Unions threaten to withhold support to lawmakers

Letter calls on elected officials to agree to changes in county’s Democratic Central Committee

The letter also calls for each elected leader to pledge support for several union causes, including making sure labor agreements are a part of county-funded economic development projects.

‘‘Many of you have been endorsed and been given money and support by labor unions,” AFL-CIO President Joslyn Williams wrote in the letter reportedly sent to all elected officials in the county. ‘‘Unfortunately, it appears that we cannot expect that support to be reciprocal.”

Though their financial support is limited compared to real estate developers and businesses, unions have traditionally helped politicians get out thousands of voters through volunteer networks, phone banks and other efforts. Union spokesman Rick Powell said the group will use response to the letter to determine which county Democrats will get similar support in the future.

‘‘Those that respond, fine. Those that don’t, we’re moving forward,” Powell said. ‘‘Things are changing.”

The letter is the latest in the protracted dispute between local unions and the leaders of the central committee, which coordinates Democratic Party actions in the county. Because no Republican holds office in Prince George’s, the Democratic Central Committee is a major source of power.

The dispute began last fall when Turner sent e-mails bashing labor attempts to hold up the Woodmore Town Center development in Glenarden, where a non-union Wegmans grocery store is slated to go.

In e-mails to elected officials and others, Turner accused organized labor of trying to deprive the county of long-sought high-end retail developments. The party leader singled out Tony Perez, the UFCW Local 400 government affairs specialist who filed the zoning appeal.

‘‘Why is Mr. Perez fighting against those who live, work, play and pray in our beloved Prince George’s County? Why is he acting to keep us in a subservient, second-class, substandard, marginal state?” wrote Turner, who declined to comment for this story. ‘‘I am prayerful that his intentions are noble and just are not part of some less than honorable scheme.”

The e-mail led to a backlash from the unions, whose members turned out to protest last fall. Speigner, the chairman, came to Turner’s defense, though other members at the time called for a reprimand.

In the end, the Democratic Central Committee agreed to appoint six women to the committee, with the understanding that they would be backed by labor officials.

But after delaying the vote for months, Speigner and the committee reneged, choosing a slate of candidates supported by county senators this spring.

‘‘That was a conscious decision to screw us,” Powell said.

Speigner said he had not seen the letter, and declined to comment. But state party officials say the rift needs to be resolved.

‘‘I think it’s time to move forward,” said Quincy Gamble, spokesman for the Maryland Democratic Party. ‘‘And I don’t see how this letter gets us closer to that.”

Several elected officials said they had not seen the letter last week, and declined to comment.

Gamble said the unions are still a vital part of the party.

‘‘This is a small bump in the road,’ he said. ‘‘It’s time to work together.”

E-mail Daniel Valentine at dvalentine@gazette.net.