DOVER-Following the primary victory for Senator Robert Marshall, 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union—the union representing office custodial workers across the state—issued the following statement celebrating his return to the state Senate and the victories of several endorsed candidates.
“Senator Marshall has demonstrated his dedication to the working people of this state. He saved the jobs of port workers and he started the Low-Wage Service Worker Task Force to demand justice for fast food workers and taxpayers,” said Daisy Cruz, director of 32BJ SEIU, Mid-Atlantic. “Thankfully, Senator Marshall will be in a position to continue fighting to help the middle class.”
Over the last several months, 32BJ members and fast food workers knocked on thousands of doors in Senator Marshall’s district. The primary vote comes on the heels of the first meeting of the Delaware Low-Wage Worker Task Force which was formed by Marshall to investigate the high cost of low wages in the fast food and other service industries.
“I am proud to have Senator Marshall representing me in Dover,” said Kelley Mahaffey, a Wilmington janitor and 32BJ member. “This is a victory for low-wage workers in Delaware. We need Senator Marshall at the capital fighting to raise the minimum wage for service workers and to keep good jobs in Delaware.”
Tonight 32BJ SEIU is also celebrating the primary victories of nearly all if its endorsed candidates including: Sean Barney for State Treasurer, Brenda Mayrack for State Auditor, Rep. Valerie Longhurst (D-15), Rep. Michael A. Barbieri (D-18), Rep. Kimberly Williams (D-19), Sen. Robert Marshall (D-3), and Sen. Bryan Townsend (D-11).
“Voters chose Brenda Mayrack for auditor because she has a strong plan to hold corporations accountable and ensure that the middle class gets a fair shot,” added Cruz.
“We’re happy to see Rep. Valerie Longhurst return to the state House. She is a strong supporter of worker’s rights and a champion for public education. She is the kind of leader we need in Dover.”
With 145,000 members in eleven states and Washington, D.C., 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country.
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