FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Contact: Kristi Barnes | kristi.barnes@nysna.org | 646-853-4489
As #LaborStrong2021, a group of five unions will endorse at least 26 candidates for NYC Council
New York - Five unions representing some 362,000 essential workers who have been on the front lines keeping our city running and safe throughout the pandemic are coming together to endorse at least 26 City Council candidates together to form a powerful bloc in the 2021 elections.
Under the name #LaborStrong2021, the unions — SEIU 32BJ, CWA, DC37, HTC and NYSNA — will be endorsing together for the first time ever at least 26 City Council candidates, and supporting them in an effort to elect a pro-worker majority so the next City Council can develop and promote policies for a worker-led recovery for our city.
The five unions, which all have strong political programs, represent majority Black and brown workers such as nurses, security officers, civil servants, hospitality and telecommunications workers, some of the hardest hit health wise and economically by the coronavirus pandemic.
Members for the #LaborStrong2021 unions said they want Council members who will advance budgeting, policies and projects that create safe and healthy work environments, defend and increase quality jobs with good wages and benefits for New Yorkers, and support workers' rights to organize and have a strong collective voice in the workplace and in their communities.
Leaders for the five unions that are part of member strong spoke in support of the coalition's vital work.
"Essential workers have kept New York afloat during the pandemic and have shown the essential power of their work and their vote,” said SEIU 32BJ President Kyle Bragg. “We are proud to come together with our union brothers and sisters to support a majority of City Council members to help our city recover in ways that bolster working people all over the city."
"CWA District 1 is proud to join in this historic partnership to elect a pro-labor majority in the New York City Council," said Dennis Trainor, Vice President CWA District 1. "As the backbone of this city, workers deserve a Council that will prioritize our voices and our needs."
“A labor friendly majority in the City Council is key to ensuring workers are placed at the forefront of our City's recovery from the pandemic," said DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido. "The collective power of our members speaking in unison will make a profound difference in these races and we welcome the new partnership with our labor family.”
"HTC is proud to join this effort to ensure that the council members we elect in 2021 share our commitment to lifting up the city’s working people," said HTC President Rich Maroko. "Together, our unions intend to elect a city council who we know will have our members’ backs during New York City’s pandemic recovery."
"NYSNA is proud to stand with our sisters and brothers in public and private sector unions to elect a truly pro-labor majority to the New York City Council," said NYSNA President Judy Sheridan-Gonzalez, RN. "We learned through the first wave of COVID-19 that if we don’t stand together, we will be treated as expendable. We need a City Council that puts working New Yorkers and our communities first."
New York's primary elections are scheduled to take place June 22, 2021.
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With 175,000 members, including 85,000 in New York, SEIU 32BJ is the largest building services union in the country.
The Communications Workers of America represents 700,000 working men and women in telecommunications, customer service, healthcare, media, airlines, public service and manufacturing. District One represents 65,000 total members in New York State.
DC 37 is New York City's largest public employee union, represents about 150,000 members and 50,000 retirees.
The Hotel Trades Council (HTC) is the union for New York’s hotel and casino workers, representing almost 40,000 housekeepers, servers, front desk agents, bartenders, and slot attendants.
The New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) represents more than 42,000 members in New York State. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. For more information, visit nysna.org.
