NLRB, 14th Street Shut Down By Huge Labor Protest

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Chanting “Shut it down!” over 1,000 labor activists halted midday traffic in downtown Washington DC for over an hour last Thursday in a spirited protest outside National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) headquarters. “We’re fired up, won’t take it no more!” chanted the crowd as picketers carrying bright yellow signs reading “Don’t Roll Back Workers’ Rights” overflowed the sidewalks outside the NLRB at 14th & L streets. The demonstration was part of a weeklong series of actions across the country protesting a potential NLRB ruling that could strip as many as eight million private sector workers of their ability to join or keep their union. After blocking the front doors of the NLRB, a group of labor, community and religious leaders led a takeover of the intersection of 14th & L, defying authorities to arrest them. “This is just a small preview of the kind of massive disruptions that will occur across the country if the Board rules against workers,” said AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stewart Acuff. Added Metro Council President Jos Williams, “Next time, it won’t be nine of us, it’ll be 900!” Joining Williams and Acuff in the street blockage were UMWA President Cecil Roberts, AFSCME Secretary Treasurer Bill Lucy, California Nurses Association Treasurer Martha Kuhl,  Jobs with Justice Executive Director Fred Azcarate, DCNA President Sandra Falwell, Ron Stief, Director of Washington DC Office of United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries and Mineworkers Organizing Director James Gibbs.