Unions Accuse Gephardt Aide of Threats

Prominent labor leaders on Wednesday accused a St. Louis-based aide to Democratic presidential candidate Dick Gephardt of threatening retaliation against state employees if two prominent unions assist rival Howard Dean in the 2004 Missouri primary.

"It's bad enough to deliver an ultimatum to any group of people," the AFSCME and SEIU presidents wrote. "But for a senior aide of yours -- who has worked for you for more than 20 years -- to do so at the expense of Missouri's state employees is deplorable."