Labor Vows to "Keep Pushing" in Wake of PG Gaming Bill Passage

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Labor Vows to (Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Labor and community supporters played a key role in the passage of the bill expanding gambling to Prince George’s County in Maryland. "It was really beautiful how labor came together around this issue with our community allies this week in Annapolis," said UFCW 400 Director of Legislative Growth Strategies Tony Perez. "But this is just the first phase. There’s a lot of work yet to do to make sure that we get our members out to vote to ensure that the jobs we worked so hard for are actually created. We've got to keep pushing." The bill, passed late Tuesday night, must be approved by state voters in November. In addition to a Las Vegas-style casino in Prince George’s County – projected to add thousands of new jobs, hundreds of millions of dollars in additional revenue for the state and tens of millions to the host counties – the bill would allow table games like blackjack and roulette, at the state’s approved slots locations. "The gaming bill is a victory for common sense – even though it took an immense effort to get to some to recognize that good jobs, a billion dollars in private investment and increased revenues for education and other programs are good things," said John Boardman, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 25.  Local 25, joined by other unions, will be organizing workers at the Prince George’s site if the voters approve the bill in the Fall. "Our members are going to be working hard to make sure the promises of this legislation are realized," Boardman added. "This is a direct result of what happens when labor works together to advance our common interest," said Mark Anthony Coles, Business/Legislative Rep for the Wash. DC Bldg and Construction Trades Council. "We plan to continue working hard, with our extended labor family, to make this important jobs and revenue proposal a reality for our respective memberships." Added Metro Washington Council Legislative/Political Coordinator Rick Powell, "We showed real union solidarity, which was not lost on the legislators in Annapolis. I think this successful effort will aid us going forward." Powell also credited Washington Building and Construction Trades Council Political Director Mark Coles with "exceptional leadership” during the Special Session, “as well as many other union representatives, including Michele Lewis and Teresa Healy (AFSCME), Cynthia Collins and Pete Barron (SEIU) and Abiola Afolayan (UNITE HERE), who brought home this victory." - photo of gaming bill supporters at press conference in Annapolis courtesy of Ironworkers Local 5

 

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