Lieutenant governor candidate Williams. Photo credit: William Alatriste. Flickr
Jumaane Williams, a candidate in the race for New York lieutenant governor has won the endorsement of District Council 37 SSEU Local 371. This is the second largest local union within DC 37, representing over 10,000 New Yorkers.
SSEU Local 371 is the second union to endorse Williams’ progressive insurgent campaign in the Democratic primary for Lt. Governor. Unlike in past years, the DC 37 governing body did not endorse a candidate for this year’s lieutenant governor race. As a result, the 51 local unions are make individual endorsements.
“New York needs a fighter, and Jumaane Williams is a passionate champion for working families,” Anthony Wells, President of Local 371, said. “His activist voice, legislative victories, and vision to become the People’s Lieutenant Governor make him an exceptional leader, and we are proud to endorse him today.”
Williams has a long history of supporting unions and the causes of working people while in the New York City Council, standing up for workers’ rights against corporate greed and in the face of strong opposition. He has also worked closely with unions to pass landmark legislation on worker safety and other basic rights of employees.
“I have always stood strong with unions, and it is an honor to have DC 37 Local 371 stand with me today,” Williams said . “It takes courage to stand up against the politics of the past and embrace a bold vision for the future of New York, and I am grateful to the membership and leaders of Local 371 for their support of my effort to change Albany and be a bold voice for working people across the state.”
Williams is challenging Lt. Gov Kathy Hochul.
The Williams campaign has previously received the endorsement of DC 1707 AFSCME, a union representing childcare and homecare workers as well as additional social services employees.
This endorsement builds on a series of political endorsements received over the past week, including the Brooklyn Young Democrats, West Harlem Democratic Club, Muslim Democratic Club, The Jewish Vote, Community Voices Heard Power, and The Center for Popular Democracy Action.
