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Largest, fastest growing healthcare union in America praises Coakley for commitment to building a fair economy

BOSTON – Attorney General Martha Coakley, candidate for governor, today received the endorsement of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East based on her longstanding leadership on key issues such as lowering healthcare costs, improving jobs and training in the healthcare sector, creating a more fair economy by raising the minimum wage, and providing paid sick time for all workers.

Representing nearly 50,000 healthcare workers throughout Massachusetts and nearly 400,000 workers across the East Coast, 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America.

"1199SEIU knows that in order to build a fair economy that offers every one of our residents the opportunity to succeed, we must create good jobs at good wages and quality, affordable health care," said Attorney General Coakley. "Those will be my priorities as Governor. I am grateful for 1199SEIU's endorsement and look forward to working with them to move the Massachusetts economy forward."

“Healthcare workers are proud to stand with Martha Coakley because she shares our values of promoting quality, affordable healthcare for Massachusetts residents and ensuring that healthcare industry jobs are good jobs,” said 1199SEIU Executive Vice President Veronica Turner.

1199SEIU is considered by many to be the state’s most politically active union. Its broad and diverse member volunteer base spans from Cape Cod to Western Massachusetts. 1199SEIU caregivers have played a key role in increasing voter participation in urban neighborhoods and Massachusetts gateway cities in recent elections.

1199SEIU caregivers conducted a transparent, member-driven endorsement process which included a gubernatorial forum that was open to the press and broadcast online to the public through in conjunction with MassLive.com and the Springfield Republican.

As Attorney General, Coakley has fought to increase the quality of care for patients while also supporting training opportunities for incumbent healthcare workers. In 2010, Coakley issued a landmark report on the significant cost drivers of the healthcare system that helped steer the debate on solutions to control costs for families and businesses.

In making the endorsement, caregivers also cited Coakley’s work holding Wall Street and big banks accountable – including her office recovering more than $440 million for Massachusetts homeowners and taxpayers and helping to keep more than 15,000 people in their homes.

On Thursday, Coakley will address hundreds of 1199SEIU caregivers at the union's headquarters in Dorchester as part of the union’s annual Healthcare Worker Advocacy Day. For more information on that event or press credentials, contact Jeff Hall.

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Representing nearly 50,000 healthcare workers throughout Massachusetts and nearly 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.

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