Labor Updates (6/17/08)

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Progressive Labor Partnership Contract Proposed in Prince George’s County: The Metro Council's Executive Board last week sent a letter proposing a new contract between labor and elected officials in Prince George's County. The proposed contract included support from PG elected officials "to help us empower workers in our unions and working people without unions," support for several specific pieces of legislation and "consultation and real input into appointments to boards & commissions in the County that have a direct impact on labor and on the economic, educational and social development of the County." Noting that in this Presidential election year "the Democratic Party needs all of its supporters to win, including organized labor," the letter said that "Until the elected officials of the County sign on to this Progressive Labor Partnership Contract, the affiliates of the Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO will continue to refuse requests for any and all support from those elected officials who refuse to support us." Unions Get More Say in MontCo Retirement Funds: Union representation on a Montgomery County investment board, that oversees billions in employee retirement benefits, may soon see a boost, reported Janel Davis last Wednesday in the Gazette. A County Council committee voted last week to increase the membership to 16 and increase the representation for UFCW Local 1994/MCGEO “from one member to three and make the union president a designated member of the board,” Davis reported. "County workers have a huge investment to protect," Local 1994 President Gino Renne tells UNION CITY, "and I'll be working hard to help look after these benefits."