32BJ Endorses Eric Schneiderman For Attorney General

A press release from candidate for Attorney General, State Senator Eric T. Schneidernan:

 

 

NEW YORK CITY - Momentum is growing as 32BJ SEIU, the largest private-sector union in New York, today announced its support for lifelong Democratic Senator Eric Schneiderman for Attorney General. In its first endorsement announcement in the 2010 state elections, the union committed to a voter outreach campaign, including mailings, door-to-door canvassing outreach and member mobilization in support of Schneiderman’s election.

 

“From creating good jobs to fighting corruption, Senator Schneiderman has been a champion for working New Yorkers,” said Mike Fishman, 32BJ President. 32BJ represents more than 70,000 workers in New York. “32BJ will work tirelessly to help elect Eric Schneiderman as our next Attorney General.”

 

Citing Schneiderman’s record as a lifelong progressive, leaders and members of 32BJ joined forces today at City Hall in NYC for the endorsement. The union praised Schneiderman for fighting for issues important to New York’s working families, including raising the state’s minimum wage, taking on mortgage fraud and the foreclosure crisis, protecting immigrants from deceptive business practices, reforming Wall Street and fighting insurance industry abuses. Schneiderman is currently the prime sponsor of a senate bill that would ensure the state’s public utilities create good jobs for New Yorkers.

 

“I am so deeply honored to have earned the endorsement of the hardworking men and women of 32BJ,” said Eric Schneiderman. “As Attorney General, I will continue my lifelong commitment to working families and social justice, and ending a system where there is one set of rules for the powerful and another for everyone else. I thank the members of this great union for their support – you can count on me to fight every single day to protect working families.”

 

With 70,000 members in New York, 32BJ is known for its strength in mobilizing members and voters to support endorsed candidates. During the 2008 state elections, the union spent more than $350,000 in ads and direct mail in key races. In addition, hundreds of members volunteered to speak with voters about the union’s endorsed candidates.

 

This endorsement is part of 32BJ’s “State that Works” program – a policy agenda focused on creating good jobs and an affordable state through economic development, contracting and tax abatement programs. 32BJ will be continuing its efforts to elect candidates supportive of the State that Works in the Fall elections. With more than 120,000 members, including 70,000 in New York, 32BJ is the largest private sector union in the state.

 

With widespread support from a broad and diverse coalition of progressive New Yorkers and the unanimous endorsement of the state’s largest labor union, 1199/SEIU United Healthcare East, Schneiderman is building on momentum from the downstate launch of his campaign to be the state’s next Attorney General.

 

To date, Schneiderman has won the endorsement of over fifty federal, state and city elected officials including U.S. Representatives Jerry Nadler, Charles Rangel and Jose Serrano, Democratic Conference Leader John Sampson, NYC Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, NYC Council Speaker Christine Quinn, a host of prominent community activists, and labor unions including the Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association.