James A. McKoy Jr, an employee of the Plum Island Animal Disease Center, was fired after he complained about safety issues and distributed union leaflets. Senator Clinton feels that McKoy was unfairly punished for whistle-blowing, and has called for an investigation. The center has been subject to labor disputes and safety concerns, and there are some plans to convert the center's staff to federal employees.
See "U.S. Animal Lab Accused of Firing a Whistle-Blower", Bruce Lambert, The New York Times, June 24, 2003