Justice Again Denied at Walter Reed

For the second time in two weeks, workers at The Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WRAMC) have been denied an opportunity to decide if they want to join a union.  Late Wednesday afternoon, WRAMC Garrison Commander Col. Peter Garibaldi once again unilaterally cancelled a union vote scheduled for Thursday, June 28th. Garibaldi had cancelled the original union vote scheduled by the National Labor Relations Board for last Thursday, June 21 by more than 150 WRAMC employees who work for IAP Worldwide Services Inc., a private government contractor. The workers hold jobs previously held by government workers prior to IAP taking control of operations at WRAMC on Feb. 2 of this year. Meanwhile, IAP also summarily fired Paul Hough, an outspoken union supporter. The International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 99, a DC based labor union seeking to represent the workers, has filed an Unfair Labor Practice Charge with the National Labor Relations Board and is considering other options. Photo from the New York Times website