February 19, 2013
Susan Smith
UFCW Local 1500, New York State’s largest grocery workers Union, has announced its endorsement of Democrat Austin Shafran for City Council.
“This is a high-priority Council race for our members, and we know that Austin is the candidate who will fight the hardest to strengthen and expand the middle class,” said Bruce W. Both, President of UFCW Local 1500.
“Austin has consistently stood up for policies and legislation that will improve the lives of working families in Northeast Queens and throughout New York,” said Patrick Purcell, Assistant to the President of UFCW Local 1500. Austin understands our priorities very deeply because they are his priorities, too. Protecting workers from wage theft, holding Wal-Mart accountable for its irresponsible business practices and fighting for equality in the workplace are just a few of the many values our members share with Austin. We will campaign aggressively for him and do everything in our power to help him win,” Purcell concluded.
“I am deeply humlbed and honored to have the endorsement of a union whose members and leader have done so much for working families. Retail is one of the fastest-growing sectors of our local economy, and I plan to work closely with Local 1500 to improve the quality and quanitity of retail jobs that are the backbone of a strong middle-class-first economy,” said Austin Shafran.
