Newark, N.J. – 32BJ, one of the fastest-growing unions in New Jersey, announced today its endorsement of incumbent Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop as well as a slate of council candidates for the Nov. 7 election.

“Our members are proud to support leaders who will make sure the voices of working people are heard. As mayor, Steven Fulop has fought tirelessly for working families,” said Kevin Brown, vice president and New Jersey director of 32BJ SEIU. “He has also been a tireless advocate for immigrants living in Jersey City.”

As a strong supporter of working and middle-class families, Mayor Fulop and his council team have been instrumental in raising the minimum wage to $15. Fulop has also been an advocate for immigrants, declaring Jersey City a sanctuary city and signing a paid sick leave bill into law – becoming the first city in the state to do so.

Under Jersey City’s paid sick leave law, private businesses with 10 employees or more must begin to offer one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked.

“I’m both proud and thankful to have the support of 32BJ members, Fulop said. “My City Council colleagues and I will continue to fight for working families.”

For the Jersey City nonpartisan municipal elections, 32BJ SEIU is also endorsing the following candidates:

• Incumbent City Council President Rolando Lavarro for council; incumbent Councilman at Large Daniel Rivera; incumbent Councilwoman at Large Joyce Waterman.
• Council candidates Denise Ridley (Ward A); Mira Prinz-Arey (Ward B); John Hanussak (Ward C); and Moriah “Mo” Kinberg (Ward D).

Lavarro thanked 32BJ for our support.

“Too many low-wage workers continue to struggle and fall behind,” Lavarro said. “I’m proud to have worked on progressive legislation that has helped janitors, security guards and other employees in the city.”

As part of its endorsement, the union is committed to a voter outreach campaign in support of their elections.

Lifelong Jersey City resident Rosheta Dixon, a 32BJ member, said she’s met the mayor and likes that he makes himself available to the community.

“I’ve knocked on doors in the past, urging fellow residents to support him and I’ll do it again. He cares about working people and fights for us to make a decent wage,” Dixon said. “Mayor Fulop has also made more police available in high-crime areas which have made me and other residents feel safer,” added Dixon, who has worked as a security officer for almost a decade.

Sonia Elgueta, who also lives in Jersey City and works as an office cleaner, said she appreciates the fact that Fulop welcomes immigrants to the city.

“He wants to keep families united. He understands that you can’t leave kids unprotected by deporting their parents,” said Elgueta, a U.S. citizen born in Colombia. “Every person who comes to the United States comes with the hope that they’ll get ahead and that they’ll help their families get ahead.”

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With 163,000 members in eleven states and Washington, D.C., including close to 12,000 in New Jersey, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country