DeStefano picks up AFL-CIO endorsement

From John DeStefano press release:

John DeStefano's candidacy for governor was overwhelming endorsed today by the AFL-CIO at their annual convention at the Omni Hotel in New Haven. The AFL-CIO has never before endorsed a candidate in a gubernatorial primary in Connecticut but as John Olsen – President of the Connecticut AFL-CIO - said, "We've never had a candidate like this."

Before receiving the endorsement, DeStefano spoke to a packed ballroom of delegates - stopping many times for standing ovations. Standing behind him at the podium were workers from many unions, including SEIU 1199, AFSCME Council 15, Unite H.E.R.E, and the Building Trades. DeStefano asked for the delegates' support and shared with them his vision for Connecticut.

"Before you can be something - you've got to stand for something," said DeStefano. "I stand for Ovella Watts, who retired last month from the Omni after 30 years of hard work." DeStefano singled out other workers standing behind him, telling the audience, "I know who I work for, I know where I come from, and I know where I'll go home to when all this is over."

Olsen says today's endorsement speaks to DeStefano's incredible record of standing up for working families. "John has proven over and over again that he understands the issues of working families. He is running on more than promises, he is running of a record of standing up for middle income people. Workers at the Omni and Yale University are better off because of his leadership and he's initiated more Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) than all the other communities in Connecticut combined. Plain and simple, John has been there for working families and now we're going to be there for him - today and everyday between now and Nov. 7th."

This isn't a big surprise but it's still a nice feather in the hat of DeStefano to have the support of the union till November.