Following IUOE and HTC, The United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 Endorses Surging Liu Campaign

QUEENS, NY (TIP): Citing Liu’s effective leadership as a true progressive Democrat, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) Local 1500, New York State’s largest grocery workers union with 23,000 members, today announced its endorsement of John Liu to be the next State Senator for the 11th District.

“Working families in Northeast Queens need an honest, hardworking, and aggressive fighter for the community that is true to the Democratic Party and will stand up for a strong, progressive agenda in Albany. John Liu will fight against wage theft, work hard to keep Wal-Mart out of New York City, and stand alongside our members to raise the wage of the working class in the district,” said UFCW Local 1500 President Bruce W. Both.

“As New York City Comptroller, John Liu fought hard for low-wage workers and the middle class.We are confident that John will be aggressive in defending the American Dream and the values of the Democratic Party,” said Anthony Speelman, Secretary Treasurer of UFCW Local 1500. “As we begin this campaign in earnest, I am humbled by the incredible support we are receiving from our brothers and sisters in the labor movement.

It’s an honor to have the endorsement of the hardworking men and women of UFCW Local 1500,” said progressive Democrat John Liu. “UFCW has been a leader in the fight to bring better jobs to our city, raise the minimum wage and defend the hardworking families of our city. Together, we can finally bring real progressive change in Albany on behalf of the people of New York.”

The UFCW endorsement comes days after progressive Democrat John Liu officially kicked off his campaign for State Senate. He has already picked up the endorsement of the New York City Coalition of Operating Engineers,

which represents 18,000 crane and heavy equipment operators (Locals 14 and 15); stationary engineers (Locals 30 and 94); school custodians (Local 891); and New York City building inspectors (Local 211). Liu also earned the coveted endorsement of the New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council, AFL-CIO (HTC) with 50,000-plus workers and retirees, and is known for its highly sophisticated political operation.

UFCW 1500 promotes progressive policies such as demanding Wal-Mart be held accountable for it’s unethical business practices, supporting the expansion of supermarkets into underserved communities, and creating good food, good jobs and good health for all New Yorkers. Other issues of importance to Local 1500 members include aggressive wage theft prosecution, demanding labor standards be attached to corporate subsidies and raising the federal minimum wage.

The Local union represents over 23,000 members in New York City, Long Island, Westchester, Putnam, and Dutchess Counties and is based out of Westbury, NY. Members of Local 1500 are employed by Pathmark, King Kullen, Stop and Shop, Gristedes, Fairway, D’Agostinos, Key Food, and Shoprite.