The Metal Trades Council of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard has decided to endorse 1st District candidate Carol Shea-Porter. They’ll host a pre-election celebration with speakers Shea-Porter, National President of the Metal Trades Council Ron Alt and other notable union and political leaders on Wednesday, Oct. 25, from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Frank Jones Center, Route 1 By-Pass in Portsmouth.

The event will kick-off union participation in the 2006 elections. It will also highlight the efforts of the labor movement, including the 2005 efforts to save the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

Shea-Porter’s opponent, incumbent Republican Jeb Bradley, was credited with being instrumental in keeping the shipyard open last year. But at a press conference this week, Paul O’Connor, head of the 2,500 member union, said that in voting 95 percent of the time with President George W. Bush, Bradley had turned his back on workers in favor of corporations. 

The group is expecting a big turnout of union members and leaders from all over New England at the Oct. 25 event, which is free and open to the public.