State Representative Anesa Kajtazovic received her first labor endorsement this week in the Democratic primary to represent Iowa’s first Congressional district. The United Food and Commercial Workers Locals 431 and 1149 decided to support Kajtazovic because “she understands better than anyone the concerns of Iowa’s working families,” and “She shares the experience of arriving to Iowa as an immigrant with many of our members.” According to the press release I’ve posted after the jump, the UFCW Locals 431 and 1149 represent more than 2,500 workers living in IA-01.
Former Iowa House Speaker Pat Murphy had seven organized labor endorsements going into this week. Today his campaign announced that Murphy has the backing of five more labor unions: the Iowa State Association of Letter Carriers, the Iowa Statewide American Postal Workers Union, Iowa Statewide United Transportation Union (SMART Union), Statewide Ironworkers Labor Union Local 89, and the Teamsters Local 90. I enclose the full press release below. It does not mention the number of members who live in IA-01.
The Cedar Rapids/Iowa City Building Trades Council endorsed Cedar Rapids City Council member Monica Vernon last month. The other two Democrats running in IA-01 are Dave O’Brien, who supports organized labor’s agenda, and Swati Dandekar, who was not known as a pro-labor member of the Iowa House and Senate.
United Food and Commercial Workers press release, dated October 21 but distributed on October 24:
UFCW Endorses Anesa Kajtazovic in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District
Iowa-The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) today endorsed State Representative Anesa Kajtazovic for the open seat in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District.
“We are endorsing Representative Kajtazovic because she understands better than anyone the concerns of Iowa’s working families,” UFCW Locals 431 and 1149 said. “She shares the experience of arriving to Iowa as an immigrant with many of our members. She has seen our struggles firsthand and will fight every day to give all Iowans the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.”
In 2010, at age 24, Kajtazovic became the youngest woman ever elected to the Iowa legislature. Her fresh perspective and strong working class values have led to progress on issues that are meaningful to UFCW members. Throughout her two terms in the Iowa House, she has been a strong proponent of good jobs, affordable health care, and quality education.
Kajtazovic is well suited to carry on Congressman Bruce Braley’s legacy as a champion of workers’ rights. She quickly learned about the importance of a union contract when her mother was injured on the job and denied the opportunity to see the physician of her choice. She is also the first and only candidate in the race who has visited the UFCW-represented Tyson plant in Waterloo.
“We know she will fight for us because she is one of us,” the locals said.
UFCW Locals 431 and 1149 represent over 2,500 workers in the 1st Congressional District.
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The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) represents more than 1.3 million workers, primarily in the retail and meatpacking, food processing and poultry industries. The UFCW protects the rights of workers and strengthens America’s middle class by fighting for health care reform, living wages, retirement security, safe working conditions and the right to unionize so that working men and women and their families can realize the American Dream. For more information about the UFCW’s effort to protect workers’ rights and strengthen America’s middle class, visit www.ufcw.org or join our online community at www.facebook.com/ufcwinternational and http://twitter.com/UFCW .
Pat Murphy for Iowa press release, October 25:
Pat Murphy for Congress Receives Five Unions Endorsements
Pat Murphy for Congress is excited to announce that the campaign has received the endorsement of five more labor unions: the Iowa State Association of Letter Carriers, the Iowa Statewide American Postal Workers Union, Iowa Statewide United Transportation Union (SMART Union), Statewide Ironworkers Labor Union Local 89, and the Teamsters Local 90.
Pat Murphy said in response to the support, “I would like to thank my brothers and sisters in the labor movement are supporting my campaign.”
Bruce Clark, Iowa State President of the American Postal Workers Union announced that the group’s Executive Board voted unanimously to endorse Representative Pat Murphy for Iowa’s 1st Congressional Seat.
“Pat Murphy has been fighting for the working class in the state legislature for many years and now he will take that fight for workers to Washington. We need a candidate to carry on the great leadership shown by Congressman Bruce Braley and Pat Murphy is the best one for the job,” Clark said.
Pat Murphy has now been endorsed by 12 labor unions both statewide and locally. Pat will continue to work with these groups and fight for working families in Washington.