UFCW 400 Walks The Line With Daycon Strikers

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Their brilliant gold union shirts glowing in the afternoon sunshine, dozens of UFCW Local 400 leaders and staff -- led by new President Tom McNutt Jr. -- joined the Teamsters picketline at Daycon in Upper Marlboro yesterday. "This is what we do for each other," McNutt -- flanked by Local 400 Secretary-Treasurer Mark Federici and Government Affairs Director Tony Perez -- told Local 639 President Tommy Ratliff. "No justice, no peace!" chanted the Daycon strikers and Local 400 supporters. "We're here today to demonstrate Local 400's solidarity and support," McNutt told the strikers. "We've worked with Local 639 before, as fellow unions in the food service industry, and we'll support your members wherever they work." McNutt and Federici then presented a strike support check for $1000 and the Daycon workers cheered, applauded and chanted in appreciation. "Awesome," said a broadly grinning Ratliff. "Local 400 did a hell of a job and really came out here for us today." Added Metro Council President Jos Williams, "This struggle is not yet over, and I look forward to walking this line with more of our affiliates in the days ahead." - report/photo by Chris Garlock; photo (top, l-r): McNutt, Ratliff, Federici & Williams on the Daycon picketline; (right): McNutt & Federici present $1,000 check to Ratliff & striking Daycon workers