June 3, 2013
By Stephanie West
Queens, NY— 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, announced its endorsement of Austin Shafran for City Council. Local 1199 representing over 220,000 workers in New York City.
Following the endorsement last week by the Hotel Trades Council, and previous endorsements by the Working Families Party, 32BJ, the NYC Central Labor Council, and Teamsters Joint Council 16, Shafran has built the strongest and most diverse coalition of support among the labor community and progressive organizations of any candidate in this hotly contested race.
“Austin is a real progressive who will fight hard for quality healthcare and good jobs for all working people,” said Kevin Finnegan, Political Director of 1199 SEIU. “As someone raised in a union household who spent his entire life working for the public, Austin has the right experience and strong values we need as a champion for workers and the middle class. We will work hard to get him elected to the City Council as a leading voice for progressive issues that matter to working families.”
