Change to Win Unions Put Yvette Clarke Over the Top

Local Union Members Turn Out in Force to Campaign and Vote for Pro-Worker Candidate

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, September 13, 2006

CONTACTS:
Carole Florman, CtW, 202-262-1513
Matt Nerzig, SEIU Local 32BJ 212-539-2882
Ana Polanco, UNITE HERE 212-265-7000

Brooklyn, NY -- Hundreds of union members of Change to Win's local affiliates knocking on more than 10,000 doors over the last two weeks helped ensure a winning margin for 11th congressional district candidate Yvette Clarke.

The army of union members from Local 6 of UNITE HERE, SEIU Locals 32BJ  and 1199, Local 1500 of the United Food and Commercial Workers, the Laborers Union, and Teamsters Joint Council 16, and UNITE HERE, endorsed Clarke in August, based on her positions on issues critical to working families. The endorsement followed a formal process during which each of the four candidates for the nomination was interviewed by representatives of the local unions and evaluated on their commitment to increasing affordable housing, fighting for universal healthcare and protecting labor rights including the right to organize.

Yvette Clarke won the Democratic primary nomination with 31.20% or 14,946 votes. Clarke's victory is also a significant one for the new federation, which mobilized thousands of its affiliate's members in the district.  Grassroots efforts of its CtW local affiliates ensured that every one of those members was provided with information in support of Clarke's candidacy by mail, phone or by in-person contacts.

According to 1199 SEIU President Dennis Rivera, "We are very proud that Change to Win and its affiliates played such a decisive role in Yvette Clark's victory."  Teamsters Joint Council 16 President Gary LaBarbera said "Change to Win has shown that it can be a force in New York politics."

"We're really excited by the outcome of this election," said Peter Ward, Manager of UNITE HERE Local 6.  We knew that if our Change to Win unions came together to support a pro-worker candidate we could make the difference, and Yvette Clarke's victory shows that we were right."

Our election day volunteer corps of more than 160 union members worked hard for Yvette Clarke's victory," said Kyle Bragg, Local 32BJ Vice President.  "Cleaners, security officers and property service workers are getting a strong advocate in Congress for a living wage and affordable health care.     

Yvette Clarke will run unopposed for the U.S. Congressional seat currently held by Representative Major Owens in November.