SEIU Workers Back Candidates Committed to Rebuilding California in Statewide Office Races

Coming on the heels of SEIU California’s endorsement of Jerry Brown for Governor late last month, today’s announcement means SEIU’s 700,000 members have now completed their endorsements for statewide office candidates. 
Gamaliel Andrade, a Cafeteria Worker at Murchison Elementary School said, “We working people have made our choice. Our families have felt the brunt of this long, painful recession and need leaders who have a plan to help us Rebuild California and to invest in our children and our future.” 
Today’s endorsements finalize the democratic choice of SEIU members, thousands of whom participated in a direct process of interviewing, debating about, and voting on candidates.
“We looked for candidates who understand the importance of living up to our commitments to the elderly and people with disabilities.  We need leaders who will fight to preserve the lifeline of quality home care for our parents, grandparents, and people with disabilities,” said Ana Duarte, Secretary-Treasurer of SEIU United Long-Term Care Workers (ULTCW), which represents 180,000 home care workers in California.  
More than 2000 members of the SEIU California’s local unions participated in the first-of-its-kind “Rebuild California” town hall from 11 locations across California.  Janitors, social workers, security officers, home care workers, school and university employees, healthcare workers, and city, county and state employees posed tough questions to candidates for Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Insurance Commissioner, and Superintendent of Public Instruction.  
As part of SEIU’s endorsement process, candidates seeking the union’s support also participated in the “Walk a Day” program where they worked alongside SEIU janitors, home care workers, cafeteria workers and others to see first-hand what working families do day-in and day-out to support their families and serve our communities. 
“We need candidates who understand the issues faced by working families,” said Rosa Beltran, a janitor and member of SEIU United Service Workers West. “Making sure that everyone has healthcare, good schools, living wages, safe neighborhoods, and a chance to go to college is the only way to Rebuild California.”