or Immediate Release
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Contact: Jeff Hall, 1199SEIU
(617) 281-8384, jeff.hall@1199.org, Twitter @1199mass
Steve Crawford, Crawford Strategies
(857) 753-4132, steve@crawfordstrategies.com
SEIU State Council Endorses Ed Markey in U.S. Senate Race
State’s most politically active labor organization will back Markey, calling him a strong ally of working families
BOSTON – The Massachusetts Service Employees International Union (SEIU) today announced their endorsement of Congressman Ed Markey in the ongoing race for Senate.
“Ed Markey will be a strong advocate for working families in Massachusetts,” said Cliff Cohn, Chair of the SEIU Massachusetts State Council. “On immigration reform, health care, the federal budget and other issues important to the 85,000 SEIU members statewide, Ed Markey will stand up for the people of Massachusetts in the Senate.”
Last Saturday, March 9, Markey and Congressmen Stephen Lynch spoke to members of the SEIU’s Locals in Massachusetts at a forum in Dorchester. Scorecards on the candidates completed by members at the forum were the primary factor in determining the SEIU State Council endorsement. Members rated both candidates highly but Markey received the highest ratings. The State Council also considered questionnaires completed by the candidates in making their endorsement.
“Throughout his career, Congressman Markey has shown consistent support for universal healthcare,” said Veronica Turner, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU, which represents healthcare workers in Massachusetts. “Through the Senate, we know he will continue his work to guarantee access to quality affordable coverage for all Americans.”
SEIU is a member-driven union with an endorsement process driven by its members, who work as hospital employees, homecare workers, janitors, security guards, social workers, and other professions.
“Ed Markey will be a strong advocate in the Senate for commonsense immigration reform that values the contributions of aspiring citizens,” said Rocio Saenz, president of SEIU Local 615, which represents property service workers in Massachusetts. “SEIU members mobilized their communities to vote in the 2012 election and made a huge impact, and we are ready to get out the vote in those communities again for Ed Markey.”
"I am honored to receive the endorsement of the SEIU State Council and its 85,000 members,” said Congressman Markey. “SEIU is at the heart of the labor movement, fighting tirelessly to improve the lives of workers in Massachusetts and throughout the country. I have spent three decades standing up for working families and advocating for good jobs, fair wages, and quality and affordable health care. I want to bring this fight for working men and women to the Senate, and I look forward to working with SEIU to build a future that makes the American Dream achievable for all."
The SEIU State Council is a representative body of leaders who have been democratically elected by the membership to represent their Local and workers in their respective industries.
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With 2.1 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers—not just corporations and CEOs—benefit from today's global economy.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Contact: Jeff Hall, 1199SEIU
(617) 281-8384, jeff.hall@1199.org, Twitter @1199mass
Steve Crawford, Crawford Strategies
(857) 753-4132, steve@crawfordstrategies.com
SEIU State Council Endorses Ed Markey in U.S. Senate Race
State’s most politically active labor organization will back Markey, calling him a strong ally of working families
BOSTON – The Massachusetts Service Employees International Union (SEIU) today announced their endorsement of Congressman Ed Markey in the ongoing race for Senate.
“Ed Markey will be a strong advocate for working families in Massachusetts,” said Cliff Cohn, Chair of the SEIU Massachusetts State Council. “On immigration reform, health care, the federal budget and other issues important to the 85,000 SEIU members statewide, Ed Markey will stand up for the people of Massachusetts in the Senate.”
Last Saturday, March 9, Markey and Congressmen Stephen Lynch spoke to members of the SEIU’s Locals in Massachusetts at a forum in Dorchester. Scorecards on the candidates completed by members at the forum were the primary factor in determining the SEIU State Council endorsement. Members rated both candidates highly but Markey received the highest ratings. The State Council also considered questionnaires completed by the candidates in making their endorsement.
“Throughout his career, Congressman Markey has shown consistent support for universal healthcare,” said Veronica Turner, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU, which represents healthcare workers in Massachusetts. “Through the Senate, we know he will continue his work to guarantee access to quality affordable coverage for all Americans.”
SEIU is a member-driven union with an endorsement process driven by its members, who work as hospital employees, homecare workers, janitors, security guards, social workers, and other professions.
“Ed Markey will be a strong advocate in the Senate for commonsense immigration reform that values the contributions of aspiring citizens,” said Rocio Saenz, president of SEIU Local 615, which represents property service workers in Massachusetts. “SEIU members mobilized their communities to vote in the 2012 election and made a huge impact, and we are ready to get out the vote in those communities again for Ed Markey.”
"I am honored to receive the endorsement of the SEIU State Council and its 85,000 members,” said Congressman Markey. “SEIU is at the heart of the labor movement, fighting tirelessly to improve the lives of workers in Massachusetts and throughout the country. I have spent three decades standing up for working families and advocating for good jobs, fair wages, and quality and affordable health care. I want to bring this fight for working men and women to the Senate, and I look forward to working with SEIU to build a future that makes the American Dream achievable for all."
The SEIU State Council is a representative body of leaders who have been democratically elected by the membership to represent their Local and workers in their respective industries.
###
With 2.1 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers—not just corporations and CEOs—benefit from today's global economy.
