Fifteen Labor Unions from Across the State and Country Strongly Endorse Van Hollen
KENSINGTON, MD – Today, Senator Chris Van Hollen announced fifteen international and local labor unions that strongly endorse his re-election to represent Maryland in the United States Senate. Each union recognized Senator Van Hollen’s record as an effective leader who has stood up for fair wages and benefits for Marylanders, supported the expansion of collective bargaining, and fought to pass the American Rescue Plan and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act delivering more opportunities for Marylanders. The infrastructure bill alone includes more than $7 billion for Maryland’s roads, bridges, the Port of Baltimore, water systems, tunnels, transit, and more. Chris understands that those investments go hand-in-hand with strengthening workers’ rights and passing the PRO Act, legislation the Senator has cosponsored to expand collective bargaining.
“It’s an honor to have the endorsement of these union leaders representing thousands of hard-working Marylanders in the building trades and construction as well as our longshoremen and auto workers. These workers keep Maryland’s economy moving and are true partners in the fight for our shared priorities and in defending the rights of union members and their families. Together, we worked to pass a historic infrastructure modernization plan that is already delivering good-paying jobs for more Marylanders and building out the physical backbone of our country. I’ll continue working with them to ensure that hardworking Americans can bargain for good wages, essential benefits and safe workplaces. We must build a more inclusive economy with more shared prosperity.” said Senator Van Hollen.
Today’s endorsements include the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 26, International Longshoremen’s Associations (ILA) Local 333, 953, and 1429, Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA), Teamsters Joint Council 55 and Local 730, United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States Locals 5, 486, 489, 602, and 689, and the United Auto Workers (UAW).
The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters endorsed Senator Van Hollen with Executive Secretary-Treasurer, William Sproule, saying, “Chris Van Hollen is receiving the endorsement of our union because we share a common desire to protect workers’ rights in our region and the country as a whole. Making sure that working class families receive a fair wage, good benefits, and the safe working conditions they deserve seems like common sense, but Chris understands there are those who actively take steps to weaken workers’ rights. Their actions weaken our local standard of living and our communities. Our union looks forward to advocating for these rights with Chris as well as fighting against construction industry tax fraud, so-called right-to-work legislation, misclassification of workers, coerced labor, and more. By working with leaders like Chris Van Hollen, we can protect fair standards and protect working families.
In endorsing Senator Van Hollen, IBEW Local 26’s Business Manager, George Hogan, said, “Senator Van Hollen has supported our joint apprenticeship programs, recognizing that IBEW Local 26 offers world class training that gives people an opportunity to gain a middle-class career. Chris also recognizes our Union’s efforts to grow union minority-owned contractors and to reach out to members of underserved communities. In addition to fighting for our Union and for the building trades in general, Senator Van Hollen has voted for the PRO Act to protect the right of all workers to join unions. He has called for hazard pay for frontline workers, has proposed safety measures for workers, and has urged Met Warrior to reach a settlement with striking miners. For every issue and every battle, Senator Van Hollen has been there for working people. Therefore, we enthusiastically endorse Senator Van Hollen for election to the U.S. Senate.”
And Scott Cowan, International Vice President of the International Longshoremen’s Association President on behalf of Locals 333, 953, and 1429 stated “We appreciate your steadfast support of the Port of Baltimore and the good jobs it sustains in our state. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, you have delivered resources to maintain the channel to the Port and fought to secure federal funding to upgrade the Howard Street Tunnel to allow for increased cargo capacity. And you worked to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which will deliver $17 billion to ports across the country and spur jobs for longshoremen and maritime workers. The bottom line is that you have stood with the men and women who work hard every day to make our Port a great engine of commerce, and we stand with you.”
On behalf of Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA), Dennis Martire, Vice President and Regional Manager, said, “On behalf of the 500,000 men and women of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA), I am proud to announce our endorsement of Chris Van Hollen for re-election to the United States Senate this year. Senator Van Hollen is a champion for working families and all Marylanders and has been there for Laborer’s time and time again. We need him to serve another term in the U.S. Senate to keep up the fight for workers and unions.”
With Teamsters Local 730 and Teamsters Joint Council 55’s endorsement, Ritchie Brooks, president of Teamsters Local 730 said, “Senator Chris Van Hollen has been a champion on the issues that matter most to working people: good wages and benefits, a safe work environment and the right to organize. Chris Van Hollen stood with us to defend the dignity of work and we stand with him now as he runs for re-election to the Senate. He has been a strong supporter of the PRO Act to level the playing field for workers who want to join a union and he represents the values of the thousands of hard-working members. For these and other reasons, Teamsters Local 730 and the Teamsters Joint Council 55 are proud to support Senator Chris Van Hollen for re-election.”
Mark McManus, General President of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada (UA) on behalf of UA and Local 5, Local 486, Local 489, Local 602, and Local 669 stated, “Chris Van Hollen’s work to close corporate loopholes and to crack down on unscrupulous contractors helps more Marylanders put food on the table and send their kids to college; Chris’s work to protect Davis-Bacon provisions and expand collective bargaining means our members can earn fair wages and benefits. I have the utmost confidence in your ability to continue to put working families like ours first, and of your commitment to fighting for Marylanders every day in Washington, D.C. Our members throughout Maryland – from Local 5, Local 486, Local 489, Local 602, and Local 669 – are proud to stand with you as you run for another term representing Marylanders in the United States Senate.”
On behalf of the United Auto Workers, Mark Dowell, UAW Region 8 CAP Coordinator, noted “The United Auto Workers Community Action Program (CAP) endorses you in your election bid for Senate. The CAP endorsement is based upon your support for the interests of Maryland’s working families and your commitment of continued support for the efforts of the United Auto Workers’ union members.”