SEIU Local 1 Endorses Green New Deal

The janitors, custodians, airport workers, security officers and other working people of Local 1 urge elected leaders to take swift, bold action on climate change

CHICAGO – The following is a statement from SEIU Local 1 President Tom Balanoff regarding SEIU Local 1’s endorsement of U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and U.S. Sen. Ed Markey’s (D-MA) Green New Deal resolution:

“I’m happy to announce that SEIU Local 1 has endorsed the Green New Deal. Local 1 members are serious about taking decisive action to address the imminent danger of climate change, because no matter our background or where we come from, all working families want healthy communities in which they can thrive.

“As a union representing more than 50,000 working people, a majority of whom are women, immigrants and people of color, in 11 cities across the Midwest, we are committed to the fight for economic, racial, immigrant and environmental justice.

“Local 1 members live in frontline communities disproportionately impacted by the threats and harms of climate change, environmental injustices and income inequality. That is why Local 1 urges our elected leaders to not delay in taking bold action to reduce carbon emissions, switch to renewable energies, create good union jobs and provide a just transition for workers and communities impacted by the decline of fossil fuels.”