Metro Council Meetings Hit the Streets

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)The Metro Washington Council literally took to the streets yesterday as the Council’s Executive Board and Delegate meetings were held at an SEIU 1199 rally, at Freedom Plaza and at Occupy DC. “When we say labor is united, we mean it!” said Council President Jos Williams as he introduced Board members attending the 4p SEIU 1199 rally against D.C. healthcare contractor VMT, which was the subject of a City Council hearing on its alleged misuse of city funds to bust a union drive. “Mess with 1199 and you’re messing with all of organized labor in the DC area!” Williams and the board then crossed the street to meet with occupants of Freedom Plaza. “I think this is something that labor needs to get behind,” WTU Local 6 President – and Council Board member – told his colleagues. Saunders, who’s camped out at the occupations in both New York and DC, said that “The essence of this movement is about jobs and the unequal distribution of wealth. As long as people are here, they’re talking about our issues.” After an abbreviated Council meeting that featured presentations from two visiting Walmart workers (look for a report in tomorrow’s Union City) and about an upcoming nurse’s march to tax Wall Street, delegates heard from Occupy DC representatives, including Daniel, who said that “People want to know what our goals are, but the movement itself is the goal” and urged the local labor movement to “Bring us your struggles, we’re local too and want to help.” Fired up, the delegates voted to adjourn the meeting and march over to join the nightly Occupy DC General Assembly underway in McPherson Square.