KENSINGTON, MD – This morning, Senator Van Hollen’s re-election campaign announced the endorsements of fourteen labor unions on the local and national levels crediting his leadership on critical issues for frontline workers and public servants. In announcing their support for another term in the United States Senate, all pointed to his lifetime of work as an effective leader fighting for the rights of Marylanders on the job and, those working to keep us moving forward during this global pandemic. Today’s endorsements include the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) District Council 4 and District Council 14, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 3, Maryland & Washington, D.C. State Association of Letter Carriers (MDSALC), National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), 32BJ SEIU, 1199 SEIU, SEIU Local 400, SEIU Local 500, SEIU Local 722 and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 27, UFCW Local 400, and UFCW Local 1994.
In the Senate, Chris Van Hollen has pushed to increase wages for hard-working Americans, fought for collective bargaining rights so they have a seat at the table, and advocated for policies to make everyday expenses more affordable. He has a strong record of standing up for legislation to lower costs and cut taxes for working families while preventing the very wealthy and big corporations from avoiding paying taxes so we can use those resources to invest in America’s future economic growth. In Congress, he commits himself each day to moving policies forward that help our workers and families like the Child Tax Credit, workplace safety standards, and measures to bring down out-of-pocket costs on health care, childcare, housing, and prescription drugs. Each union hailed Senator Van Hollen’s support for key provisions in the American Rescue Plan to beat back this pandemic with federal resources to keep workers safe as they performed jobs on the front lines, including manning our hospitals, transit systems, grocery stores, and government operations, and delivering our mail in the face of the pandemic.
Senator Van Hollen said, “Having the tens of thousands of workers represented by these labor unions supporting my re-election means so much. Their members have helped keep our country moving for generations and they stepped up during these unprecedented times. Each stood with me as we fought and helped secure passage of the American Rescue Plan with vital funding for economic relief to help Maryland families and workers with direct support payments, rental and food assistance, and critical supplies and aid to help beat the virus, improve accessibility and equity of vaccine distribution, and keep our workers safe. Together, we will continue to build on the progress we have made to continue to support their workers and their families.”
National Vice President, Ottis Johnson District 14 and National Vice President, Dan Doyle District 4 of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) said, “Senator Van Hollen has always been in AFGE’s corner on issues such as pay increases, employee benefits, and paid parental leave for Federal workers. Senator Van Hollen understands the sacrifices of public sector workers and has worked tirelessly on safe working conditions for workers and their families. AFGE District 14 and District 4 are proud to endorse Senator Van Hollen.”
Patrick Moran, President of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 3 said “Senator Van Hollen has been a champion for all AFSCME members and all working families. When the pandemic hit and our members on the frontlines were at risk, we knew we could count on Sen. Van Hollen in Washington. Time and time again he has delivered for working people and has been critical to the recovery efforts here in Maryland. AFSCME Council 3 is proud to endorse Sen. Van Hollen.”
International President of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) John A. Costa endorsed Van Hollen stating, “For more than three decades, since your early days in the State Legislature, to your seven terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, and now in the Senate, you have been a champion for the middle class, proving time and time again that your dedication to the needs of Maryland’s working families runs deep. You have always been a strong supporter of organized labor, pushing for passage of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act to provide a more level playing field so that an increased number of workers can join unions and have a better chance to successfully fight for their wages, benefits, and working conditions. In addition, you are one of the leading supporters of public transportation on Capitol Hill, most recently playing a leading role in securing nearly $70 billion in emergency Covid relief funds to keep transit systems running and save our members’ jobs during the pandemic. And of course, as the leading Senate sponsor of the Transit Worker and Pedestrian Protection Act, which was included in President Biden’s critical infrastructure bill, you have saved countless lives and ensured that our members will now have a voice on the job, enhancing safety for thousands of workers who have been the victims of vicious attacks for far too long. We cannot thank you enough for your leadership. For all these reasons and more, we proudly endorse your campaign for reelection and pledge to mobilize our members in Maryland to ensure that you will continue as Senator for the next six years, and beyond.”
The Maryland & Washington, D.C. State Association of Letter Carriers’ President Doreen Carter said, “The Maryland State Association of Letter Carriers is proud to endorse you for the Maryland Senate seat in the U.S. Senate. Your continued support for the United States Postal Service and the National Association of Letter Carriers demonstrates that you are a true champion and friend of not only the 4,697+ letter carriers across Maryland, but also to the 290,000 active and retired letter carriers across the country. We appreciate that you stand with us on our issues, and we are proud to stand with you.”
While supporting Senator Van Hollen’s re-election, Anthony Reardon, National President of the NTEU, stated, “I am pleased to inform you that the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), representing approximately 150,000 federal workers across 34 government agencies, endorses your campaign for reelection to the U.S. Senate. Throughout your career you have fought along with us to ensure that federal employees are treated with dignity and respect and that the federal government is a model employer that provides competitive pay and benefits. As Chair of the Senate Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over many NTEU-represented agencies and matters affecting the civil service, you have used your position to promote fairness and justice for union members. And as the nation continues to face a global pandemic, you have continued to show your commitment to workers by leading the way on critical issues like telework and emergency paid leave.”
To endorse Senator Van Hollen, 32BJ SEIU, 1199 SEIU, SEIU Local 400, SEIU Local 500, SEIU Local 722 made a joint statement noting, “Service Employees International Union Chris Van Hollen has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with our workers in the fight for good-paying jobs, fair workplaces, and equal justice. Chris partnered with our members to pass and defend the Affordable Care Act and have been a steadfast supporter of the Fight for $15. During the pandemic, when SEIU members have been on the frontlines in hospitals, long-term care facilities, childcare, airports and the service industry, Chris fought for personal protective equipment, resources for providers, and relief to keep workers paid through shutdowns and closures. We are proud to continue to work with Chris to expand affordable childcare and long-term care.”
In their letter of support, UFCW Local No. 1994’s President & International Vice President Gino Renne, UFCW Local No. 400 President & International Vice President Mark Federici, and UFCW Local No. 27’s President Jason Chorpenning wrote, “UFCW Local Unions 1994, 400, and 27, are proud to extend an endorsement for the advocacy and actions you have continued to demonstrate to the working families of Maryland. UFCW Local Unions 1994, 400, and 27, represent over 25,000 union members across Maryland working in grocery, retail, hospitality, public sector, and nursing. Our members are frontline workers and are dependent upon your continued interest, advocacy, and support in creating and maintaining worker-friendly legislation and programs that support their hard work and well-being. From your support of the PRO ACT to fighting for affordable housing to supporting universal Pre-K, you have always been on the side of working families. You have led the charge to increase paychecks and benefits for working families and cut the costs of prescription drugs. We know that you will continue to fight for the working families across Maryland. We applaud your efforts and look forward to working, supporting, and advocating forward – together.”