Public Employees Stand in Support of Gabrielle Giffords

AFSCME Endorses Giffords; Cites Her Support for Raising the Minimum Wage as a Cornerstone of Why She is “the One Candidate With a Proven Record of Fighting for Arizona’s Families”

TUCSON - Public service employees union AFSCME announced today that it has thrown its support to Gabrielle Giffords. The group — the nation’s largest public employees union, with over 1.4 million members — highlighted her support for raising the minimum wage, and her work to protect people from retaliation in the workplace, as key reasons why it endorsed Giffords.

“From day one in the legislature, Gabrielle Giffords has been a fighter for the working men and women of Arizona,” said Michael Tarrats, Statewide Political Director for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). “Her sponsorship of legislation to raise the minimum wage [SCR 1037] embodies her commitment to doing the right thing. She is the one candidate with a proven track record of fighting for Arizona’s working families. AFSCME is proud to endorse Gabrielle Giffords to be the next Congresswoman from Southern Arizona, and we will work hard for her campaign for change.

“Furthermore, Giffords sponsored a bill to protect workers from retaliation in the workplace [SB 1325]. She is deserving of our support, and we are proud to announce our backing of her campaign,” said Tarrats.

“I am thrilled that AFSCME has joined our campaign for a government that works for all of us — not just the privileged and connected,” Giffords said. “Working families are the foundation of our country, and I look forward to continuing to fight for them in Congress.”

AFSCME is the nation’s largest and fastest growing public service employees union, consisting of over 1.4 million men and women. It consists of people who serve the public in all areas of government — health, education and other services, both public and private.

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