UNITE HERE elects new president; DC-Area Locals attend national convention
At the international union's 2024 Constitutional Convention, Gwen Mills was elected as the new president of UNITE HERE last week. She is the first woman to hold this position in the organization’s 130-year history.
DC-area locals of UNITE HERE were part of the historic convention. UNITE HERE Local 7 member Betty Schueler (above left), a 52-year bartender at Thurgood Marshall BWI airport, announced at the convention that Local 7 has won labor peace agreements which will allow all concessions workers at BWI to organize without fear of retaliation. UNITE HERE Local 23 member Carlos Wallace (above right) explained that, "Before our contract, I was making 12.94/hr. In September when I go back, I’ll be making $25/hr. Because of UNITE HERE my whole mindset has changed, now I’m thinking about my future. Everybody should get a piece of this pie because not only will it bring generational wealth, it will break generational curses and change everybody’s lives."
ZeniMax workers rally amidst bargaining
Last week workers at ZeniMax (a Microsoft Video Game Studio), CWA President Claude Cummings Jr., and CWA members celebrated Juneteenth with a picnic and rally. ZeniMax workers are bargaining their first contract and they recently secured an additional paid day off which can be used for the Juneteenth holiday.
"My company is a technology company," Julia Ridgley of CWA Local 2336 told Tasha Carpenter, Vice President of CWA Local 2108. "We were bought by a private equity firm two years ago and the management is so eager to replace us with AI." Solidarity with CWA members at ZeniMax as they continue bargaining.
32BJ SEIU janitors continue actions against DC Water
Unionized janitors with 32BJ SEIU leafletted outside DC Water again last week after the agency terminated janitors' contract earlier this month — potentially in violation of DC's Displaced Worker Protection Act. Many of the janitors have been at DC Water for over a decade. 32BJ is calling on DC Water to offer workers their jobs back, in compliance with the Displaced Worker Protection Act.
Congratulations, June 2024 Building Futures graduates!
Congratulations to the June 2024 graduates of our Community Services Agency’s Building Futures pre-apprenticeship program! The Building Futures program combines hands-on construction skills training with construction math, blueprint reading, safety certifications, workers' rights and responsibilities on the job, construction career exploration and job readiness and job search assistance.
Upcoming Actions + Events
It's a tradition! Labor Night at the Nationals has been going strong for over 10 years. This year's event is coming up next week — and time is running out to be part of it. Get your tickets to this year's Labor Night at the Nationals:
SATURDAY: Moral March on Washington, DC and to the Polls
Saturday, June 29 — 10 AM
3rd & Pennsylvania Ave. NW, DC
The Mass Poor People’s & Low-Wage Workers’ Assembly will mark the start of outreach to 15 million low-wage infrequent voters ahead of the 2024 U.S. elections and beyond. Join AFL-CIO and affiliated unions this Saturday on the National Mall »
An Intro to the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA)
June 27 — 10:00 AM and 9:00 PM
"An Intro to AGMA" will delve into the history and structure of AGMA, the fundamentals of joining the union, and the significance of workers forming unions to harness collective power. These online sessions are open to the public. Register to attend »
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