The following statement is attributable to Kyle Bragg, President of 32BJ SEIU, the largest property service workers union in the country:

“Today we mourn the loss of a great labor leader and a legendary builder of 32BJ SEIU. John Sweeney was the president of 32BJ SEIU in the 1970s and oversaw the merging of 32B and 32J to become the powerhouse that it is today.

“He was a transformational leader in SEIU with a strong vision to organize and build political power for the union. As president of the SEIU, he doubled the size of the union. He was president when the foundational Justice for Janitors movement got its start.

“John strived his entire life for a more inclusive labor movement. He was committed to organizing workers no matter where they were born, the color of their skin, or the industry where they worked. He did not give in to attempts to divide workers, by employers or politicians.

“John Sweeney made the lives of millions of people better and left the labor movement stronger.”

With over 175,000 members in eleven states and Washington, D.C., 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country.

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