Labor in the News (7/7/08)
Monday, July 7, 2008(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
THE DISTRICT: Ex-Offenders Protest Lack of
Jobs, Services: “More than 100 ex-offenders, some recently
released from prison, and their families marched through downtown Washington
yesterday, accusing business leaders of not hiring enough people who have served their time and District officials of not demanding
that they do so,” reported Robert E. Pierre in the Washington Post last
Wednesday. Click
here for the entire story. PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY:
Teacher Bonuses Get Unions’ Blessing in Prince George’s
County: The Washington Post’s Nelson Hernandez reported
Wednesday, June 25 that “One of the most ambitious pay-for-performance
initiatives in Washington area schools is drawing strong teacher interest and
local union support,” in Prince George’s County. Click
here for the full story. No Pay Raises for Prince George’s
County Police, Firefighters?: "We will be out fighting this day in
and day out," said Doug Bartholomew, president of the firefighters union,
accusing County Executive Jack Johnson of trying to solve the budget crisis "on
the backs of 6,000 county workers," reported the Washington Post's Rosalind S.
Helderman last Wednesday. Click
here for the entire story. MONTGOMERY COUNTY:
Worker Issues Lead MontCo Council Agenda Before Break:
“Before taking this week off, the County Council agreed last week to implement
three outstanding retirement issues negotiated by County Executive Isiah Leggett
(D) with the county’s employee unions,” reported Janel Davis in last
Wednesday’s Gazette. For the entire story, click
here. NORTHERN VIRGINIA: SEIU 32BJ Files NLRB
Complaint at NoVA Apartment Complex: Tierney Plumb of the
Washington Business Journal reported last Tuesday that SEIU 32BJ “has accused
Christos Building Services Inc. of unfair labor practices at a Pentagon City
apartment complex” because the company has “avoided bargaining obligations
with the 21 employees due to their union affiliation.” Click
here to read the full story. Manassas and “The Liberty
Wall”: Gaudencio Fernandez – a Manassas resident who has constructed a
“Wall of Liberty” on his property to protest the growing anti-immigrant
sentiment in Northern Virginia – is fighting with the city to allow the wall
to stay, reported Nick Miroff in last Wednesday’s Washington Post. “The
sign's text has changed a few times, but its message has essentially remained
the same: Latino immigrants have been exploited by ungrateful, racist white
residents who took advantage of their labor and now want them to leave.” For
the full story, click
here. NATIONAL LABOR COLLEGE: Edwards Say
Unions Are Key for Workers: “In a society that values profits
over the common man, everyday workers must fight even harder for their rights,
former presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. John Edwards told National Labor
College graduates Saturday,” reported Amber Parcher in last Wednesday’s
Gazette. Click
here to read the full story.