UFCW Local 1459 Endorses Jesse Lederman for Mayor of Springfield

One week after announcing his candidacy, Springfield City Council President Jesse Lederman has been endorsed by the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1459 in his campaign for Mayor of the City of Springfield.

UFCW Local 1459 is the largest union in Western Massachusetts, representing thousands of workers including school bus drivers, DPW employees, school security guards, bus monitors, substitute teachers, school nurses, grocery store and warehouse workers, and more in both the public and private sector, including more than 1,200 in Springfield.

“We’ve been proud to stand with Jesse Lederman since his first campaign for City Council in 2015, and we are proud to support him to be the next Mayor of Springfield," said Jeff Jones, President of UFCW Local 1459, “Jesse has never wavered in his support of working families. Whether advocating for policies in the City Council Chamber, or standing shoulder to shoulder with our members, Jesse fights tooth and nail for workers. Springfield deserves a Mayor that does the same.”

“I didn’t come from a big political family, or a family with a lot of money. When I was a kid, my mom worked nights at the hospital and my dad, before he passed away, was a social worker,” said City Council President Jesse Lederman, Candidate for Mayor of Springfield, “That’s why I’ve fought so hard for policies that lift up working families. As Mayor, I’ll prioritize initiatives and development that lead to career pathways for our next generation, build wealth for our residents that already live here, and support fair wages, benefits, and representation for all working people.”

As a City Councilor, Lederman has been at the forefront of legislation and initiatives to support workers and working families, including serving as the lead sponsor of the City Council’s Wage Theft Ordinance, barring contractors who have stolen wages from workers from securing municipal contracts, and as a co-sponsor of legislation tying tax incentives to companies that hire local residents, minorities, women, and veterans in addition to resolutions, letters, and public appearances in support of workers organizing for fair wages and benefits.

This year, as City Council President, Lederman announced the creation of a Working Group on Labor and Workforce Development, which will provide recommendations on future policies and initiatives to ensure that working families in Springfield are receiving the respect, compensation, benefits, and opportunities they are due, and that young people have access to careers that will allow them to thrive and prosper right here in Springfield.