Boston, Sept. 23, 2021, – 1199SEIU United Healthcare workers proudly announced today their endorsement of Michelle Wu for Mayor of Boston at Grove Hall in Dorchester. Wu joined homecare workers at a personal protective equipment (PPE) drive after the announcement to lift up the priorities experiences of a workforce who have largely been invisible as they provide care in private homes.
In the last 15 months, 1199SEIU has hosted nearly a hundred PPE events across Massachusetts, distributing hundreds of thousands of masks and gloves.1199SEIU represents nearly 10,000 union members in Boston and intends to put significant financial and grassroots support behind Wu’s bid to be Boston’s first woman of color to be elected mayor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTiWG91C7lg
“The healthcare workers of 1199SEIU are proud to endorse and stand with Michelle Wu for Mayor of Boston,” said Tim Foley, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU. “Never before have the issues of healthcare, childcare and pay and benefits for essential workers been more important. We are at a crossroads and we need a Mayor who will center the lives of caregivers in our recovery. We believe Michelle Wu is the candidate who will not only recognize our work and sacrifice as caregivers, but will help bring meaningful change to the City of Boston for everyone.”
“1199SEIU and our campaign share a core principle: we strive for social, racial, and environmental justice in every community across Boston,” said Michelle Wu. “I’m proud of the work we have done together over many years to provide good jobs, quality care and economic opportunity for all Bostonians and look forward to our continued partnership. Knowing that the healthcare workers of 1199SEIU have our back means everything—and we’ve got theirs.”
Wu has worked tirelessly as a City Councilor to seek better healthcare, childcare, higher pay and better working conditions for workers who need that help now more than ever – and have been ignored for far too long. Her promise to create a better Boston for all who live and work here resonates with 1199SEIU members, who are largely women of color working in hospitals, health centers, nursing homes and in private homes across the city.
“Michelle Wu’s vision for Boston recognizes the essential role of the care economy. Wu shares our values and priorities and will be a fighter for caregivers and those we care for,” said Jeanie Oliver, 1199SEIU executive board member and patient financial counselor at Boston Medical Center.
1199SEIU’s Political Action Committee currently holds $3 million in funding for candidate support. Funding will be directed and allocated toward efforts to inform and raise awareness among healthcare workers and the community about the races – and choices.
The pandemic has hit frontline healthcare workers particularly hard and underscored the need for reforms not only in healthcare and worker pay and benefits, but in the unmet needs for quality childcare and public education, public transportation and affordable housing – all areas where we believe a Wu administration will make a difference.
Wu’s stop at Grove Hall will coincide with the launch of 1199SEIU’s extensive advocacy campaign to engage and educate voters with billboards, digital advertising, direct mail, and grassroots campaign efforts. 1199Votes.com supports the campaign’s efforts, as well as supports the organization of a robust volunteer program to get out the vote.