Healthcare workers, janitors, security officers, childcare providers, educators, and other hardworking members of SEIU united to support several early endorsements to the DC Council, showing that workers support leaders with the political courage to stand up for working families. The SEIU Maryland and DC State Council is pleased to announce our early endorsement for the following DC Council Members.

David Catania, At- Large
Phil Mendelson, At-Large
Jim Graham, Ward 1
Harry Thomas, Jr., Ward 5
Tommy Wells, Ward 6

As SEIU fights to ensure that our tax dollars are spent responsibly and create family sustaining jobs, that contractors who receive taxpayer money are held to a high labor and ethical standards, and that the district invests resources to protect the most vulnerable DC residents—our children, elderly, and disabled neighbors—we know that these leaders will be the partners that all working families need on the Council. " This endorsement is a recognition of that historic and continuing partnership with us in ensuring that DC continues to strive to be a place that recognizes the importance of respecting it's workers and treating them fairly," explains Merle Cuttita, President of SEIU Local 500 and State Council Treasurer.

A member of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, Iris Austin, a homecare worker at Nursing Unlimited for the past seven years, says, "I want to get a fair chance at pay, respect, paid time off and health insurance." Unfortunately, workers across the district are finding it nearly impossible to even have a voice on the job, as many District contractors make it increasing difficult for workers to join together and organize for good pay, safe workplace conditions, and the ability to provide first-rate services to District residents. We cannot stand by as our tax dollars go to undermine district workers and support unscrupulous contractors. Hundreds of security officers who went to work and did their job, just as responsible district residents do everyday, had to wait nearly seven months to be paid from a District contractor. "These Council Members who we are supporting have worked with us to improve life for working families and we're confident they'll continue to do so by helping fix a broken system that failed to protect these officers from negligent contractors," said Jaime Contreras, State Council President and 32BJ Capitol Area Director.

The SEIU Maryland and D.C. State Council affiliates represent close to 40,000 workers in The District of Columbia and Washington Metropolitan Area, and we are ready to play our part in supporting champions of the working men and women in the District of Columbia.

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The fastest-growing union in North America, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and its 2.2 million members are uniting workers to improve their lives and the services they provide. The SEIU Maryland and DC State Council represents nearly 45,000 members in the areas of health care, public services, education, and the non-profit sector.