Jonetta Rose Barras: Any value to the union label in D.C.?

By jonetta rose barras Examiner Columnist There’s been a lot of chatter about union endorsements of political candidates: Ward 1 D.C. Councilman Jim Graham got the nod from the Metro transit workers union. At-large Councilmember Kwame Brown, who is hoping to become the legislature’s chairman, won support from the service workers union (SEIU), which has nearly 45,000 members in Maryland and the District.

“Brown helped boost wages for the men and women who work hard to keep District buildings and tenants safe,” said Jaime Contreras, state council president and Local 32BJ capital area director. “We are confident that as chairman he’ll help fix a broken system that failed to protect workers and taxpayers from negligent contractors.”