SEIU Staffers Rally for Contract

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)SEIU staffers staged a lunchtime picket at the union’s Dupont Circle headquarters Wednesday to demand a fair contract. “If SEIU was hurting financially, things would be different,” said Virginia Rodino, Chief Steward for the 148-member OPEIU Local 2 unit at SEIU. “But they just got done at our national convention saying how well they’re doing, so to demand a 3-year wage freeze just feels like a slap in the face to staff who are so dedicated to the union and to the movement.” Local 2 represents professional, technical and clerical workers at SEIU and SEIU’s pension fund. The workers voted earlier this week to reject SEIU’s latest contract proposal and authorized a strike. “We’re waiting to hear back from management and hope to return to the table soon and work things out,” said Local 2 President Dan Dyer. - photo by Chris Garlock