PITTSBURGH-After racking up a long list of endorsements including Mayor Bill Peduto and County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Rep. Erin Molchany gained even more momentum on Saturday with the endorsement of two major local unions.
Two SEIU unions jointly representing 50,000 in Pennsylvania—32BJ SEIU, a service workers’ union and SEIU Healthcare PA, Pennsylvania’s largest healthcare union—Saturday announced their joint endorsement of Rep. Molchany for the 36th district.
“We need to keep Rep. Molchany in Harrisburg fighting back against Governor Corbett’s drastic education cuts and securing transportation funding that will keep Pittsburgh moving, ” said Sam Williamson, 32BJ District Director. “Rep. Molchany is a champion for working families and she knows that good jobs are the key to strengthening our economy. She knows how to get things done in our neighborhoods and in Harrisburg.”
“Erin Molchany is the kind of leader that Pittsburgh needs to hold UPMC accountable as a purely public charity, healthcare provider, and employer. She has stood behind UPMC workers in every step of their fight for good quality jobs at UPMC, our region’s largest employer,” said Neal Bisno, President SEIU Healthcare PA. “She is helping to lead the fight to ensure that our non-profit hospitals, like UPMC, remain open to everyone, regardless of the color of your insurance card.”
Known for their politically active memberships, the SEIU locals vowed to put “boots on the ground” everyday in Rep. Molchany’s district. The group Saturday kicked off a door-to-door voter outreach program aimed at knocking on 16,000 doors by the primary.
“I am extremely honored that the working men and women of two of the most active SEIU locals in the nation decided to join my reelection effort,” said Rep. Molchany. “I have been an engaged and visible part of the efforts to hold UPMC accountable to our community, and I have stood with the membership of SEIU as they fought for fair wages and better working conditions. I feel very proud when I think of the successes we have won, but there is still so much more to do. I look forward to continuing to fight for our values in Harrisburg.”
Although Molchany faces a challenging race due to drastic re-districting of the 36th district, there has been no shortage of support from community groups, labor unions and elected officials.
County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, State Senator Wayne Fontana, City Council, President Bruce Kraus, Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak who were on hand to celebrate the newest Molchany endorsement.
“Erin Molchany has the type of energy and enthusiasm we need in Harrisburg to move this region forward,” said County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. “Her work to get a transportation bill passed has ensured that our transit system is running and is also putting funds into much needed road projects. Erin knows how to get things done.”
The new 36th District covers Mt. Oliver, Brentwood, and portions of Baldwin. The district also includes the South Pittsburgh neighborhoods of Arlington, Bon Air, Brookline, Carrick, Overbrook, Mt. Washington, Southside Flats, Southside Slopes, and St. Clair.
With 145,000 members in eleven states and Washington, D.C., including 22,000 in Pennsylvania, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country.
SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania is the state’s largest and fastest growing union of health care workers, representing 25,000 nurses, technicians, nursing assistants, and support staff in hospitals, nursing homes and public institutions across the Commonwealth. SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania is committed to improving the lives of health care workers and ensuring quality, affordable health care for all Pennsylvanians.
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