Major Labor Union Nod Reflects Mitrano’s Commitment to Working People
NEW YORK CITY—The New York State American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) announced that it would be endorsing Democratic Congressional Nominee Tracy Mitrano (NY-23). The announcement was made at the Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel in New York City, where the state AFL-CIO was holding its 2018 Committee on Political Education (COPE) Convention, attended by more than 1,000 delegates from unions across the state.
“I am incredibly honored to receive the backing of the AFL-CIO, an organization that advocates on behalf of so many working people in our community,” Mitrano said. “Organized labor is a critical force in our state, ensuring that all working people are treated justly. They fight so that New York’s economic progress doesn’t just benefit corporate executives— but auto workers, building trades, steelworkers, schoolteachers, and their families. If elected, I will be committed to advocating for strong unions, guaranteeing that economic opportunity is accessible to everyone willing to work for it and protections for our children, disabled and elderly are available.”
The endorsement gives Mitrano the backing of the nation’s largest AFL-CIO state federation. Made up of more than 3,000 affiliated public sector, private sector, and building trades unions, the New York AFL-CIO represents the interests of more than 2.5 million people across the state.
Mitrano, who is seeking to unseat incumbent Republican Tom Reed, is running on a platform that includes support for federal legislation to mandate livable wages for all, paid family and medical leave, and the compensation of public sector unions.
In addition to Mitrano, a number of other candidates for Congressional or statewide offices also received endorsements, including sitting U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, herself an endorser of the Mitrano campaign.