May Metro Council Meeting Highlights: MontCo Endorsements & Affiliate Updates

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)The Metro Washington Council voted Monday night to make no recommendation in the Montgomery County Executive race, as well as in County Council Districts 2 and 4 and the County Sheriff race. The vote frees Council affiliates to act as they see fit in those races. The Metro Council endorsed Marc Elrich, Vivian Malloy and Beth Daly in the Montgomery County Council At-Large races, as well as the Democratic Leadership Team slate in the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee race. All other local race endorsements were done at the April meeting and the list of these and Maryland State Assembly endorsements can be found on the Council’s website. In other May 19 Council meeting highlights: UNITE HERE Local 25 reported that the new Marriott Marquis Convention Center Hotel staff has joined Local 25, which has begun contract negotiations; AFSCME Council 26 reported that at the FAA, the union recently won raises, signing bonuses and got pay-for-performance off the table; AFSCME Council 20 warned about the potentially disastrous effects of the Quinn case now pending before the Supreme Court which would do away with “fair share” dues arrangements in the public sector; Sheet Metal Local 100, which will soon be SMART - Sheet Metal, Rail, Air, Transportation Union - announced that by July 1, the Washington Building Trades Council will change its name to CHOICE - Community Hub for Opportunities in Construction Employment; Council of School Officers Local 4 reported that they have won a new 4-year contract with DC Public Schools; SEIU 722 reported that the local is now in negotiations with the Washington Hospital Center; ATU 1764 urged attendance at the May 20 Capitol Hill transit rally. Draft meeting minutes will be posted online soon.
photos: (top) Jos Williams introduces the DC Labor FilmFest screening of "Dirty Pretty Things" that followed Monday's Council meeting; (bottom): transit workers (including ATU 689 president Jackie Jeter, center) at Tuesday's Capitol Hill rally. photos by Chris Garlock (top) and George Farenthold, AIL (bottom)