Council Highlights

Contract victories, campaign reports and 2008 primary endorsements were among the highlights of Monday's Metro Council Delegate meeting. SEIU 500's Merle Cuttitta reported that 1,200 part-time faculty at GW finally won a tentative contract, and a settlement is expected soon at the National Children's Center. Laborers Local 657 and District Council reported on their new "We Build The Stadium" campaign, and CWA updated delegates on their upcoming campaign to bring high-speed internet to District residents. Congressmen Steny Hoyer, Albert Wynn and Chris Van Hollen - who all have strong labor voting records -- got the nod for primary endorsement. After interviewing both Wynn and challenger Donna Edwards Monday afternoon, the Council Executive Board voted to recommend endorsement of Wynn - along with Hoyer and Van Hollen - to the Maryland State/DC AFL-CIO, and the delegates later approved this recommendation. Delegates also approved a $500 contribution to the Georgetown Solidarity Committee's student-run "Sweatshops: At Home and Aboard" course. The course will examine the effects of sweatshop wages and conditions in DC and around the world and will include a March trip to the Dominican Republic to examine worker exploitation in that country, with field reports by the students in UNION CITY!