Boston–(ENEWSPF)–February 9, 2012. One of the largest grassroots labor organizations in Massachusetts, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), today announced its endorsement of Elizabeth Warren for U.S. Senate. Representing more than 75,000 healthcare workers, social workers, security officers, janitors and others across the Bay State, SEIU is committing to helping Warren win her election with a mandate to create and advance policies that help the 99 percent.
“Scott Brown went to Washington and in the blink of an eye broke his pledge to put aside party differences and be a champion for workers like me,” said Margarita Restrepo, a cleaner at the Whidden Memorial Hospital in Everett and member of SEIU Local 615. “Elizabeth Warren is different. She understands people like me because she has been fighting for middle class families, taking on big banks and working to save the American Dream her whole life. She never backs down and will never stop fighting for us.”
SEIU endorsed Warren following a member-driven process that included a candidate forum on Saturday, February 4, attended by hundreds of members from across the state. Senator Brown was invited to attend the forum but his campaign did not respond to repeated requests for his participation.
“I am delighted to receive the endorsement of SEIU’s 75,000 members,” Warren said. “I’ve worked closely with SEIU for years now – advocating for working families and fighting to get a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau created. I look forward to continuing to work with them to improve the lives of working men and women here in the Commonwealth and across the country.”
Instead of making it the people’s seat, Scott Brown used his vote to water down Wall Street reform, voted for cutting off help to unemployed workers and even voted for the extremist Tea Party budget that would have cost Massachusetts 17,000 jobs and cut Pell Grants for 135,000 Massachusetts students.
“It is time to reclaim the people’s seat,” said Veronica Turner, the Executive Vice-President of SEIU Local 1199. “SEIU members, like hardworking voters across the state, want a senator who will put the 99 percent first, believes every American deserves a good job to support their family and shares our vision that our country is better when we all do better. Elizabeth Warren will be that senator.”
The SEIU Massachusetts State Council includes members of SEIU Locals 1199, 615, 509, 888, Chapter 3FO and the Committee of Interns and Residents. The endorsement is for both the primary and general elections.
With 2.1 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers–not just corporations and CEOs–benefit from today’s global economy. www.seiu.org
Source: seiu.org
