Labor in the News (6/27/08)

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Labor Withholds Prince George’s County Endorsements: "Citing their bitter feud with the county's Democratic Party leaders since last October, labor union officials are threatening to withhold endorsements of Prince George's County lawmakers unless they agree to ditch the current leaders of the county Democratic Central Committee," reported Daniel Valentine in Thursday's Gazette. Click here for the full story. Rhee Fires 22 Assistant Principals: Washington Post reporter V. Dion Haynes reported that "D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee fired 22 assistant principals this week, her second round of school administrative terminations, which came about a month after her dismissal of 24 principals" in Thursday's Post. The Council of School Officers has filed a class-action grievance against Rhee. Click here for the full story. Union Charges Top Cop With Lying: "D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier gave 'demonstrably false' testimony when she denied reports that untrained officers were dispatched to her controversial neighborhood barricades, a union representing D.C.'s rank-and-file police officers charged Monday," reported Bill Myers in Tuesday's Washington Examiner. Click here for the story. More Smithfield Coverage: Angela Swinson Lee filed the latest story on the DC Smithfield campaign yesterday in The Washington Informer, reporting that "The United Food and Commercial Workers union launched an advertising campaign on June 19 against Smithfield Foods in Tar Heel, N.C., alleging abuse and unfair treatment of employees. The campaign, which carries the slogan ‘until Smithfield does better by us you can buy better than Smithfield,’ urges local consumers to discontinue purchasing Smithfield foods because of its labor practices." Click here for the story and here to get involved in the campaign.