Mendelson & Ervin Take Stand for Displaced Service Workers Bill

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

D.C. Council Chair Phil Mendelson (D-At Large) and Montgomery County Council member Valerie Ervin (D-District 5) teamed up in Sunday’s Washington Post to urge support for the Displaced Service Workers bill, coming up for a vote September 18 at the Montgomery County Council.  Noting that even a temporary income disruption for low-wage service workers “can result in hunger and homelessness,” Mendelson and Ervin’s Post op-ed said the bill “would provide a degree of financial security to workers who often survive paycheck to paycheck.” 32BJ SEIU has been a major advocate for the bill, and 32BJ Capital Area District Political Director Martin Thomas says “We’re asking people to turn out to the September 18 vote” as well as to voice support by posting comments on the Post op-ed. “The Displaced Service Workers bill is about fundamental fairness for some of our region’s lowest-paid employees,” said Mendelson and Ervin. “During this time of unprecedented fiscal stress, the bill simply represents what the District and other cities have already shown: There is a modest and workable way to make their lives more secure.” 
photo: Valerie Ervin (speaking), and to her left, Council Vice President Nancy Navarro and Councilmember Marc Elrich, on July 30 joined members of  32BJ SEIU – District Chair Jaime Contreras is at far left – and the Metro Washington Council (Political Coordinator Rick Powell is at far right) to call for passage of County Bill 19-12, known as the Displaced Service Worker Protection Act. Photo courtesy Montgomery County.