Daycon Strikers' Message Takes Flight

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Tourists flocking to the Smithsonian got a taste of American labor history in the making on Friday morning, as striking Daycon workers handed out flyers - which doubled as paper helicopters - about their 6-week struggle with the local cleaning supplies giant. The workers, members of Teamsters Local 639, distributed thousands of flyers to tourists streaming into the Air and Space Museum, urging them to tell the Smithsonian - one of Daycon's major customers - to bring the cleaning supplies company back to the bargaining table. "We’re out here this morning to drum up some public support for our struggle," said Lynette Burton, who has worked in Daycon's warehouse for over 7 years. "We need help from Daycon's customers and the public to tell our employer to start negotiating with us in good faith." The workers have been on strike since April 26 over an unequal wage scale that the workers say effectively keeps new workers at poverty level wages, among other issues. "Daycon has pushed me into a bad position," Burton told Union City. "They have cut off my health care, frozen my retirement fund, and are attempting to block my access to unemployment." The Community Services Agency is encouraging financial support for the strikers; donations earmarked "IBT Strikers" can be sent to the CSA at 888 16th Street, NW, Suite 520, Washington, DC 20006. Email kmckirch@dclaborarchives.org for more information. - report/photo by Adam Wright