It's been a tough year for labor in Monterey County, says Central Labor Council head Cesar Lara with lay-offs in the hospitality industry, health care, construction, and local governments.

Now, the labor movement is focused on November, planning to campaign hard to deny Republican Meg Whitman a win in the Governor's race. 

"The governor has so much power with layoffs and furloughs," Lara says.

Locally, policy priorities include an anti-big box ordinance in unincorporated Monterey County. Labor is concerned that big box stores like Wal-Mart that sell food will lower wage and benefit standards in the grocery industry and threaten the jobs of union grocery workers.

Lara also wants the county sups to approve a recall ordinance that would require that companies like Quail Lodge to give laid off workers the first chance to return to their when the company rehires.