HARTFORD, CT — The following statement may be attributed to Lenore Friedlaender, Assistant to the President of 32BJ SEIU and head of the union in the Hudson Valley.

“We are pleased the voters have once again chosen a strong slate of progressive candidates across the Hudson Valley in the municipal elections today. We extend warm congratulations to Mike Spano for his re-election in Yonkers, and Jenn Puja for the White Plains City Council. We also extend congratulations to our bipartisan slate of endorsed candidates for the Westchester County Board of Legislators, including Colin Smith, Kitley Covill, Vedat Gashi, and David Tubiolo all of whom members volunteered their time to support. We are proud to have secured an even greater progressive majority on the Board of Legislators,- with 15 out of 17 seats won by 32BJ endorsed candidates.

“These candidates’ victories mark a victory for hardworking residents of the Hudson Valley who wake up every morning to go to work looking for a better life for their families. Union workers have played a pivotal role in this year’s state and local elections. Just one year out from the national elections in November 2020, 32BJ SEIU members are strengthening their political muscle. Tuesday’s election victory comes on the heels of high-profile labor activity including the GM strike, Chicago teacher’s strikes and our Hudson Valley local’s successful inclusion of 500 new private security officers into 32BJ. Labor’s recent resurgence has been paralleled by the rise of successful campaigns for the rights of workers, immigrants, women, people-of-color, the LGBTQ community, and others often marginalized in our society. Tonight, we all rose up as one, and we will continue to do so through 2020 and beyond.”

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With more than 175,000 members in 11 states and Washington DC, including 4,500 in the Hudson Valley, 32BJ SEIU is the largest building service workers union in the country.