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STATE’S LARGEST HEALTHCARE UNION ENDORSES SUE CHALIFOUX ZEPHIR FOR STATE SENATE

City Councilor, lifetime Leominster resident, advocate for strong healthcare protections wins backing of healthcare workers with 1199SEIU 

Boston, Mass. (November 27, 2017) – The executive council of 1199SEIU has voted to endorse Democrat Sue Chalifoux Zephir for the 11-community Worcester and Suffolk Senate seat vacated by Sen. Jennifer Flanagan.

The special election will be held Dec. 5.

Chalifoux Zephir is the executive director of the non-profit food pantry Ginny’s Helping Hand, and has been a long-time volunteer and board member at the Leominster Education Foundation, Leominster Public Library and Our Father’s House.

“Sue’s long history of advocacy for the homeless, the hungry, for education and for children speaks loudly and really resonates with our members,” said Tyrék D. Lee, Sr., Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East. “But her strong advocacy on behalf of quality healthcare for all Massachusetts residents made this a very easy and very enthusiastic choice for our members.”

Chalifoux Zephir has called access to quality healthcare “the most important issue facing seniors and families today,” saying that quality healthcare is too expensive and far out of reach for too many families. She has said hospital layoffs and elimination of beds is the wrong strategy to hold down costs and has refused to take campaign contributions from pharmaceutical companies.

“In the State Senate, I’ll fight prescription drug price-gouging, protect women’s access to health care, guarantee high-quality health care for our veterans, and invest in programs that help seniors age in their homes,” Chalifoux Zephir said.

She has been endorsed by Fitchburg Mayor Stephen DiNatale and by US Sen. Elizabeth Warren along with a host of local political, business and non-profit leaders.

“Our members will be out working hard for Sue, and we hope everyone who cares about high quality, affordable healthcare will be with there with us,” added Lee.

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Representing more than 56,000 healthcare workers throughout Massachusetts and over 400,000 workers across the East Coast, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. Our mission is to achieve affordable, high quality healthcare for all. 1199SEIU is part of the 2.1 million member Service Employees International Union.