Today’s Labor Calendar
Click here for the complete calendar and details. Got something to add or update? Email us at [email protected].
Union City Radio: 7:15am, WPFW-FM 89.3 FM
2-minute audio version of the Metro Washington Labor Council's Union City newsletter.
Prince George's and Montgomery County COPE: Thu, December 15, 2pm – 3pm
Registration Link
Fairfax County Public Schools public hearing on the draft resolution for collective bargaining: Thu, December 15, 6pm – 8pm
Luther Jackson Middle School (3020 Gallows Rd, Falls Church, VA 22042) (map)
Baltimore Labor Council meeting: Thu, December 15, 7pm – 9pm
2701 W Patapsco Ave, Baltimore, MD 21230, USA (map)
NoVA Labor monthly meeting: Thu, December 15, 7pm – 9pm
4536 B John Marr Drive, Annandale, VA 22003 (map)
Potomac Holistics union rally: Fri, December 16, 3pm – 5pm
Potomac Holistics Cannabis Dispensary, 14808 Physicians Ln STE 211, Rockville, MD 20850
Sip-In to support La Colombe workers unionizing: Sun, December 18, 12pm – 3pm
La Colombe Chinatown, 900 6th St NW, Washington, DC (map)
Labor Day with The Commanders (vs. New York Giants): Sun, December 18, 8:20pm
BUY TICKETS HERE
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600 workers at Maryland’s Office of the Public Defender win union election
Workers at the Maryland Office of the Public Defender (OPD) on Tuesday won their union election, voting to certify AFSCME Maryland Council 3 as their exclusive bargaining representative. "For too long, we’ve been discounted, disrespected and undervalued,” said Kalia Woods, an administrative aide with the Prince George’s County OPD office. “Decisions have been made that draw dividing lines between us and ultimately affect the work we are able to do for our clients. We have sent a message with this vote that we are standing together to say ‘not anymore.’” One bargaining unit will consist of core (administrative and support) staff, and another bargaining unit will consist of intake staff, investigators, social workers and attorneys. These two bargaining units span the entire state in 12 different districts and over 600 workers at the OPD. AFSCME Maryland Council 3 president Patrick Moran called the vote “a big win for OPD workers who have been fighting to have their voices heard and respected in their workplaces.”
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Not chill: Unionbusting at Potomac Holistics
Bribing workers, distributing anti-union propaganda, turning managers against workers, and spreading anti-union rhetoric to customers. Just another day at Potomac Holistics, according to UFCW 400 Political Director Kayla Mock. After workers built unanimous support for unionizing and asked Potomac Holistics owner Bill Askinazi to recognize their union, Potomac Holistics Workers United, Askinazi launched “an aggressive union-busting campaign,” says Mock. The union is urging supporters to sign their petition for “livable wages, paid time off, job security, and a voice in our workplace,” and to attend their rally on Friday (see Calendar) Among other tactics, the union says, Askinazi “is bribing workers by offering promotions and pay raises for voting no, distributing anti-union propaganda, turning managers against workers, talking to workers in front of patients, talking about workers with their peers behind their backs, offering to create his own version of a ‘collective contract’ and planning captive audience meetings.” “Bill Askinazi could recognize our union and start negotiating a fair contract with us,” says the union. “Instead, he flew here from his home in Florida and has tried everything he can to intimidate us and stop workers from unionizing.”
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Union Photo: Operating Engineers Local 99 recognizes members
Top right: IUOE Local 99 Business Manager Don Havard (left) received his 45-year certificate from IUOE International General President Callahan (center) and Local 99 President Frank Barile (right) at the union’s meeting and holiday party on Tuesday night at the union hall; bottom right: Local 99 member John Sullivan (left) retiring from the Teamsters building, receives his 40-year certificate; bottom left: Local 99 Training Coordinator Mark Brandt (left) receives 20-year certificate; middle left: Local 99 member Jerry Perry (left), who recently retired, received his 40 year certificate; top left: Retired Local 99 Business Manager Lou Cernak (left) receiving certificate for 55 years of membership.
photos/collage: Chris Garlock/Union City |
Labor Quote: Hunter Bear
“His monument is a great many of us over decades -- for whom he was a major inspiration as we came of age as radical labor activists. It is higher than the Rockies above his native Colorado Springs.”
Referring to Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers union organizer Clinton Jencks (center, in plaid shirt, in photo), who led New Mexico zinc miners in the strike depicted in the classic 1954 movie “Salt of the Earth,” and who died of natural causes in San Diego on December 15, 2005 at age 87. |
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Today’s Labor History
This week’s Labor History Today podcast: Julia Reichert: “Documentarian of the Working Class”. Last week’s show: “Capital’s Terrorists”.
AFL convention passes a one-cent per capita assessment to aid the organization of women workers. (Exact date uncertain) – 1913
The Kansas national guard is called out to subdue from 2,000 to 6,000 protesting women who were going from mine to mine attacking non-striking miners in the Pittsburgh coal fields. The women made headlines across the state and the nation: they were christened the "Amazon Army" by the New York Times – 1921
California's longest nurses strike ended after workers at Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo and Pinole approved a new contract with Tenet Healthcare Corp., ending a 13-month walkout – 2003
David Prosten
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Published by the Metropolitan Washington Council, an AFL-CIO "Union City" Central Labor Council whose 200 affiliated union locals represent 150,000 area union members.
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