Friendly Sams Battle For Respect, Rights

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

You’ve seen the SAMs around town. They’re the friendly folks in red caps who, seven days a week, offer directions, notify police when trouble arises, remove litter, trash and graffiti and more in the 138-block area between Union Station and the White House. But their boss isn’t so friendly. Even since the SAMs voted for a union voice nearly two years ago, the publicly-funded Downtown Business Improvement District (BID) has fought the organizing effort tooth and nail. Next week, SAMs will rally for justice, their union and a contract. They’re tired of being unfairly fired, disciplined for using too much sick leave to care for family members or being injured on the job. “Instead of addressing these issues, Downtown BID hired a union busting law firm that despite two NLRB decisions certifying the election in favor of the union, continues to prolong the legal battle and try to undermine employee support for the union,” says the IAM, the union the workers voted for. “BID has decided that public tax dollars would be better spent attacking the union than lifting the low wages and benefits they offer their employees.” Stay tuned for details on next week’s rally.