Labor unions backing Maryland's slots referendum

Maryland?s labor unions are strongly backing approval for the slot machine referendum on the November ballot, they announced Friday. They said it represents a chance to bolster finances for education and other important programs they support and an opportunity to create good union jobs at the slots locations.

“Passage of the slots referendum will be a fiscal win for the state of Maryland,” said Fred Mason, president of the Maryland and DC AFL-CIO. He said the political committee “will be mobilizing our members,” which includes 300,000 members in 500 unions. One in four households in Maryland has a union worker, he said. “They understand that much revenue is going to neighboring states.”