Peace Breaks Out! Fasting Pro-Union Workers Come In From the Cold at Dianne Feinstein's Office

By Peter Jamison Thu., Jun. 4 2009 at 4:43 PM

Categories: Breaking News, Labor, Politics

At Guantanamo, hunger strikes don't end early

This just in from the San Francisco Labor Council: Apparently a group of workers have broken off their fast at Sen. Dianne Feinstein's local office on Post Street. The workers' hunger strike was the latest in a series of local events and rallies organized by labor interests in an effort to push Feinstein to commit to supporting the pro-union Employee Free Choice Act.

The details of what happened are still sketchy, but Rachele Huennekens of the Service Employees International Union tells us that the group, which had planned on ending their fast this evening, felt their goals had been accomplished and broke off for some chow after a staffer from Feinstein's office came down and chatted with them. "From what I hear, it was a very positive meeting," Huennekens said. She added that SEIU's own representative at the fast, Allen Newland, a security officer at Kaiser Permanente's South Sacramento facility, broke off at his scheduled midday time. "There was nothing early" about the end to his vigil, she said.

Well, nothing to whet the appetite like a friendly chat with a senatorial aide. It remains to be seen what effect, if any, these folks will have had on Feinstein's vote on the bill.

Photo by publik15.