A new coalition of public and private unions, banding together under the name Working Families for Angel, on Monday announced their support for Angel Taveras' gubernatorial campaign.
Working Families for Angel says it plans to communicate with more than 16,000 union households through door-knocking, electronic communications and other means.
The coalition says it includes the Rhode Island State Association of Firefighters, International Association of Firefighters, AFL-CIO; RI Council 94, American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO; United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 328; United Food and Commercial Workers, Local 791; International Brotherhood of Police Officers, National Association of Government Employees, SEIU, AFL-CIO; Service Employees International Union, Local 580, AFL-CIO; Brotherhood of Utility Workers Council, Local 310, United Utility Workers of America, AFL-CIO; and International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 400, AFL-CIO.
In a joint statement, Michael Downey president of ASCME's Council 94, the largest union of state employees, and Paul Reed, president of the Rhode Island State Association of Fire Fighters, said, “Angel Taveras is the only Democratic candidate in this race who knows the stresses working families are under. Angel was raised by a single mother; his first job was a unionized bagger and cashier at a grocery store; worked his way through law school; and as Mayor has collaboratively solved problems with his employees to move Providence forward. We will convey this message to our members and their families, utilizing every communication avenue possible and look forward to the Democratic Primary Election on September 9th. We are confident that come Election Day our members’ voices will be heard.”
The National Education Association Rhode Island, a significant force in elected Lincoln Chafee governor in 2010, is strongly behind Clay Pell's Democratic gubernatorial campaign. Gina Raimondo, meanwhile, has won endorsements from 10 labor groups.
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