Thursday, July 31, 2008

CWA District 1 Endorses Addabbo For Senate Seat - Queens Chronicle

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Photo left: City Councilman Joseph Addabbo Jr., who is running for the state Senate, was endorsed by the Communication Workers of America, District 1. (photo by Stephen Geffon)

In front of a cheering crowd at a rally at the Verizon building in lower Manhattan, the Communication Workers of America, District 1 reiterated their endorsement of City Councilman Joseph Addabbo Jr., who is running for for the 15th state Senate District seat.

“This is the guy to vote for, he’s here for us,” said CWA District 1 Vice President Chris Shelton.As chairman of the City Council’s Civil Service and Labor Committee,Addabbo condemned outsourcing and joined the call for fair pay and health care benefits.

"We need to keep jobs in New York, and we need to keep working families in New York,” he said. “The rising cost of living has made life in New York near impossible, and I will fight for fair pay.

“I will fight for paid family leave, increased aid for education so our children can get the skills they need for the 21st century, and health care coverage for our working men and women. I stand with labor here today, and with your support, next year in Albany.”

Noting that the effects of the foreclosure crisis, combined with soaring gas prices and a receding economy have wreaked havoc on working families, Bob Master, political director of the CWA District 1echoed the call for new leadership in state government.

“Joe Addabbo will shake up Albany and deliver for working people,” he said. “Albany and Serph Maltese have failed New York City. It’s time for a change; it’s time for Joe Addabbo.”

There are 180,000 members of CWA District 1, which encompasses theentire Northeast. In New York Senate District 15 alone, which includes the Queens communities of Howard Beach, Ridgewood, Richmond Hill, Ozone Park, South Ozone Park, Maspeth, Glendale, parts of Elmhurst and Sunnyside, there are more than 1,200 CWA members.