Christine Quinn making her exit from the living wage rally. (Photo: Colin Campbell)

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn won't tolerate anyone messing with Mayor Bloomberg and Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, doesn't want messing with Ms. Quinn for angrily leaving this morning's rally celebrating the upcoming vote to pass the living wage bill after someone mocked the mayor.

Ms. Quinn made her exit from morning's rally on the City Hall steps when someone shouted a crack about "Pharaoh Bloomberg." Mr. Appelbaum, who was in attendance at the awkward rally, leapt to the Speaker's defense this afternoon with a press release reminding people of her role in getting the living wage bill vote passed in the first place.

"Make no mistake, there would be no living wage law bill without the Speaker," Mr. Appelbaum said. "Even though Chris may have left the rally after declaring her support for the bill, the most important thing for us to remember is that thousands of new Yorkers will receive higher wages because she had the courage to stand up and pass the living wage law."

Mr. Appelbaum has backed of the living wage bill. The bill is a rare point of contention between Ms. Quinn and Mayor Bloomberg, with whom she normally enjoys a rather cozy relationship.

Ms. Quinn made her break from the living wage rally after she listed off the long roster of polticial figures who were present at the event.

"Everybody but Pharoah Bloomberg!" the man shouted.

Ms. Quinn spun around and addressed the heckler.

"That’s not appropriate," she said. "If that’s what this protest is about, I’ll go right back on inside.”

And go inside she did. Ms. Quinn may disagree with Mr. Bloomberg about living wage, she clearly has no tolerance for people disrespecting the mayor--and that's all right by Mr. Appelbaum, who regularly weighs in on a variety of issues. No other city union has responded to the pharaoh flap. We're not holding our breath.

Jewish Labor Committee's Fundraising Invite

The Jewish Labor Committee, which is headed by Stuart Appelbaum, is hosting their annual dinner as labor makes their big push for living wage legislation. Mr. Appelbaum is also the President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). Among the labor bigwigs attending Mr. Appelbaum's event is Richard Trumka, the national head of the AFL-CIO.

Further connecting the dinner to the living wage fight, the  Jewish Labor Committee has recently been campaigning for the bill, which would require taxpayer-subsidized projects to pay higher wages. "Having prominent Jews on board with living wage and understanding living wage as an important issue for progressive Jews to support is certainly helpful," one insider familiar with the event said. "Though let me stress that tonight is much bigger than living wage--Israel and other issues will be discussed."

The fundraiser will also be attended by several Rabbis and the heads of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.

In addition to labor's push for the living wage legislation, Mayor Michael Bloomberg is also engaging the issue.  At the State of the City address tonight, he is expected to announce a renewed push for development of Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx where there would be preference for high-wage developers instead of a mandate. The RWDSU says they support this plan.

View the event's guests below:

In a statement, RWDSU head Stuart Appelbaum, who has made his name over the past several years as one of the city's most ferocious critics of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, had high praise for the president, describing as a champion of the working class.

President Obama has done more for working people than any President in recent memory. When you examine his biggest victories—economic stimulus, healthcare reform, auto industry recovery, financial reform, pay equity reform, middle class tax relief, restoration of collective bargaining rights—it is clear that he has delivered on his central promises of hope and change. His presidency has been transformative under the most difficult of circumstances. He has been a stalwart defender of working men and women during a time of obscene obstructionism in Congress. Yet his record of progressive accomplishments has been woefully unacknowledged. He deserves more credit and gratitude.

The stakes in the 2012 Presidential election could not be higher. Millions of Americans are still reeling from the Great Recession. From the beginning, President Obama has strengthened government and advanced a bold set of policies that prioritize the needs of workers and the unemployed. And he has succeeded despite reactionary forces trying to thwart him at every turn.

Simply put, President Obama has been an underappreciated champion of working people. Over the next year, we plan to campaign vigorously for him throughout the country.

Earlier this week, SEIU endorsed Mr. Obama for president. Both unions are gearing up for a massive mobilization for the president in the face of what is expected to be an onslaught of soft money from the Republicans.

President Obama has come under fire from some liberals for ignoring the needs of labor, especially over his waffling over the Employee Free Choice Act and his embrace of some of the right's rhetoric over teacher's unions.

RWDSU represents 100,000 U.S. and Canadian workers in retail and food processing. The RWDSU Executive Board unanimously voted for the endorsement.

Jim Messina, President Obama's 2012 campaign manager, talked up the president's record.

“RWDSU and the President both know that in order to create true middle class security we must lay the foundation for a fairer economy in which everyone plays by the same rules, and hard work and responsibility pay,” he said.

“Upon taking office, President Obama made the issue of workers’ rights – including safe, secure workplaces and access to affordable health care – a top priority. RWDSU has been at the forefront of this fight, and we are proud to have its endorsement,” said Messina.

Although the leadership of the RWDSU is headquartered in the city, they have chapters all over the country, and are preparing an on-the-ground effort in Midwestern and Southern swing states.