Updated at 1:50 p.m. with Classen's response.

Last week, Seattle City Council candidate Maurice Classen came under fire for retreating into a fuzzy middle distance on a proposal that would require private employers to provide paid sick leave for their staff. While Classen insists that he supports paid sick leave, he says he would also support further study, which his critics say is unnecessary and may serve to stall legislation if Classen is elected.

Now David Freiboth, executive secretary of the King County Labor Council—a massive coalition of local unions—just issued this statement:

I have to say that I’m disappointed in Maurice Classen’s failure to take a strong position in favor of the proposed Paid Sick Days Ordinance. Classen’s inability to show clear, unambiguous leadership about the health and welfare of Seattle’s working families is a troubling development. I would hope that those we elect to sit on the Seattle City Council would be more concerned about the long term prosperity of our city, regardless of what’s convenient for the next election cycle.

I would urge Classen to reconsider his position immediately, and join the chorus of citizens, small business owners, and elected officials who have fully endorsed Paid Sick Days as the right choice for Seattle’s future.

Classen replies after the jump:

While I appreciate the Labor Council's designation of me as a "Councilman", the current Council is voting on the issue this summer, so I am unable to cast my "yes" vote for the policy. This, of course, is not the only mistake the Council made in its release. I am and remain a strong and consistent supporter of paid sick leave, and I will continue to work to see it accomplished. If it takes an additional study to reach the votes necessary for the Council to pass the legislation, I'd support it—not as a delay but as a way to reach resolution. There is no benefit to delaying action on this important policy. We just need to reach closure in a way that works for small business. I am deeply concerned that no person at the Labor Council called or communicated with me to determine what my position on this issue and simply issued a press release for some political purpose. Next time it might behoove the Council to fact-check their releases before sending them out.