Coverage by CBS Boston, WBZ-TV

DORCHESTER, MA- On Saturday March 15th, seven hundred members of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) participated in a forum at the 1199SEIU offices in Boston to assess the five candidates vying for the SEIU endorsement. Joe Avellone, Don Berwick, Martha Coakley, Steve Grossman, and Juliette Kayyem took part in a gubernatorial forum that included questions regarding the state budget, immigration reform, economic inequality, the right to organize, and other issues important to SEIU members. You can view photos of the event on Facebook here.

The candidates spoke to members of SEIU’s four most politically active locals in Massachusetts, representing nearly 100,000 members employed as healthcare workers homecare workers, social workers, janitors, and security guards, amongst other professions.

The entire forum was streamed online at Masslive.com.

The candidates spoke to members of SEIU’s four most politically active locals in Massachusetts, representing nearly 100,000 members employed as healthcare workers homecare workers, social workers, janitors, and security guards, amongst other professions.

All questions were asked by SEIU members from the Massachusetts locals. Tammy Hall, 1199SEIU member, addressed the candidates and audience by speaking about the divide created by economic inequality in the Commonwealth. She asked the candidates to elaborate on their plans to bridge the divide.

“SEIU members in Massachusetts perform difficult jobs, often working long hours and unusual shifts. We provide high quality services in both the private and public sectors. Yet, many of us are among the lowest-paid workers in Massachusetts and earn little more than the state minimum wage,” she said.

“We strongly believe that more needs to be done to address the crisis of low-wage workers and expand economic opportunity for more Massachusetts residents,” Tammy continued, “Across the country there is a new dialogue opening up about inequality and the human toll of widespread poverty wages. As Governor of Massachusetts, what legislation or other policy efforts would you support to improve wages and working conditions for the state’s low-wage workforce and their families?”

“These member forums are a key part of the grassroots, transparent process that SEIU members use to assess the candidates vying for the SEIU endorsement. SEIU members are proud to have brought this conversation to the public by streaming it online. It was a substantive dialogue about real issues that impact not just union members, but all workers across the Commonwealth and particularly low and middle income communities,” explained Veronica Turner, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU and Treasurer of the SEIU Massachusetts’ State Council.

She continued, “SEIU members have celebrated several victories recently in helping to elect candidates who share our values and who respect the work we do in both the private and public sectors. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, along with President Obama and Boston Mayor Marty Walsh are leaders who SEIU members have helped elect not based on party but based on their policies around working family issues.”

News coverage:

Livestream.com

The Springfield Republican: Masslive.com to exclusively stream 2014 SEIU Forum between candidates running to become the next Governor of Massachusetts

The Springfield Republican: Democrats aiming to become governor of Massachusetts spar on immigration, tax hikes, and more at SEIU candidate forum in Dorchester

WBZ Radio: Union’s candidate forum attracts five Democrats running for Mass. governor

WBZ-TV CBS Boston: Union’s candidate forum attracts five Democrats running for Mass. governor

Channel 3: Democratic candidates for governor take part in SEIU forum

Bay State Banner: Mass. Governor candidates air views in labor forum

SouthCoastToday.com: Democratic candidates stake out positions on undocumented immigrants

- See more at: http://www.1199seiu.org/seiu_state_council_and_1199seiu_massachusetts_host_massachusetts_gubernatorial_candidate_forum#sthash.b0naHyaG.dpuf