"It was really just a gripe session at some level," said Chris Rosado, president of the Elmont Chamber of Commerce.

But now I have something too embarrassing to share in the daily gripe session.

The meeting degenerated into a gripe session about flaws in how Presidential campaigns are financed.

Mr. Koontz is the host of monthly gripe sessions to stay in touch with the frustrations of the workers.

Between her and Rissa and Ivan, the talk was working into a real gripe session.

"We call it our gripe session," Miss Kautzer said.

But the meeting turned into a testy, hourlong gripe session, as each Senator listed grievances, slights and accusations, according to those who attended.

But it soon disintegrated into a weekly gripe session among recipients who faulted Ms. Bradford for their failures to find work.

The two sides agreed to hold meetings, form task forces and establish gripe sessions in a bid to improve labor relations.

A hearing on the bill last December quickly turned into a gripe session.