
• Feb 28, 2014 AFGE 17 Wins 2013 Organizing Award AFGE Local 17 – which represents workers at the US Department of Veterans Affairs – is the 2013 Evening with Labor Organizing Award winner. Tickets for the March 15 event are still available: email kmckirchy@dclaborarchives.org . Local 17 scored a phenomenal 102.67% increase in...    more...  
• Feb 28, 2014 Labor Endorsement Update: AFGE District 14 Endorses Gray for DC Mayor The 14th District of the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, has announced its endorsement of D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray. “The mayor’s stance on making all D.C. employees essential during the federal government shutdown and paying back D.C. employees from the 2011 four day...    more...  
• Feb 28, 2014 LaborFest DC to Celebrate Workers' Culture The 14 th annual DC Labor FilmFest will anchor a month-long labor cultural, film and arts festival in May, FilmFest Director Chris Garlock reported at Monday’s Metro Washington Council meeting. Scheduled thus far are an art exhibition on painter Ralph Fassanella   (left) at the...    more...  
• Feb 27, 2014 Maryland State Employees Ratify New Contract Maryland State employees have voted by a large margin to ratify a one year contract securing a pay raise, resumption of pay step increases and other economic benefits. The contract was ratified 4,756 to 81 in a ballot count on Feb 18. “It’s a good day for all hard working state employees...    more...  
• Feb 26, 2014 Arbitrator Upholds DC Firefighter Concerns DC Firefighters won a resounding victory when a recent arbitration decision adopted all of the union’s positions over those of the DC Fire Department. The arbitrator reserved particularly strong language for a proposed shift change that raises “serious potential safety concerns.” IAFF...    more...  
• Feb 26, 2014 What We're Reading: Labor News Roundup Activists Win Coordinated Wage Boost in D.C., Nearby Counties - Labor Notes In December lawmakers in Washington, D.C. and two neighboring Maryland counties voted to raise the minimum wage to $11.50 per hour in all three jurisdictions. It was a regional cooperation unprecedented in...    more...  
• Feb 25, 2014 Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO Takes "No Position" in DC Mayor's Race, Two DC City Council Races, Endorses Graham, McDuffie, Thompson and Mendelson, along with Strauss, Lancaster & Allen After extensive debate and discussion, the Executive Board and delegates of the Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO voted Monday night to take no position in the upcoming DC mayoral primary, freeing Council affiliates to endorse the candidate of their choice. In DC City Council...    more...  
• Feb 24, 2014 Labor On The Move: AFGE's Jason Fornicola Moves to Federal News Radio Jason Fornicola (photo) , producer and host of AFGE’s "Inside Government" radio program, is moving to Federal News Radio to become their Director of Custom Media. “I have enjoyed my time at AFGE and I’m grateful for the opportunity to have worked with you all,” says Fornicola.    more...  
• Feb 24, 2014 UFCW 1994 Urges Support of Super Shuttle Workers Citing a long history of worker abuse by Super Shuttle parent company Veolia International, UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO is asking area activists to urge Maryland legislators to support HB 917 , which would force the company to negotiate with the drivers or lose their lucrative BWI contract. The...    more...  
• Feb 24, 2014 Executive Council Calls for Strong Voting Rights Act Repair, Salutes VW Workers, Moves to Increase Young Workers' Voices In statements adopted last Wednesday  at its annual winter meeting in Houston, the AFL-CIO Executive Council called for the restoration of the Voting Rights Act that the U.S. Supreme Court weakened in a 2013 decision, vowed its continued support for Tennessee Volkswagen (VW) workers and...    more...  
• Feb 19, 2014 Council Meeting Location Change The February 24 Metro Washington Council delegate’s 6:30 p.m. meeting will be held in AFGE District 14’s 11th floor boardroom, 80 F Street NW, NOT the AFL-CIO.    more...  
• Feb 19, 2014 Evening with Labor Ad Deadline Monday With the 37 th annual Evening with Labor just weeks away, the deadline for ads in the program book is this coming Monday, February 24 at 5p; click here for the ad form or to order tickets . “Tickets are going fast,” for the March 15 event, says Evening with Labor Chair Fred Allen....    more...  
• Feb 19, 2014 Prince George's County School Custodians' Efforts Recognized Custodians of the Prince George’s County Public School System were recognized during the January 23 Board of Education meeting for the services that they provide “in making our schools clean and safe havens for the students and staff of Prince George’s County,” reports SEIU 400 PG’s...    more...  
• Feb 19, 2014 CLUW Conference Offers Scholarships to Young Women The Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) will bring 10 young women to their 3-day Women’s Leadership Skills Conference this year on scholarship. The scholarship has been awarded by the Berger Marks Foundation, which supports young women working in social justice. The conference, taking...    more...  
• Feb 18, 2014 In Memoriam: IBEW 1900's Edward Healey Edward Healey, an Underground Cable Splicer Mechanic -- and IBEW Local 1900 member -- was en route to a job last Friday, February 14, with a co-worker when they stopped to help a motorist stranded in the snow, reports Local 1900 president Jim Griffin. "Ed became ill and was taken by ambulance...    more...  
• Feb 17, 2014 Treasury Employees Launch Pro-Federal Worker Ad Campaign Saying it’s time to “change the conversation” about federal workers and their jobs, the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) is launching a pro-federal worker public service ad campaign . The year-long drive, the union’s third such effort in five years, is expected to play in 90%...    more...  
• Feb 17, 2014 ATU Seeks Federal Probe Of Attacks On Transit Drivers The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) wants the federal government to probe passenger attacks on transit drivers after a spate of recent assaults. The most recent attack, on Feb. 10, saw a female passenger assault a D.C. Metrobus driver – a member of ATU Local 689 – with a can of Mace. A...    more...  
• Feb 17, 2014 Unionists, Greens Start "Repair America" Drive, Warn Of Perils Of "Free Trade" Pacts Unionists and green groups, seeking to create well-paying union jobs and improve the environment, are embarking on a “Repair America” campaign they hope will resonate with voters concerned about low incomes, citizens worried about climate change and lawmakers who will respond to pressure...    more...  
• Feb 14, 2014 Trace Your Food, Jump-Start Your Union at Bread & Roses Series Learn how to trace your food  and jump-start your union at the next two Bread & Roses events at the 5th Street Busboys and Poets. In “Tracing Our Food: Connecting the Dots in our (Preferred) Food Supply Chain,” – next Monday, Feb 17 from 6-8p – the UFCW’s R. Dennis Olson...    more...  
• Feb 14, 2014 DC COPE Interviews DC City Council Candidates Union members gathered last Tuesday to interview eight candidates running for the DC City Council in wards 1, 3, 5, 6, as well as in the At-Large and Chair races.  “It was a good opportunity to hear candidates’ visions for the city and to ask probing questions on labor issues”...    more...  
• Feb 14, 2014 Community Supports Bestway Workers "This morning we stood with the community as they delivered a letter to the manager on duty (who didn't want to take the letter at first)," UFCW 400 said Wednesday in a Facebook post. "The community is concerned about their friends and neighbors who work in their Bestway store in Silver...    more...  
• Feb 12, 2014 COPE Meeting Rescheduled Due to the expected storm tomorrow, the COPE meeting scheduled for Thursday, February 13  has been rescheduled for next Thursday, February 20. The meeting on the 20th will start at 10a in UFCW 400’s 4th-floor conference room, 4301 Garden City Drive, Landover, MD. - Rick Powell,...    more...  
• Feb 12, 2014 MTA Okays CSA as a Preferred Training Provider The Community Services Agency has been accepted as a preferred training provider by the Maryland Transit Administration (MTA), joining the apprenticeship programs of Plumbers and Pipefitters UA Local 5, Iron Workers Local 5, Mid-Atlantic Carpenters Training Centers, and Steamfitters UA 602...    more...  
• Feb 12, 2014 Love with a Union Label This Friday, you can give your valentine some union-made sweets, toast your love with champagne that carries a union label or touch up your pheromones with some smell-good union-made scents. It turns out there are many union-made treats you can give out on Valentine's Day. The iconic...    more...  
• Feb 12, 2014 Labor On The Move: David Cohen Retiring from DPE David Cohen, Executive Director of the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE), is retiring. A reception in his honor will be held today, Wednesday, February 12 from 2-4 pm at the AFL-CIO (RSVP to Marcie Lawrence at mlawrence@dpeaflcio.org ). Cohen joined DPE in 2002 and became...    more...  
• Feb 12, 2014 AFGE Delegates March On Capitol, Campaigning For Natl., Union Causes Waving signs ranging from “America deserves a raise” to “Stop destroying good federal jobs,” hundreds of AFGE members marched on Capitol Hill on Feb. 11, campaigning for national and union causes. The parade, from the union’s legislative conference to the Capitol’s West Front,...    more...  
• Feb 11, 2014 Federal Workers Demand "Shared Prosperity, Not Austerity" Federal union members – in town for AFGE’s annual legislative conference – staged two events yesterday, rallying at noon (right) at the U.S. Capitol to demand “Shared Prosperity, Not Austerity” and then holding a candlelight vigil at 5p to remember the lives of fallen...    more...  
• Feb 10, 2014 Labor Endorsement Update AFSCME Council 20 on February 6 announced its endorsement of Vince Gray in the DC mayoral campaign. Gray, Council 20 executive director Geo T. Johnson told City Paper , had delivered on promised salary bumps that he made to District employees when Council 20 endorsed him in 2010. The Metro...    more...  
• Feb 10, 2014 Ethics Charges Against Top D.C. Judge "Vindication," Union Says The District’s chief administrative law judge was charged with engaging in retaliation against rank and file administrative law judges last Thursday, when the Board of Ethics and Government Accountability alleged 19 counts of wrongdoing against Mary Oates Walker, the chief judge and top...    more...  
• Feb 10, 2014 Evening With Labor Ad Deadline Coming Up Excitement’s building for the upcoming 37th annual Evening With Labor on  March 15 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, featuring a reception with local labor and political leaders, awards, dinner and entertainment by The Ultimate Big Band. Click here to reserve your tickets and/or ad space...    more...  
• Feb 7, 2014 What We're Reading Today: Labor News Roundup DC police union head blasts arbitration decision , WTOP A war of words between the D.C. police union and Mayor Vincent Gray's office has reached a fever pitch following an arbitrator's ruling on officer wages Monday. Police officers have not received a raise in six years as the union has...    more...  
• Feb 7, 2014 Report: MD Working Families Still Struggling Working families in Maryland continue to struggle to move ahead in an uncertain economy. That’s the central finding in a new report released yesterday by the Progressive Maryland Education Fund and Maryland Center on Economic Policy, "The State of Working Maryland 2013" . Nearly 600,000...    more...  
• Feb 7, 2014 IBEW 1900 Members Head North to Help With the Delmarva area hard-hit by Tuesday’s ice storm, some 20 members – ten 2-person teams -- of IBEW Local 1900 headed north to help restore power, reports Local 1900 president Jim Griffin. “Conditions were pretty harsh but that’s just what we do,” Griffin told Union City ....    more...  
• Feb 7, 2014 Cambodian Embassy Targeted in Global Day of Action Monday Morning Local activists will rally outside the Cambodian Embassy at 8:30a Monday morning to demand the release of 23 protesters arrested while demonstrating for a higher wage for garment workers last month. The DC demo is part of a global day of action at Cambodian embassies that will protest the...    more...  
• Feb 7, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: Deadly Turn for Central American Unionists The murder last week of Victor Manuel Crespo Puerto (right) , father of Honduran union leader Victor Crespo, is the latest in a deadly turn for trade unionists in Central America. Already this year, two unionists have received death threats in Honduras, one unionist has been murdered in El...    more...  
• Feb 7, 2014 EJC Celebrates Winning Year With plenty of work to be done in the year ahead, DC Employment Justice Center (EJC) Executive Director Barbra Kavanaugh recently took a moment to look back at the organization’s accomplishments in 2013. “The EJC and its pro bono attorney partners received $744,591.12 in awards and...    more...  
• Feb 7, 2014 Labor On The Move: Keicher to Head Up AFL-CIO's Affiliate and Federation Outreach Division David Keicher (right) has been tapped to head up the AFL-CIO Campaign Department's Affiliate and Federation Outreach Division. Keicher has worked in the labor movement for more than three decades and has served with the AFL-CIO for 18 years, most recently in the AFL-CIO campaigns to elect...    more...  
• Feb 7, 2014 DC Labor Chorus Leads Seeger Sing-Along Sunday If you missed Tuesday’s rollicking Pete Seeger sing-along at Busboys & Poets, you’ve got another chance this Sunday night as the DC Labor Chorus leads a sing-along of Pete Seeger's songs. The free event starts at 7:30p at the Washington Ethical Society (7750 16th St NW). photo...    more...  
• Feb 5, 2014 Labor Shorts Federal unions want Obama to use his executive power to act on their wish list (Washington Post, January 30) : Federal labor leaders perked up during last week’s State of the Union address when President Obama pledged to make 2014 “a year of action.” Hands-on Courses Offered at...    more...  
• Feb 5, 2014 Kroger Shoppers, Workers Mobilize To Keep Galax, VA, Store Open When Kroger announced on January 17 that it planned to close its legacy store in Galax, VA., workers and customers swiftly mobilized to keep the store open. The Galax Kroger has been a community fixture since 1931 in the small town seven miles from the North Carolina border. Upset at the...    more...  
• Feb 5, 2014 Young Workers Get Boost from Training Program Students from all three cohorts of the Hospitality Express 4 Success program graduated January 29 and received their industry-recognized certifications and completion certificates.  The program provided a 15-week training program operated by a partnership including the Community Services...    more...  
• Feb 5, 2014 Rally Urges Delaney to Vote No on "Fast Track" as Gaithersburg Joins Continent-Wide Day of Protests Maryland residents rallied outside Rep. John Delaney’s (D, MD) Gaithersburg office at noon last Friday to urge him to vote no on “Fast Track” legislation, a method used to rush dangerous free trade agreements through Congress with limited oversight. A wide range of groups joined...    more...  
• Feb 5, 2014 Labor On The Move: AFSCME 3976's Larry Mcclain-El Retires After 42 years of service in government, Larry McClain-El  (l) of the Foreign Agricultural Service’s (FAS) Office of Capacity Building and Development has retired. McClain-El served “almost half of those years as either union officer or a proactive member,” reports AFSCME 3976,...    more...  
• Feb 3, 2014 Pete Seeger Film Screens Tuesday "Pete Seeger: The Power of Song" will screen  tomorrow  night  at Busboys & Poets, with a singalong led by members of the DC Labor Chorus. Seeger -- who died last week  ( Iconic Folk Singer Pete Seeger, Pro-Worker Troubadour, Dies At 94 1/28 UC)  --...    more...  
• Feb 3, 2014 Tarlau Vows to Move Labor Movement Forward in Annapolis Dozens of labor leaders filled the room last Thursday for a  fundraising event for Jimmy Tarlau, the CWA District 2-13 Vice-President and Mount Rainier City Councilmember who's running for Maryland State Delegate in District 47A. Tarlau told the gathering that he's running "so that I...    more...  
• Feb 3, 2014 An Open And Shut Case In early December, Eric Gulan strode across a drop cloth on the carpeted office floor of AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Shuler, overlooking Lafayette Park across from the White House in Washington, D.C. He and three of his fellow union glaziers hammered out caulking to remove the...    more...  
• Feb 3, 2014 Labor Song: Mill Mother's Lament, by Pete Seeger Pete Seeger, who died last week at the age of 94, was the grand old man of labor and folk music.  His career dated back more than half a century, to his time in the Almanac Singers and the Weavers, when he sang alongside Woody Guthrie and other greats.  Branded a Communist in the...    more...  
• Feb 3, 2014 Labor Quiz: Union Workers and Productivity This Week's Quiz:   Research shows that the productivity of workers goes up when they are unionized.  In the manufacturing sector, productivity is how much higher when the employees have unions?  Between 3 and 7 percent; Between 8 and 13 percent; Between 14 and 18...    more...  
• Jan 31, 2014 CSA Awarded CityCenterDC Grant The Community Services Agency is one of just four nonprofits awarded grants by Hines and the TFI US Real Estate Fund, developers of CityCenterDC, a 10-acre parcel in the heart of the District currently being transformed into a blend of residences, offices, shopping, restaurants, hotel and...    more...  
• Jan 31, 2014 Super Union Bowl Union football fans can demonstrate solidarity on Super Bowl Sunday , not just by cheering on their favorite NFL Players Association ( NFLPA ) members, but also buying union-made-in-America food and drinks for their party. Check out these   union-made Super Bowl party products ,...    more...  
• Jan 31, 2014 Fire Fighters 36 Tops Bowling for Gold Tourney The Fire Fighters Local 36 team -- Duane Dominick, Kierson Williams, Clarence Rucker, Reginald Chandler and Derek Payne --  won the CSA Bowling for Gold tournament team prize with a 3389 score, while Printcraft’s " Sunday   Morning Bowlers #1" took second with 3269 and...    more...  
• Jan 31, 2014 In Memoriam: Ruthaleen Edwards “We are deeply saddened to report the passing of Mrs. Ruthaleen Edwards (right) , mother of our very own Secretary-Treasurer, Donna Edwards,” reports the Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO. Viewing is today from 2-4p and 6-8p and the funeral is   Saturday,...    more...  
• Jan 31, 2014 Union Voice/Readers Write: Missing the Boss; Jan 30 Labor History Missing the Boss:   “I misplaced your link to the Springsteen vs Christie video,” writes David Shapiro. “I've found other sources, but I'd rather use yours for sharing.” Thanks! The link ran in our   Labor Video: "Bridgegate "   report on...    more...  
• Jan 31, 2014 What We're Reading Today: Labor News Roundup OPM Plans To Trim 356 Employees In March ,   Washington Post “It’s disheartening and sad,” said Charletta McNeill, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 32, which represents many of the affected workers.   “When you receive a...    more...  
• Jan 31, 2014 Unions, Allies Target Delaney in "10 Days To Stop Fast Track" Campaign With key lawmakers greasing the   skids for Democratic President Barack Obama’s “fast track” trade proposal, unions and 60 allied groups have launched a “10 Days To Stop Fast Track” coalition to kill it, with nationwide protests scheduled for today, including a  ...    more...  
• Jan 29, 2014 Metro Council Postpones Mayoral Endorsements After a marathon session Monday interviewing all seven candidates running for DC Mayor, the Metropolitan Washington Council decided to postpone endorsements until next month.  “We thank all the affiliates for attending Monday’s intensive eight-hour long session to ask probing...    more...  
• Jan 29, 2014 Tarlau Reception Tomorrow Night The time for tomorrow’s reception for Jimmy Tarlau (right) , Democratic Candidate for MD State Delegate District 47A has been changed. It will now start at 6p and end at 8p; the location is still SEIU Local 400, 5132 Baltimore Ave., Hyattsville, MD.  The long-time union activist,...    more...  
• Jan 29, 2014 Vigil Today to Protest Mistreatment of Indian Domestic Workers The National Domestic Workers Alliance, the AFL-CIO and others will hold a peaceful vigil this afternoon to protest the Indian government’s mistreatment of domestic workers and call for stronger labor laws that protect domestic workers who frequently face workplace exploitation. The...    more...  
• Jan 28, 2014 Iconic Folk Singer Pete Seeger, Pro-Worker Troubadour, Dies At 94 Iconic folk singer Pete Seeger, who initially rose to fame as an outspoken pro-worker troubadour – “We Shall Overcome” was originally a union song – died Jan. 28 after a brief illness.  He was 94. Seeger never made a secret of his pro-worker stands, even when they got him into...    more...  
• Jan 27, 2014 Council Delegate Meeting Tonight  
• Jan 27, 2014 UFCW 1994 Joins Coalition to Protect MontCo Water Supply UFCW Local 1994 MCGEO has joined a growing number of environmental, labor, and other organizations to urge Montgomery County Council members to protect Ten Mile Creek (right) , part of the backup water supply for more than three million people in the metropolitan Washington area....    more...  
• Jan 27, 2014 Jan. 31 Deadline Looms For Union Plus Scholarship Applications The clock is ticking down for unionists and their families to apply for Union Plus college scholarships , the Union Privilege Benefits Program warns.  Electronic applications are due by noon, Jan. 31. Winners receive scholarships ranging from $500 to $4,000 yearly to help defray...    more...  
• Jan 27, 2014 ILCA Hosts Local Labor Communicators Tomorrow Night Local labor communicators are invited to the International Labor Communicators Association’s first networking reception of the year tomorrow, January 28 from 6-8p at the IBEW (900 Seventh  Street NW) “We are pleased to offer this opportunity to allow fellow labor communicators to...    more...  
• Jan 27, 2014 Union Bowlers Strike for Those in Need More than 70 teams participated in yesterday's 22nd annual "Bowling for Gold" Union Bowling Tournament, their strikes, spares (and gutterballs) raising funds for the Community Services Agency (CSA) of the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO. Team photos are posted on the  Council's...    more...  
• Jan 24, 2014 Cool Labor Site: Wage Theft This is the central place to find information if you are looking into your options after having been cheated out of wages, or if you are simply looking to learn the basics regarding the issue of wage theft.     more...  
• Jan 24, 2014 Council Delegate Meeting Set for Monday at AFSCME IU Get the latest local labor news and updates at this month’s Metro Council Delegate’s meeting , next Monday, January 27. The meeting time is 6:30p, as usual, but note that the meeting will be held in the AFSCME international’s first-floor board room at 1625 L Street, NW. Draft...    more...  
• Jan 24, 2014 Labor-Endorsed Candidate Wins VA Senate Seat After weeks of door-knocking in extreme weather conditions and phone banking to turn out the labor vote, NoVA Labor members joined in the celebration Tuesday evening when endorsed candidate Jennifer Wexton won a special election to fill the open 33 rd district state senate seat in...    more...  
• Jan 24, 2014 Maryland Renter's Concerns Raised in Annapolis at First Renters from across Maryland rolled into Annapolis last week as part of the first-ever "Renter Day in Annapolis," sponsored by the Renters Alliance and a coalition of community, civic and labor locals including UFCW Local 1994, which represents nearly 10,000 public employees. More than 100...    more...  
• Jan 24, 2014 What We're Reading Today: Labor News Roundup D.C. Teachers Union Files Grievance Over Erroneous Evaluations , Washington Post  The Washington Teachers’ Union has filed a class-action grievance with D.C. Public Schools in the wake of the recent disclosure that 44 teachers received erroneous performance ratings last year,...    more...  
• Jan 22, 2014 Labor Photo: Super Shuttle Workers Protest UFCW Local 1994 joined the Baltimore People's Power Assembly on Monday to protest in front of Veolia Transportation headquarters to expose the company's "horrific treatment" of their Super Shuttle drivers. photo courtesy UFCW 1994    more...  
• Jan 22, 2014 Labor In The News: DC Firefighter --and his dog -- on Today Show DC Firefighter Scott Wilson  (left)  and his K9 partner, Roo -- both IAFF 36 members -- are featured in this  Today Show video segment  on arson dogs.     more...  
• Jan 22, 2014 Labor Video: "Bridgegate" Jimmy Fallon and Bruce Springsteen sing about the price a working man pays for being stuck in New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's “Bridgegate” traffic jam.  Hilarious!  Click here to watch the video .  -  UCS      more...  
• Jan 22, 2014 Bowling Update All the 10am lanes are gone in this Sunday's 22nd annual  "Bowling for Gold" Union Bowling Tournament  "but we can still take a few teams at 1p" reports CSA Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy. "And it won't be snowing!" she promises. Email her at ...    more...  
• Jan 22, 2014 Pentagon Workers Strike Over Poverty Pay Just days before President Obama delivers his State of the Union remarks, federally contracted food servers and janitorial workers at the Pentagon and four other U.S. government buildings walked off their jobs Wednesday morning, calling on President Obama to sign an executive order ensuring...    more...  
• Jan 21, 2014 AFL-CIO Backs New Labor-Community Coalition in D.C. Metro Area, Says It Could Be Model Nationwide The AFL-CIO backs creation a wide-ranging Metro Washington Community Labor Coalition in the greater Washington, D.C., area.  It says the D.C. coalition could be a model for others nationwide – and part of its push to expand the labor movement beyond the nation’s unions. The D.C....    more...  
• Jan 20, 2014 Quick Updates: No Delegate Meeting Tonight; Building Futures App Deadline Extended; Another Endorsement No Delegate Meeting Tonight: This month’s Metro Council Delegate Meeting – normally held on the third Monday of the month -- will be held next Monday, January 27 in the AFSCME first-floor conference room, 1625 L Street NW. Building Futures App Deadline Extended: The deadline to apply to...    more...  
• Jan 20, 2014 Right to Strike Reaffirmed in NLRB Settlement with Unity Disposal The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has reached a settlement agreement with Unity Disposal and Recycling over the company’s firing of workers who went on strike last October. Unity will repay the 42 workers for wages lost during the strike and will post a notice promising not to violate...    more...  
• Jan 20, 2014 Protest Over Shuttle Driver Firings Set for Today in Baltimore Members of UFCW Local 1994 and Baltimore-based "We Deserve Better Workers Assembly" will protest Veolia Corp.'s firing of two of its Super Shuttle drivers and the drivers' horrific working conditions today at 3p at Veolia's Corporate Headquarters in Baltimore. The groups are also rallying to...    more...  
• Jan 20, 2014 NOVA Labor GOTV Effort for Tuesday Election Goes Down to the Wire Union members representing 17 international unions swarmed Virginia's 33rd state senate district last Saturday urging labor households to vote in tomorrow's special election. Labor- endorsed candidate Jennifer Wexton (center) thanked the volunteers, reminding them that just nine votes were the...    more...  
• Jan 17, 2014 What We're Reading Today: Labor News Roundup Walmart Accused of Violating Workers’ Rights , The Wall Street Journal The National Labor Relations Board filed a complaint Wednesday against Wal-Mart Stores Inc., accusing the retailer of violating workers’ federal rights to protest in more than a dozen states....    more...  
• Jan 17, 2014 Labor Endorsement Update UFCW Locals 400, 1994 & 27 have endorsed Anthony Brown for Maryland Governor. Brown had previous been endorsed by the Maryland State and DC AFL-CIO. Unite Here Local 25 earlier this week endorsed Vincent Gray for a second term as DC mayor. The Metro Washington Council AFL-CIO has not...    more...  
• Jan 17, 2014 Deadline for Building Futures Pre-Apprenticeship Program Winter Class If you know anyone interested in getting into the building trades,   January 20   is the last day to apply to the Community Services Agency's  Building Futures pre-apprenticeship program . The project provides six-week pre-apprenticeship training programs for area...    more...  
• Jan 17, 2014 Evening With Labor Set for March 15 The 37th Annual Evening With Labor is coming up March 15 . Ads in the program book are $500 for a full-page, $250 half, $125 quarter, $50 business card and for an additional $100, your name will be prominently displayed on the giant video screens during the dinner and reception. Dinner...    more...  
• Jan 17, 2014 Control of VA State Senate at Stake in Tuesday's Election Labor-to-labor walkers  tomorrow  will enjoy much better weather than last Saturday’s crew, which “braved chilly temperatures and constant rain to knock on labor doors in Virginia's 33rd District for endorsed candidate Jennifer Wexton   (right) ,” reports NoVA...    more...  
• Jan 16, 2014 DC-Area Unionists, Low-Wage Workers Celebrate Enactment Of Minimum Wage Hikes D.C. area unionists and low-wage workers joined Jan. 15 in a festive celebration of new minimum wage hike laws in the nation’s capital and its two big Maryland suburban counties – landmarks in the national drive to raise the wages of the nation’s poorest workers. The gala at the...    more...  
• Jan 15, 2014 2014 Affiliate Directory Update Deadline Today Today’s the deadline to  update your local’s info  for the 2014 Metro Council Directory of Local Affiliates. Council affiliates should have received a hard-copy mailing recently, which can be corrected and faxed back to us at 202-974-8152, or email changes...    more...  
• Jan 15, 2014 NABET-CWA Members Finally Get Signed Contract at WHUT The four members of NABET-CWA Local 31 at WHUT-Howard University finally have a signed contract. NABET-CWA had been forced to file a new Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge at WHUT after management refused to sign the ratified contract in December. The NLRB had previously issued a complaint...    more...  
• Jan 15, 2014 Election Updates at Thursday's NoVA Labor Meeting This month’s NoVA Labor meeting – tomorrow at 7p at the NoVA Labor office – features an update on the upcoming special elections on the Eastern Shore and in the SD 33. Labor-to-labor phonebanks and walks (the next is this Saturday ) continue as well. “These elections will determine...    more...  
• Jan 15, 2014 Reception Tonight Celebrates Area Wins on Minimum Wage The local labor community and its allies will celebrate the successful campaigns to raise the minimum wage across the metro DC area tonight at the AFL-CIO. Top officers of the AFL-CIO will join Metro Council president Jos Williams, elected officials, labor leaders and community allies...    more...  
• Jan 15, 2014 Maryland Minimum Wage Campaign Gets High-Level Boost Hundreds of minimum wage supporters cheered last night as Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley and Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown pledged to raise the state’s minimum wage to $10.10 by 2016 and then index it to inflation. The rally in front of the state capitol in Annapolis drew elected officials,...    more...  
• Jan 13, 2014 January Council Meeting Reminder Because of the MLK Day holiday, this month’s Metro Council Delegate’s meeting will be held on   Monday, January 27 . The meeting time is 6:30p, as usual, but note that the meeting will be held in the AFSCME international’s first-floor board room at 1625 L Street, NW.    more...  
• Jan 13, 2014 Minimum Wage Double-Header This Week Tuesday   in Annapolis:   The rally to raise Maryland’s minimum wage has been rescheduled for   tomorrow ,   Tuesday, January 14 , starting at 5:45p on Lawyers Mall in Annapolis, MD. Governor O’Malley and Lt. Governor Brown will be...    more...  
• Jan 13, 2014 Labor On The Move: Hauser in at AFL-CIO; Danaher Moves to TWU Eric Hauser Named Strategic Advisor and Director of Communications for AFL-CIO:  Eric Hauser   (right) , founder and president of the Hauser Group, will join the AFL-CIO as Strategic Advisor and Director of Communications. He will assume a role currently held by Denise...    more...  
• Jan 10, 2014 HUD Ranks as "Worst Place to Work"; Union Urges Participation The news that the Department of Housing and Urban Development ranked as one of the worst places to work in the Federal Government was no surprise to the union that represents workers there. “Most of us are aware of morale’s downward spiral across the Department in the past few...    more...  
• Jan 10, 2014 Get Up, Get Out and Move If you’ve been thinking about signing up for CSA’s annual “Bowling for Gold” tournament, now’s the time. Join lots of area union members “a few of whom can actually bowl!” says CSA’s Kathleen McKirchy, on Sunday, January 26 at the Crofton Bowling Centre in Crofton, Maryland...    more...  
• Jan 10, 2014 Help Pick Winners in IBEW Photo Contest The 15 finalists in the Electrical Workers (IBEW) annual photo contest have been selected, and you can help choose who takes home the top honors. The photos, shot by IBEW members across the country, showcased an array of stunning images—displaying that talent extends far beyond the tool...    more...  
• Jan 10, 2014 Giving Season Continues Marcia Reid, an OPEIU Local 2 Executive Board member who works at AFT, presented a $600 check to Community Services Agency Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy last Friday. The check represented proceeds from the AFT staff Christmas party 50-50 raffle to raise  funds for CSA’s...    more...  
• Jan 10, 2014 Solidarity Center Report: Little Progress 4 Years after Haiti Earthquake Four years ago this weekend, a massive earthquake brought catastrophe to the lives and livelihoods of tens of thousands of Haitians. Despite an outpouring of promises and millions of dollars in investment designated to help workers get back on their feet, the majority of Haitians still live...    more...  
• Jan 8, 2014 Minimum Wage Increase Tops Labor Agenda in MD Efforts to raise Maryland's minimum wage will be front and center during the 2014 legislative session in Annapolis, which begins at noon today . " Raising the minimum wage will establish a higher floor and help us in bargaining," said Maryland State & DC AFL-CIO president Fred...    more...  
• Jan 8, 2014 U.S. Postal Service "Unlikely Star of the Holiday-Shipping Season" "There was a lot of post-Christmas discussion about how UPS fumbled its last-minute holiday deliveries, and FedEx apologized for some late-arriving packages, too,” reported Bloomberg Businessweek in a recent article posted on NALC 3825’s website . “What went largely...    more...  
• Jan 8, 2014 Local Labor Communicators Meet Friday Local labor communicators should plan to be at Friday’s meeting of the Local Labor Communicators group, “which is dedicated to ensuring that we have the latest and most effective communications tools, tips and techniques,” says Metro Washington Council Union Cities Coordinator...    more...  
• Jan 8, 2014 SEIU Toys for Tots Drive Brings Joy to PG Kids The SEIU African-American Black Caucus collected over 75 toys for needy children at Thomas Claggett Elementary school in Prince George's County during their recent Toys for Tots Drive, reports SEIU Local 400 Political Director Cynthia Collins (right) . photo courtesy SEIU 400    more...  
• Jan 6, 2014 State Fed Legislative Conference Today The Maryland State and District of Columbia AFL-CIO’S 2014 Maryland General Assembly Legislative Conference runs from 1-4P today at the state fed’s offices in Annapolis. The agenda includes a brief overview and discussion of major aspects of the 2014 Maryland General Assembly, broad...    more...  
• Jan 6, 2014 NoVA Labor Gears Up for Special Election This Month “It wouldn’t be Virginia if we didn’t have a special election,” reports NoVA Labor president Dan Duncan. The Virginia AFL-CIO has endorsed Jennifer Wexton (right) in the race to fill Attorney General-elect Mark Herring’s Senate District 33 seat. The election will be held on...    more...  
• Jan 3, 2014 IG Confirms Critical Staffing Shortages at DC Fire Dept A report released last month by the DC Office of theInspector General confirmed what Fire Fighters Local 36 has been saying all along. “We are severely understaffed, even though fully funded,” Local 36 said, “and those shortages have driven the department to a critical breaking...    more...  
• Jan 3, 2014 CSA Wins Two Grants for 2014 Partnering with the Finishing Trades Institute, the   Mid-Atlantic Carpenters Training Centers, the Sheet Metal Workers 100 Apprenticeship and Training Center, the Washington DC Building Trades Council and some signatory contractors, the Metro Washington Labor Council’s Community...    more...  
• Jan 3, 2014 Big Month For Workers' Issues At Supreme Court By Mark Gruenberg, PAI Staff Writer January will be an active month for workers at the U.S. Supreme Court.  The justices will hear arguments in the long-running political dispute over the power of the National Labor Relations Board and then tackle a case involving yet another Radical...    more...  
• Dec 23, 2013 Solidarity Center Report: Migrant Workers Exploited Across the Globe Last week, International Migrant Workers Day highlighted the plight of migrant workers. Half of migrant workers are women, and many toil in domestic work. Many others migrate to work in construction. As countries scramble to build infrastructure for major sporting events like the...    more...  
• Dec 23, 2013 Activism Carries the Day in Minimum Wage Campaign Thanks to the support of thousands of area activists, the D.C. Council unanimously passed a bill last week that raises the minimum wage to $11.50 an hour by 2016 and ensures paid sick days for all D.C. workers, including tipped workers. “This couldn’t have happened without your...    more...  
• Dec 23, 2013 IBEW Delivers for the Needy IBEW national office staff and members of OPEIU Local 2 adopted two area families and collected food and over $1,200 of cash and gifts cards for each family through the Community Services Agency’s Holiday Basket program. “Thanks so much to all the area unions and members who dug deep...    more...  
• Dec 23, 2013 AFL-CIO Gingerbread Competition Raises Over $800 for Laid-Off Workers The AFL-CIO’s Gingerbread House competition raised $861 this year, which is being donated -- through the MWC's Community Services Agency -- to “our local union brothers and sisters with UNITE HERE Local 25 who were recently laid off from L’Enfant Plaza Hotel,” reports Katrina...    more...  
• Dec 23, 2013 IBEW 26 Gives Students Gift of Music Too often when school boards face budget shortfalls, music education is the first to go. But for Washington, D.C. students, music in the classroom is alive and well thanks to a donation from Local 26 and CBS EcoMedia. The $30,000 grant to the non-profit organization Little Kids Rock will...    more...  
• Dec 18, 2013 DC Council Passes Minimum Wage & Paid Sick Day Bills In a major win for local labor and community activists, the DC City Council yesterday passed bills increasing the minimum wage and  extending Paid Sick Days to restaurant employees. “Thank you everyone for all your hard work,” said Metro Washington Council Assistant...    more...  
• Dec 18, 2013 Labor On The Move: Ann Miller Moves to IBEW Calling her “indispensable to the Federation’s political program,” AFL-CIO Political Director Michael Podhorzer recently announced the departure of Ann Miller after 14 years at the AFL-CIO. “To say that we will miss Ann at the Federation is a gross understatement,” said...    more...  
• Dec 18, 2013 Gray Wins "Scrooge of the Year" Award DC Mayor Vincent Gray won the 2013 Scrooge of the Year award at DC Jobs with Justice’s Winter Masquerade Party. For "vetoing the Large Retailer Accountability Act and putting Walmart ahead of workers" and for "spearheading the privatization of our public transit," Gray beat out Metro CEO...    more...  
• Dec 18, 2013 Giant & Safeway Workers Overwhelmingly Approve Deal Giant and Safeway members voted   overwhelmingly yesterday to ratify a new, three-year collective bargaining agreement that preserves their health and retirement security and increases wages. "This is one of the best retail food contracts in the country," said Local 400 President Mark P....    more...  
• Dec 18, 2013 Great Need, Many Ways to Help In this season of giving, Community Services   Agency Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy reminds us "There are several ways to help working people in need." If United Way, CFC or One Fund Campaigns are still happening at your worksite, designate your contribution to CSA: Designation...    more...  
• Dec 18, 2013 MontCo Temporary Workers Made Whole "Today is a new beginning for all of us," said Osseynou Dieng, a Montgomery County Urban District “red shirt” and shop steward for UFCW 1994 MCGEO. The union recently reached an agreement with Montgomery County making the Urban District “red shirts,” highway inspectors, and temps in...    more...  
• Dec 18, 2013 Metro Council Meeting Highlights AFSCME 2910 won a dedicated smoking area outside on Library of Congress grounds…Musicians 161-710 finally got a contract -- 3 years, 2% per year -- at the National Theatre…IATSE 22 won arbitration at Strathmore Fine Arts Center to ensure payment for additional hours on artist Q&A...    more...  
• Dec 17, 2013 In Breakthrough, Unite Here To Represent Fast Food Workers At Smithsonian Eateries For Fred Turner, a 54-year-old fast food worker at a Smithsonian museum, things may be looking up: He’s got Unite Here on his side, and, in January, at the bargaining table for him. That’s because, in another breakthrough for low-paid fast food workers nation-wide, Unite Here Local 23...    more...  
• Dec 12, 2013 DC Labor Says Farewell to Nelson Mandela "When the bay area longshoremen refused to unload cargo from South African ships to protest apartheid, that's when we knew that we would see victory in our lifetime," said South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool (far left) at Monday night's labor memorial service for Nelson Mandela. Some 120...    more...  
• Dec 12, 2013 Providence DC RNs Vote To Unionize Braving freezing rain and snow that shut down parts of the federal government, registered nurses at Providence Hospital in Washington, DC Tuesday night became the first area non-union hospital in decades to vote to join a union. In an election greeted by cheers and tears, the Providence RNs...    more...  
• Dec 12, 2013 Tentative Agreement Reached with Giant, Safeway UFCW Local 400 announced yesterday that it's reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with Giant and Safeway covering 17,000 workers. Members will vote on whether to ratify this agreement on December 17. The previous contract expired on October 31 and has been extended twice. If approved,...    more...  
• Dec 6, 2013 Challenges Ahead For Regional Plan To Raise Minimum Wage A regional plan to raise the minimum wage in the metro Washington area may hit an unexpected roadblock: the Maryland legislature. That’s because Free State lawmakers are considering a two-part minimum wage law, according to Bob Ross, president of the Prince George’s County NAACP.  One...    more...  
• Dec 6, 2013 Celebrating Mandela's Legacy Nelson Mandela’s life and legacy were honored and celebrated worldwide as news of his death spread around the globe. “During his visit to the United States in 1990, Mandela spoke to the AFL-CIO and called on the labor movement to use its history of empowering America’s workers as a model...    more...  
• Dec 6, 2013 DC Public Education Allies Gather Monday to Join National Day of Action Hundreds of DC teachers, students, parents, principals, faith leaders and community organizations will gather Monday for a forum and discussion of issues affecting public education in the District. All mayoral candidates have agreed to attend, as have local unions representing principals,...    more...  
• Dec 5, 2013 ALEC Legislators Try To Hide In Plain Sight “Are you state legislators?” Hand outstretched, Arlene Holt Baker approached the group of well-dressed men gathered in the atrium of the Grand Hyatt. The men’s smiles quickly vanished when Diallo Brooks asked them to sign a pledge that they would put their “constituents first – before...    more...  
• Dec 5, 2013 Iron Workers Fight for Justice at Lyn-Phill and Dominion Rebar The DC Iron Workers Movement for Justice reports “great success” in their campaign for equitable conditions for the workers of Lyn-Phill Construction and Dominion Rebar. “These companies have a history of labor rights and OSHA violations and are currently working on large public works...    more...  
• Dec 5, 2013 Smithsonian Workers Join National 1-Day Fast Food Strike "Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way, it’s no fun to survive on low low low low pay." The mood was festive with holiday carols but the message serious as hundreds of striking workers rallied in front of the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum Thursday as part of a massive national...    more...  
• Dec 5, 2013 Labor Photo (2): Supermarket Solidarity Saying that "We're STILL willing to do what it takes for a fair contract," UFCW 400 members gathered customer support at Giant 350 in Silver Spring, MD on Thursday. photo courtesy UFCW 400    more...  
• Dec 5, 2013 Labor Photo (1): MontCo Minimum Wage Increase Signed Thursday’s signing of the Montgomery County bill raising the minimum wage was attended by labor, community and political allies, including DC City Council Chair Phil Mendelson, demonstrating the regional approach to increasing basic wages in the area. photos/collage courtesy UFCW 400    more...  
• Dec 5, 2013 Solidarity Center Report: Labor Mourns Nelson Mandela Working people worldwide yesterday marked the loss of former South African President Nelson Mandela, whose unyielding struggle to attain equality, human dignity and social justice for his countrymen and women will remain an inspiration to all who still carry on the fight for human rights....    more...  
• Dec 4, 2013 DC Council OK's Minimum Wage Hike With CPI Indexing The DC City Council yesterday unanimously approved legislation that would raise the minimum wage in the District to $11.50 by 2016, one year earlier than Montgomery and Prince George’s counties ( DC, MontCo and PG Vote to Raise Minimum Wage  12/1 UC) . The DC bill also includes...    more...  
• Dec 4, 2013 Internal Documents Show that ALEC Is Bleeding Members, Corporate Sponsors Money An  article from the Guardian  on Tuesday revealed internal documents from the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) that show the conservative, pro-corporate organization is facing significant trouble, having seen sharp declines in membership, corporate sponsorship and...    more...  
• Dec 4, 2013 AFL-CIO's Shuler Joins Fast for Families, Urging Congress to Pass Immigration Reform AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Shuler went to the National Mall on Tuesday and honored fasters who haven't eaten in 21 days, urging House Republicans to hold a vote on citizenship for the nation's 11 million aspiring Americans and to end the deportation crisis. New fasters came...    more...  
• Dec 3, 2013 Labor On The Move: AFGE 631's Roscoe Ridley Retires Former AFGE 631 president Roscoe Ridley will celebrate his retirement on January 10 after more than three decades years in the federal government. Ridley’s 34-year career includes stints with the Department of Labor Washington DC and Federal Aviation Administration where he served as a Labor...    more...  
• Dec 3, 2013 CWA 2108 Offers Peek Inside The Telecom World For a chilling but fascinating look behind the scenes at how technological change – and plain old greed – is affecting local telecom jobs, check out the November edition   of CWA 2108’s newsletter. The cover story, “VCSI Closes Doors After 17 Years, Lays Off All Workers”...    more...  
• Dec 3, 2013 Meet the DC JWJ "Scrooge" Nominees Nominees for DC Jobs with Justice’s 2013 Scrooge of the Year award are DC Mayor Vincent Gray, Metro CEO Richard Sarles, Restaurant Association CEO Kathy Hollinger, Tito Contractors and the entire corporate management at Giant and Safeway. Click here to vote and if you can’t decide,...    more...  
• Dec 3, 2013 Twice The Joy: Two DC Labor Chorus Holiday Concerts This Saturday With songs sung in Spanish, Hebrew and English and spanning South African, African-American, British, Israeli and Peruvian traditions, the annual DC Labor Chorus concert this Saturday (link) departs from the usual holiday fare. The program includes the Hebrew peace song, “Shir l’shalom,”...    more...  
• Dec 2, 2013 DC Area Walmart Workers, Community Supporters Join 1,500 Protests Nationwide for Better Jobs Walmart workers and community supporters in the Washington, D.C. area protested on Black Friday against Walmart—the nation’s largest retailer—joining 1,500 protests across the nation in one of the largest mobilizations of working families in American history. Workers in the Washington,...    more...  
• Dec 2, 2013 Washington, DC RN Joins National Nurses Group in Philippines for Typhoon Haiyan Relief Effort As many American families celebrated Thanksgiving last week, a number of registered nurses offered their own gift of healing for the holidays by volunteering to deploy to the Philippines to provide medical support for those affected by the Super Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda. One of those RN volunteers...    more...  
• Dec 2, 2013 Fast for Families Sets Dec. 3 as "National Day to Act, Fast, and Pray" More than 20 days have passed since Eliseo Medina, Dae Joong Yoon, Cristian Avila, and Lisa Sharon Harper began a fast in front of the U.S. Capitol “to send a clear and visible message to Congress about the moral crisis caused by our country’s broken immigration system and its impact on...    more...  
• Dec 1, 2013 DC, MontCo and PG Vote to Raise Minimum Wage Three votes last week kept the metro Washington area on the cutting edge of efforts across the country to increase the minimum wage, but fell significantly short of supporters’ hopes. A DC City Council committee last Monday unanimously approved a bill that would raise the city’s minimum...    more...  
• Nov 27, 2013 Labor Photo: Rosies Shine After Labor FilmFest “Our Rosies enjoyed being a part of the DC Labor Film Festival,” writes Margie Streicker, Secretary of the Laurel MD Chapter of the American Rosie the Riveter Association. “They even wore their new FilmFest shirts to our next meeting. Thank you for making the Rosies feel very honored!”...    more...  
• Nov 27, 2013 "Light" Work for Iron Workers at DAR HQ Iron worker strength and skill were called on recently when the Daughters of the American  Revolution (DAR) needed the “lay lights” in their DC headquarters removed and then reinstalled. Essentially massive interior windows, the lay lights in the ceiling and above two prominent...    more...  
• Nov 26, 2013 Letter Carrier Murder Raises Concerns The murder of letter carrier Tyson Jerome Barnette in a Landover neighborhood after dark last Saturday night is raising staffing concerns for a local letter carrier union leader. “The primary reason for letter carriers being out late delivering mail…is a lack of manpower and late...    more...  
• Nov 25, 2013 DC Fire Fighter Going to Harvard Ed Smith is going Ivy League. The Fire Fighters Local 36 president has been awarded an IAFF scholarship to attend the 2014 Harvard Trade Union Program, a 6-week program that runs from early January to mid-February. “I hope this demonstrates my commitment to continue to learn and grow as a...    more...  
• Nov 25, 2013 AFGE 17 Organizing Efforts Lauded The organizing efforts of AFGE Local 17 – which represents workers at the US Department of Veterans Affairs -- were recognized last week by AFGE’s National VA Council (NVAC) for having “helped make a very positive difference” within NVAC, which represents all 200,000 plus...    more...  
• Nov 25, 2013 MontCo & PG Minimum Wage Votes Set for This Week Two important votes to increase area minimum wages will be taken this week. On Tuesday, November 26th the Montgomery County Council will vote on a bill increasing the county minimum wage. The next day, Wednesday, November 27, the Prince George’s County Council will vote to increase their...    more...  
• Nov 21, 2013 Key MontCo Committee Sends $11.50 Minimum Wage Bill to County Council A regional minimum wage of $11.50 an hour took a giant step closer to reality Thursday when  Montgomery County Council’s Health and Human Services (HHS) Committee voted out Bill 27-13, which would establish a County minimum wage.  Similar bills are being debated in both the Prince...    more...  
• Nov 21, 2013 Solidarity Center Report: Tazreen Factory Fire Survivors Feel Forgotten A year after the deadly factory fire that killed 112 garment workers at Tazreen Fashions Ltd. in Bangladesh, survivors and the families of those killed and injured say they have been forgotten by the factory owner, international buyers and the government. In interviews with Solidarity Center...    more...  
• Nov 21, 2013 Operating Engineers Considering Strike For the first time in decades, local operating engineers are considering a strike.  Members of IUOE Local 99 recently voted down eight separate proposed agreements with EMCOR Government Services, the local’s largest signatory company, Local 99 organizer Eamon Clifford reported at...    more...  
• Nov 21, 2013 CSA's News You Can Use: Tornado Relief “So many of our brothers’ and sisters’ homes were totally destroyed,” reports Connie Higgins  of the AFL-CIO Community Services in Peoria, IL, sister organization of the Metro Washington Council’s Community Services Agency. “Anyone interested in donating to help the folks in our...    more...  
• Nov 21, 2013 Metro Access Workers Reach Tentative Agreement with Veolia After nearly six months of negotiations, ATU Local 1764 has reached a tentative agreement with Veolia Transportation that covers approximately 450 drivers, dispatchers and maintenance personnel working out of the Capitol Heights garage, the largest Metro Access facility. The deal, which is being...    more...  
• Nov 21, 2013 Client Stories Kick Off IBEW United Way Campaign Staff and management of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) kicked off this year’s headquarters United Way campaign with stories of some of the Community Services Agency’s emergency assistance clients and how important the help provided was to these working families....    more...  
• Nov 21, 2013 DC Pols Join Grocery Worker Rally at O Street Giant's Grand Opening Political and community leaders joined an informational picket by Giant and Safeway workers in front of Giant's grand opening at 8th and O Street NW Thursday night. DC Council members Tommy Wells and Jack Evans, as well as Rev. Graylan Hagler of Plymouth Congregational Church were among those...    more...  
• Nov 21, 2013 DC JWJ "Scrooge" Nominees Announced So many Scrooges, so little time. Competition is fierce for this year’s DC Jobs with Justice 2013 Scrooge of the Year award, with DC Mayor Vincent Gray, Metro CEO Richard Sarles, Restaurant Association CEO Kathy Hollinger, Tito Contractors and the entire corporate management at Giant and...    more...  
• Nov 20, 2013 Petition Launched to "Save the Labor College" A petition to save the National Labor College has generated support from nearly 1,000 people less than a week after the College announced that it’s closing its doors ( National Labor College Closing 11/14 UC). “The long-term growth opportunity of the college rests in the...    more...  
• Nov 20, 2013 Drivers Detail Exploitation at Metro Council Meeting “Supporting struggles like these are why we’re in the labor movement,” declared an emotional Gino Renne at Monday’s Metro Washington Council delegate’s meeting. The president of MCGEO/UFCW 1994 (left) explained that his own family, which emigrated from Italy in the 1950’s,...    more...  
• Nov 20, 2013 WHUT-TV Workers Ratify New Contract After 18-Month Battle NABET-CWA Local 31’s four-person bargaining unit voted last week to ratify a new contract at WHUT-TV. The settlement came after the NLRB advised the union in late September that they were going to issue a complaint supporting their Unfair Labor Practice charge “over the surface...    more...  
• Nov 20, 2013 Labor In The News: Can Damon Silvers save organized labor? “Damon Silvers still remembers the pickles,” writes Lydia DePillis in a November 18 Washington Post profile of the AFL-CIO policy director. “In 2011, at a roundtable discussion in Durham, N.C., the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness showcased biotech firms that...    more...  
• Nov 20, 2013 Area Supermarket Workers to Rally for Fair Contract at O St Market Giant Grand Opening As contract negotiations continue, Giant and Safeway workers and their supporters will rally at 5:30p Thursday at the grand opening of the new O Street Market Giant. The workers voted overwhelmingly last week to authorize a strike if the companies continue to refuse to negotiate a fair...    more...  
• Nov 20, 2013 Metro Council Endorses "Fast for Families" The Metro Washington Council on Monday night endorsed the fast for immigration reform that launched on November 12th in front of the U.S. Capitol. In a related action today, hundreds will walk from Arlington to the U.S. Capitol, "Crossing the Bridge for Immigration Reform", gathering at 9a...    more...  
• Nov 18, 2013 In Memoriam: AFSCME Council 20's James Ivey Mourning the recent passing of AFSCME District Council 20 President James Ivey (far left in photo) , Council 20 Executive Director Geo T. Johnson called Ivey a “gentle giant who was truly a man amongst men in the labor movement.” "James was a committed trades unionist who was devoted to the...    more...  
• Nov 15, 2013 2014 UCS Catalog Offers Books for Union Activists, Leaders The 2014 edition of the UCS Labor Books Catalog has just been released, offering scores of classic and new titles on topics ranging from negotiating and grievance handling to organizing, health and safety, labor law and labor history.  It includes many worker-friendly fiction, young adult...    more...  
• Nov 15, 2013 Organizing Institute To Hold 3-Day Training for Young Union Members The AFL-CIO Organizing Institute will be holding a “3-Day Training for Young Union Members” in Washington, DC on December 6 - 8.  Participants will learn one-on-one communication skills, identifying and developing workplace leaders and the basic elements of an internal and external...    more...  
• Nov 15, 2013 Low-Wage Workers Still Feeling Effects Of Shutdown Workers who labor as janitors, security guards, food-service workers and in other similar positions at federal buildings took a big financial hit during the recent government shutdown, reports Luz Lazo in the Washington Post . “Those three weeks of work lost are $1,600 that we don’t have...    more...  
• Nov 14, 2013 National Labor College Closing The National Labor College is closing. “The College has been facing significant financial difficulties and the Board reluctantly decided to accept the inevitability of our closure,” said NLC President Paula Peinovich in a November 13 letter. “We do not have a specific date for closure yet...    more...  
• Nov 13, 2013 Labor Helps "Take a Veteran to School" Metro Washington Council Metro president Joslyn Williams helped the AFT kick off Veteran’s Day weekend on Friday, November 8 at event at Ann Beers Elementary School in Washington, D.C., that included presentations by James Gilbert, director of the AFL-CIO’s Union Veteran’s Council and a...    more...  
• Nov 13, 2013 MD/DC AFL-CIO Endorses CWA's Jimmy Tarlau for MD State Delegate Long-time union activist Jimmy Tarlau – a Metro Washington Council Executive Board member – was endorsed by the Maryland AFL-CIO at its annual convention last month.  Tarlau, who is the Assistant to the Vice President of CWA, is running for the open seat in District 47A which is being...    more...  
• Nov 13, 2013 Hundreds Of Taxi Drivers Rally Outside D.C. Taxicab Commission Meeting Hundreds of taxi drivers rallied outside the monthly meeting of the D.C. Taxicab Commission Wednesday to protest the unfair towing and ticketing of cabs and to  demand a voice  in the regulatory process. The drivers, members of the Teamster-affiliated Washington, D.C. Taxi Operators...    more...  
• Nov 13, 2013 UFCW 400 Members Authorize Strikes Against Giant & Safeway Fired up about management intransigence at the bargaining table, members of United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to authorize strikes against Giant and Safeway. Their current contract originally expired on October 31st, was extended for two...    more...  
• Nov 13, 2013 DC Administrative Law Judge Organizing Gets Boost from Ruling City administrative law judges (ALJs) seeking to organize ( D.C. Administrative Law Judges Organize  4/4/2013 UC) got a boost last week when a hearing examiner ruled in their favor, saying that “there is no conflict of interest, appearance of a conflict of interest or impropriety...    more...  
• Nov 12, 2013 DC Taxi Drivers File Lawsuit, Demand Apology The Teamster-affiliated Washington, D.C. Taxi Operators Association last week filed a lawsuit demanding that the District stop towing and impounding taxis and issuing fines to drivers who have been unable to install new dome lights or credit card machines. They also demanded an apology from DC...    more...  
• Nov 12, 2013 Workers Rally for Minimum Wage Increase & Paid Sick Days DC low-wage workers and supporters on Friday rallied in Freedom Plaza to call on the DC Council to pass a comprehensive bill that will raise the minimum wage to $12.50 an hour, raise the tipped minimum wage, and expand DC’s paid sick days law to cover all workers. They also delivered testimony...    more...  
• Nov 12, 2013 "Scrooge Of The Year" Nominations Due It's probably not an honor that the winner proudly displays on their office wall, but it's one that's well-earned just the same. That's right, it's time to nominate candidates for DC Jobs with Justice's 2013 “Scrooge of the Year.” Qualifications for nomination include "greed, injustice and...    more...  

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