Members Volunteering to Help Elect Christine Quinn Mayor of New York

The Union’s endorsement of Christine Quinn for mayor of New York last week drew significant media coverage and generated considerable enthusiasm among our members. Following the endorsement, member volunteers immediately hit the streets to help the effort to elect Ms. Quinn mayor. That effort has continued this week.

Christine Quinn appeared at the Union earlier this year, on April 29, with three other mayoral candidates, and she impressed members then. She said that day that the city needs to remain committed to tourism, a theme she repeated at the endorsement last week, and she credited hotel workers with being a big part of helping the city of New York avoid the kind of prolonged recession that many other U.S. cities had to endure.

Quinn’s answers on April 29 really resonated with members, and in accepting the Union’s endorsement on June 27 she repeated her commitment to tourism and to better education, more affordable housing and the creation of good-paying middle class jobs.

“This promises to be an interesting month,” Peter Ward said to delegates who were present in the Union’s auditorium for the endorsement. “I believe the election for mayor should be about electing someone who understands working people.”

The delegates agreed, as Ward added, “We need a mayor who cares about workers and understands the labor movement. We need someone who has actually governed.”

Ward explained that all of the mayoral candidates wanted the Union’s endorsement because they knew how effective its political operation can be. “Hotel workers know how to work hard for something, and the candidates appreciate that,” he said.

Ward reminded the delegates that every member of our Union — every retiree and every family member, too — has a huge stake in this year’s mayoral election.

Ward said that in determining which candidate to endorse there are many factors to consider, including education, police practices, and others, but when it comes to our Union there is a factor that rises above all others.

“Everything our Union is about is protecting our jobs,” he said, as the delegates strongly voiced their agreement.
“The mayoral race is not a sprint it is a marathon,” Ward added. “There are 11 weeks to primary day, three weeks after that to a run-off, and then the general election in November. We will outwork everyone else, put in the most hours and the hardest effort. We intend to be there at the finish line!”

Ward reminded the delegates that Quinn supported the Union in its campaign to save the Plaza Hotel, during the Boathouse strike in 2011 and with other initiatives. He noted that she came from a working class background and that all four of her grandparents were immigrants. He said her exemplary career in public service and her experience as Speaker of the City Council provided the governing experience required for mayor of New York, a position that is often referred to as “the second-toughest job in America.”

The delegates agreed. They unanimously approved the endorsement of Quinn, and she entered the auditorium to find a very receptive and enthusiastic audience.

“I am thrilled with this endorsement,” Quinn said, “because I know when this Union puts in an effort you are unbeatable!”
Quinn saluted the Union on its health care system, saying it is “a national model . . . across the country!”

She also thanked the delegates for their backing. “Thank you so much for your support,” she said. “I know how hard you work for your families and how much you care about the future of the city.”

Quinn told members about her own family, noting that all four grandparents immigrated directly to New York. “They had an almost magical belief in the city,” she said. “They believed if they worked hard they could send their children to college and have a secure retirement. These are the same beliefs we have to uphold today. We don’t just need to grow jobs, we need to grow good middle classjobs. We need more affordable housing. We need affordable college education.”

Quinn told the packed auditorium that her father, who was a union electrician and shop steward, had been hoping to attend the endorsement but had fallen in the subway earlier in the day and had suffered a leg fracture. She assured everyone he was OK, adding that her family doesn’t have to worry about the cost of his medical care because of his union membership. She also said that because of that membership her father will be able to retire with dignity.

Quinn summed it all up by telling the crowd words that many will remember: “When I’m elected mayor, when we are elected mayor, the mayor will be the
daughter of a union shop steward and don’t you forget it!”

The New York City mayoral campaign traditionally heats up after the Fourth of July, and member volunteers from our Union will be phone banking, knocking on doors, leafleting, and attending to other activities to help elect Christine Quinn. As you can see from photos in this edition, some member volunteers have already been assisting the campaign to make Christine Quinn mayor. If you would like to volunteer to be part of this effort, call 212-245-8100 and ask for Arisha Sierra-Blas or Katie Roussos.