Labor group hosts congressional night sans King

The Long Island Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, held its annual congressional night Monday - minus one member of the Island's congressional delegation, Rep. Peter King (R-Seaford).

King has not attended the meeting - where delegation members answer questions about legislation - since 2006, when, he said, the federation president, John Durso, did not support his re-election bid against David Mejias. Durso said King was "not supportive" on Social Security issues.

King said Durso went out of his way to oppose him, adding that he had "always" attended the meetings, "arriving early and staying late" until his fallout with Durso.

The federation, which is the umbrella group of labor unions, has 250,000 members.

Durso said King has always been invited but has not responded in recent years as to whether he was coming, except for this year, when King sent a curt no.

King said he enjoys good relations with labor unions on the Island.

Meanwhile, the biggest issue facing labor, Durso said, is the Island's high unemployment rate, particularly in the construction industry. "This is the time to invest in infrastructure," he said.