AFSCME Council 26 Wins Organizing Award

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

AFSCME Council 26 is the 2010 Evening with Labor Organizing Award winner. “Visitors to our nation's Capitol are now guided by union members, who organized in 2010 for the first time in the 134 years since Congress' Capitol Guide Service was created and just two years after the new Capitol Visitor Center opened,” says Metro Council Streetheat Coordinator Chris Garlock. Despite intimidation by CVC managers during the organizing drive, the guides overwhelmingly voted to join AFSCME Council 26, sending "an unmistakably strong message to CVC management that we need a voice at work and protection on the job," said a member of the local’s organizing committee. The successful drive also inspired the CVC Gift Shop employees to also seek union representation. Deadline for EWL Program Book ads -- full-page $500, half $250, quarter $125, business $50 -- in the EWL program book is February 25; tickets are $125 each, tables of ten $1250 each: email kmckirch@dclaborarchives.org for ratesheet and details. – photo: CVC organizing committee members distribute water during their organizing campaign in September 2010; photo courtesy CVC organizing committee