Labor Updates (11/2/07)

PG DEMS HIT FOR ATTACKING LABOR: "A deep dispute has erupted between union leaders in the Washington region and the leadership of the Prince George's County Democratic Party," reports Rosalind S. Helderman in the Washington Post "a fight that highlights broader conflicts over both the pace of development in the county and labor influence in the party." Helderman reports that the fight erupted after a union member objected to a new development that will include a nonunion Wegmans grocery store and PG party vice chairman Arthur A. Turner Jr., responded with several emails that Metro Council President Jos Williams called an "attack on the labor movement." ‘‘Quite honestly, we were shocked and dismayed,” the UFCW Local 400’s Mark Federici told The Gazette. ‘‘It’s hard to believe that anybody in the party would have such thoughts, or be bold enough to put them in an e-mail going to 500 people.” Turner told the Post that he’s "confident that all will be able to sit down at a common table and resolve our disagreement.” HELPING WILDFIRE VICTIMS: As thousands of exhausted union fire fighters from across California and the West fight to contain the raging wildfires in Southern California, AFL-CIO Central Labor Councils and the California Labor Federation, AFL-CIO are helping coordinate emergency responses to help people and communities devastated by the fast-moving fires. “The skill and courage of the firefighters battling the treacherous fires whipped by hot, dry Santa Anna winds over the last two weeks has been a national inspiration,” said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney on Wednesday. Those wishing to help the victims of the California wildfires might consider a contribution to the AFL-CIO Community Services program c/o United Way of San Diego County, 4300 University Ave., Suite 340, San Diego, CA 92105 or the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, PO Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.