1199SEIU was the first major union to endorse a mayoral candidate, and its over 200,000 members in NYC played a pivotal role in building support and energy for de Blasio
New York City- The nurses and healthcare workers of 1199SEIU have been celebrating Bill de Blasio’s primary victory, and are pledging to redouble their efforts to ensure he is the next mayor of New York City. 1199SEIU was the first major union to endorse a mayoral candidate, and as the largest union in New York City, its over 200,000 members played a pivotal role in de Blasio’s victory. There was broad support in every neighborhood for the vision articulated by de Blasio’s campaign: good jobs with a living wage and paid sick days, affordable housing, access to community healthcare, respectful and effective policing, and asking the 1% to pay their fair share so we can invest in quality education for our children.
“I worked to support Bill de Blasio because he’s always stood by homecare workers and he cares about working people,” said Margarita Pillot, a Bronx homecare worker and grandmother, who is originally from Puerto Rico and is one of 1199’s 100,000 registered Democrat members in New York City. “He actually asks questions and listens to the workers of New York. I have a very important job, I do everything for my clients so that they can live a good life, but I only make $9.50 an hour and can barely survive. Recently my hours were cut from 40 down to 9 hours a week. This isn’t safe for our clients and working people cannot feed ourselves on this pay. As a homecare worker, my clients and my union are my family. Now I want to welcome all the de Blasios to our union family so we can make New York a good city for everyone.”
1199SEIU recruited hundreds of volunteers, knocked on 70,000 doors, phone banked, ran a robust mail and online program, published newspaper ads and sponsored radio ads by Russell Simmons, John Leguizamo and the Pulitzer-Prize winning writer Junot Diaz.
In addition to this tremendous victory, 1199 members had other major successes, helping their candidates win every city-wide and borough-wide race where they endorsed, and 32 out of 40 city council races. In particular, 1199SEIU helped secure victories for Scott Stringer for Comptroller, Letitia James for Public Advocate (who they will help win a run-off), Melinda Katz for Queens Borough President and Ken Thompson for Brooklyn District Attorney.
“Last night’s vote was an affirmation by the people of Bill de Blasio’s vision – that all New Yorkers are connected to each other, and that in order for our city to move forward we need fairness and opportunity for everyone,” said 1199SEIU President George Gresham. This is a great sweep of victories for healthcare workers, our patients, our families and our communities, and we will continue building the strongest progressive voice for working people in New York and the nation.”
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1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest union in New York City and the largest healthcare union in the nation. We represent over 200,000 healthcare workers throughout all five boroughs, and over 400,000 total members along the East Coast. Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all.
New York City- The nurses and healthcare workers of 1199SEIU have been celebrating Bill de Blasio’s primary victory, and are pledging to redouble their efforts to ensure he is the next mayor of New York City. 1199SEIU was the first major union to endorse a mayoral candidate, and as the largest union in New York City, its over 200,000 members played a pivotal role in de Blasio’s victory. There was broad support in every neighborhood for the vision articulated by de Blasio’s campaign: good jobs with a living wage and paid sick days, affordable housing, access to community healthcare, respectful and effective policing, and asking the 1% to pay their fair share so we can invest in quality education for our children.
“I worked to support Bill de Blasio because he’s always stood by homecare workers and he cares about working people,” said Margarita Pillot, a Bronx homecare worker and grandmother, who is originally from Puerto Rico and is one of 1199’s 100,000 registered Democrat members in New York City. “He actually asks questions and listens to the workers of New York. I have a very important job, I do everything for my clients so that they can live a good life, but I only make $9.50 an hour and can barely survive. Recently my hours were cut from 40 down to 9 hours a week. This isn’t safe for our clients and working people cannot feed ourselves on this pay. As a homecare worker, my clients and my union are my family. Now I want to welcome all the de Blasios to our union family so we can make New York a good city for everyone.”
1199SEIU recruited hundreds of volunteers, knocked on 70,000 doors, phone banked, ran a robust mail and online program, published newspaper ads and sponsored radio ads by Russell Simmons, John Leguizamo and the Pulitzer-Prize winning writer Junot Diaz.
In addition to this tremendous victory, 1199 members had other major successes, helping their candidates win every city-wide and borough-wide race where they endorsed, and 32 out of 40 city council races. In particular, 1199SEIU helped secure victories for Scott Stringer for Comptroller, Letitia James for Public Advocate (who they will help win a run-off), Melinda Katz for Queens Borough President and Ken Thompson for Brooklyn District Attorney.
“Last night’s vote was an affirmation by the people of Bill de Blasio’s vision – that all New Yorkers are connected to each other, and that in order for our city to move forward we need fairness and opportunity for everyone,” said 1199SEIU President George Gresham. This is a great sweep of victories for healthcare workers, our patients, our families and our communities, and we will continue building the strongest progressive voice for working people in New York and the nation.”
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1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest union in New York City and the largest healthcare union in the nation. We represent over 200,000 healthcare workers throughout all five boroughs, and over 400,000 total members along the East Coast. Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all.
