Labor Council Endorses Muriel Bowser in DC Ward 4 Special Election, Takes No Position in Ward 7

Monday, April 9, 2007

The Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO voted Thursday, April 4 to endorse the candidacy of Muriel Bowser for the Ward 4 Special Election.  "Working families in the District will be well-represented with Muriel on the City Council," said MWC AFL-CIO President Jos Williams.  "DC labor will be in the streets helping her get elected and we look forward to working with her to help make Washington an even greater city for everyone to live and work in." In what Williams called “a very difficult decision," Muriel Bowser got the endorsement nod over Rev. Graylan Hagler and Renee Bowser, who are recognized as "longtime champions of the city’s working men and women."  Muriel Bowser is running for the seat vacated by DC Mayor Adrian Fenty.  She supports indexing the minimum wage to reflect inflation, requiring all employers to provide some paid sick days for workers, fully funding city-negotiated collective bargaining agreements with public sector unions, setting standards of wages and benefits and corporate responsibility for retailers doing business in the city, and city-guaranteed universal health care. No position was taken by the Labor Council in Ward 7 because no candidate garnered the two-thirds vote required for endorsement. This leaves unions free to campaign for the candidate of their choice. The Labor Council will be conducting neighborhood walks in support of Muriel Bowser, as well as raising money and working the precincts on election day to guarantee union voter turnout.  "With several thousand union members in the Ward, we expect labor turnout to be key in deciding this race on May 1," said Williams.

 

Powered by Orchid Suites
Orchid ver. 4.7.6.