2012: DC Labor's Year In Review (September/October)

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

As Union City looks forward to reporting on a New Year of solidarity in 2013, we’re taking a moment to dip into the Union City archive and remembering some of the highlights of the past year...

Sept 11: DC Teachers Support Striking Chicago Teachers: Saying that “It’s essential for teachers across the country to join together in solidarity to ensure that teachers—who spend every day educating our students—are valued and respected,” WTU Local 6 President Nathan Saunders came out strongly in support of striking Chicago teachers yesterday...

Sept 12: Unite Here 23 Cafeteria Workers Win New Contract (right): Over the course of the last week, one hundred and twenty Unite Here Local 23 members in six cafeterias operated by IL Creations unanimously ratified their new collective bargaining agreement...

Sept 14: 2012 DC Labor FilmFest Line-Up Released: From the inspirational We Are Wisconsin to the still-hilarious Office Space, from the drama of BURN: One Year On The Front Lines To Save Detroit to the exuberance of musicals like Newsies and The Pajama Game, this year’s DC Labor FilmFest will appeal to area activists and movie-goers alike...

Sept 20: After 13-Month Battle, CWA & IBEW Win Contract At Verizon (left): The Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) yesterday announced a tentative agreement with Verizon Communications that the union says "protects the job security and retirement security of 34,000 members from Virginia to Massachusetts"...

Sept 25: Low Scores, High Fundraising at CSA Golf Tourney: More than 100 area union golfers went for low scores while they raised funds during a perfect sunny and crisp fall day yesterday at the Community Services Agency's 17th annual golf tournament at the union Enterprise Golf Course in Mitchellville, MD...

Oct 1: "Howard 4" Make Noise At Opening Convocation (right): Howard University trustees, alumni and returning students received an unexpected ‘welcome’ from fired WHUT Channel 32 workers and their supporters last Friday at the university’s 145th Opening Convocation...

Oct 2: WHC Nurses Warn of Threat of "Taco Bell" Care: Washington Hospital Center visitors and patients were greeted yesterday morning by nurses who warned against the threat of “Taco Bell” healthcare...

Oct 10: Laurel Walmart Workers Join National Strike: The wave of Walmart strikes spread to the Washington area yesterday morning when over a dozen workers struck the Laurel Walmart as part of a national walkout that included Dallas, Miami, Seattle, and Northern, Central, and Southern California...

Oct 23: Pepco Workers OK New 4-Year Deal: IBEW 1900 membership overwhelmingly ratified a new 4-year deal with Pepco last Thursday...

Oct 24: Workers & Students Connect Farm to Table: Saying that real food and real jobs go hand in hand, more than 100 food service workers and students from American University, Howard University, Georgetown Law School, Gallaudet University, and Trinity Washington University celebrated Food Day yesterday to promote their vision of a sustainable, healthy DC...

Oct 28: Labor Volunteers Pour Into NoVA for Obama, Push Referenda in MD (left): Coming from as far away as West Virginia, nearly 200 labor volunteers poured into Northern Virginia Saturday as part of NoVA Labor’s get out the vote effort for President Obama and other labor-endorsed candidates...

Oct 29: NSO Musicians Avoid Discord Heard at Other Orchestras: Musicians at the National Symphony Orchestra last month ratified a new 4-year agreement...