Workers Picket Madison Hotel After Owners Refuse to Honor Contract
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Radio and TV host Tavis Smiley, who had a reservation at the Madison Hotel in Washington, D.C., yesterday, showed support for the workers by not crossing their picket line and checking in at another pro-union hotel. As AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker said:
“Tavis Smiley wasn’t smiling.”
Workers at the Madison had braved the bitter cold and freezing rain to protest the new management’s refusal to honor the contract they negotiated with the previous owners. A German-based company took over the hotel Jan. 19 and is not accepting the terms of the existing contract with UNITEHERE! Local 25, which represents 150 workers at the Madison.
AFT, NEA Offer Black History Month Teaching Tools
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AFT and the National Education Association (NEA) have compiled a variety of resources to help educators celebrate Black History Month, which begins Feb. 1.
The AFT site here highlights key facts and figures about African Americans, important historical events, influential figures and the continuing contributions of African Americans. For instance, did you know that African Americans were largely responsible for developing our railway system? More than 40 different patents were awarded to African Americans for inventions of machinery and parts vital to the function of trains, tracks and passenger safety.
This AFT site features a special focus on the landmark 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, which made segregation in public schools illegal. The site includes profiles of the suit’s leaders, key events, recommended readings for grades K-12 and links to primary documents and lesson plans. There also is a video highlighting AFT’s efforts to obtain civil rights for all and desegregate America’s classrooms.
