Alabama’s labor union community will have a press conference on the steps of the Madison County Courthouse on Monday Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. to officially request a refund of their political contributions for the 2008 election cycle from Congressman Parker Griffith.

“In our opinion the change from the Democratic party to the Republican party has little or no effect on our request,” Al Henley, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alabama AFL-CIO, said in a press release. “We just simply believe he misled us in the campaign to get elected, and used our money to create a positive name recognition situation then immediately aligned himself with America’s biggest corporations and industries including the Insurance, Pharma and Medical industries, then proceeded to vote against our best interests.”

The press in North Alabama recently reported that the Congressman’s office said no requests had been made for refunds, but is not the case, according to the discussion on key e-mail lists around the state.

“We find it necessary to clear up the confusion on the issue of refunds of political contributions,” Henley said. He said the press and the general public are welcome.

Meanwhile, the Alabama Democratic Party blasted newly-minted Republican Representative Parker Griffith for his lack of leadership in defending critical jobs in Alabama’s fifth Congressional district.

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