County Workers Strategize For "Fight Of Our Lives"

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Over 100 stewards, bargaining team members and leaders of UFCW 1994/MCGEO gathered for a daylong leadership summit Friday at the National Labor College. "We're in the fight of our lives," warned 1994 President Gino Renne (at right), who briefed the county workers on the latest bargaining with Montgomery County. Added UFCW President Joe Hansen (center) -- a county resident and taxpayer -- "The County wants to take away your right to bargain, to destroy your rights, but we're going to fight back." UFCW 400 President Tom McNutt pledged his local's strong support for their sister local, vowing that "we must resist the corporatization of our government," and Metro Council Union Cities Coordinator Chris Garlock relayed the support of the entire labor community on behalf of Metro Council President Jos Williams. In addition to bargaining updates, the group was briefed on local, state and national strategies to battle attacks on public sector workers and budget cuts targeting public employees. They also met with county leaders including County Executive Ike Leggett and Council President Valerie Ervin. "We have a proven formula for sucess," said Hansen, "it's called solidarity, and we will stand together, we will fight together and we will win together!" - photo by Greg Kenefick