AFSCME District Council 33 Decides Not to Participate in Labor Day Event

    PHILADELPHIA, Aug. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Pete Matthews, the President of
 AFSCME District Council 33, today announced that his union would not be
 participating in the Labor Day parade and events scheduled for Penn's Landing
 next Monday.
     Matthews noted that District Council 33's decision not to participate was
 based on a concern that the day's events were "too political" and could be
 misinterpreted as an endorsement for a candidate for Mayor of Philadelphia.
     "We here at AFSCME District Council 33 have always viewed Labor Day as a
 time for us to celebrate the Labor Movement and our collective accomplishments
 on behalf of the working families of America," said Matthews.  "We mean no
 disrespect to Philadelphia AFL-CIO President Pat Eiding and the other unions
 who are involved in putting together the Labor Day events.  However, for
 District Council 33, this year's event appears to be too political.  Since we
 have not made an endorsement for mayor as of yet, we decided that it would be
 better if we didn't participate in this event."
     AFSCME District Council 33, representing over 13,000 city workers and
 retirees, did not support either John Street or Sam Katz in the last mayoral
 election in 1999, preferring instead to concentrate on City Council races.
 The Union will invite both candidates in this year's election to attend a
 political forum at District Council 33.
     "If we do decide to endorse a candidate for mayor, our support will be
 extensive and it will based on that candidate's commitment to do the right
 thing for our members, retirees and the community," said Matthews.
 
 

SOURCE  AFSCME District Council 33