Western Mass Area Labor Federation Endorses City Councilor Jesse Lederman for Re-Election
At-Large Springfield City Councilor Jesse Lederman today announced the endorsement of the Western Massachusetts Area Labor Federation AFL-CIO in his campaign for a third term.
The Western Massachusetts Area Labor Federation AFL-CIO is a coalition of more than 60 local unions from across Western Massachusetts representing a collective 30,000 workers. The Area Labor Federation, and it’s predecessor the Pioneer Valley Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, has endorsed Councilor Lederman in every election he has run in.
“I am proud to continue to stand with the members of the Western Massachusetts Area Labor Federation and I am grateful for their support,” said Councilor Lederman, “Working together with organized labor and workers across our city we have been able to pass some of the strongest local protections for workers in the Commonwealth. I will never back down from the fight for working families.”
Councilor Lederman said he is proud of his work to pass legislation expanding wage theft protections for employees on municipal construction projects, and for his vote in support of the expanded Responsible Employer Ordinance that requires General Contractors to hire local residents, women, veterans, and minorities on tax-payer funded construction projects – requirements that were further expanded to all projects receiving tax incentives by legislation co-sponsored by Councilor Lederman.
“Unions are the foundation and backbone of the middle class. The right to collectively bargain and advocate as workers is essential to ensuring that we continue to make progress for all of our families,” said Councilor Lederman.
Councilor Lederman said in addition to local legislation, he is proud to have stood with and advocated for workers across sectors in Springfield during labor negotiations and disputes, including nurses, home healthcare workers, bus drivers, and grocery store workers. Councilor Lederman is also himself a member of the Professional Staff Union at UMass Amherst, which is represented by the Massachusetts Teachers Association.
“The WMALF is excited to endorse candidates who support our vision: public investments that benefit the community and workers; safe and dignified work for all; strong public schools; policies that support workers’ right to organize; responsible economic development that shares benefits with workers; and other policies that create a better life for all working people of Western Mass,” said the Western Mass Area Labor Federation in a statement releasing their full list of endorsements earlier this month, “We look forward to working with endorsed candidates to ensure in every city council meeting and in every municipal ordinance that the voices of working people are leading the way.”
A full list of the Labor Federation’s endorsement and original press release can be found here.
The WMALF endorsement comes a week after Councilor Lederman launched his re-election campaign with a video announcement that has now been viewed over 2,000 times on social media. That video can be found on Facebook and YouTube.
City Councilor Jesse Lederman is a two-term member of the Springfield City Council where he serves as Chairman of the COVID-19 Response Committee, the Committee on Health and Human Services, and the Committee on Sustainability and Environment.
Councilor Lederman also serves as the Chairman of the Springfield Democratic City Committee, as a member of the Democratic State Committee, a member of the Board of Directors of the Springfield Preservation Trust, and on the Leadership Board of Reading Success by 4th Grade, Springfield's early literacy initiative.
He is a member of the Honorary Deputy Sheriffs Association of Hampden County. Jesse formerly served on the Board of Directors of the McKnight Neighborhood Council, the Springfield Armory Alliance, and the Governing Board of the Springfield Renaissance School.
Voters can stay up to date on Councilor Lederman’s work or contact Councilor Lederman by visiting www.JesseForSpringfield.com or following him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JLLederman .
