FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2020
Mermell Earns Endorsements from United Auto Workers Region 9A, Carmen’s Local 589
Mermell has dominated crowded MA-04 field with support from 19 labor unions totaling 265,000 Massachusetts workers
BROOKLINE – Jesse Mermell continues to dominate the crowded Fourth Congressional District field with overwhelming support from labor, today bringing the total number of unions supporting her to 19 with new endorsements from the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers (UAW) Region 9A and Carmen’s Local 589.
These 19 unions represent more than 265,000 workers across Massachusetts and bolster Mermell’s people-powered campaign with unmatched organizing power heading into the final month.
“I’m honored to have the support of the hardworking people of UAW Region 9A and Carmen’s Local 509 – those who care for our children, support our institutions of higher learning and medical facilities, and are the backbone of our public transportation system,” said Mermell. “Workers across Massachusetts are rallying behind our campaign because they’ve worked hand-in-hand with me delivering the bold, progressive results that working families need – and they know I’ll go to Congress and do the same.”
UAW Region 9A represents child care providers, graduate employees, human service workers, designers, draftsmen, technical writers, electronics technicians and administrative workers, computer operators and schedulers. The union covers a diverse region that includes eastern New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Puerto Rico. In Massachusetts, UAW represents six local unions and 8,000 members and retirees statewide.
“The United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers, Region 9A (UAW) proudly endorses Jesse Mermell for Congress in the Fourth District,” said Beverley Brakeman, Regional Director of UAW Region 9A. “The depth of Jesse’s experience speaks for itself. Jesse has spent her career fiercely advocating for progressive issues that resonate deeply with our members, and we know she will continue to do the same in Washington. Jesse will not only be a voice for union members and working families, she will fight for all of us.”
The Boston Carmen’s Union, Local 589 is the voice of over 6,000 MBTA Union transit professionals and is a member of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), which is the largest labor organization representing over 180,000 transit professionals in the United States and Canada. These transit professionals are bus, van, subway, and light rail operators, clerks, baggage handlers and maintenance employees in urban transit, over-the-road and school bus industries, as well as emergency medical service personnel, ambulance operators, clerical personnel, and municipal workers.
“Carmen’s Local 589 is proud to stand with Jesse Mermell because she will be a champion for working people in Congress,” said Jim Evers, President of Boston Carmen’s Local 589. “An avid T rider herself, Jesse knows firsthand the important role Carmen’s members play in our communities and our economy. She will stand up against attempts to weaken labor rights and will fight to make sure that our workers have the pay, benefits and protections they need, especially while serving on frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
In addition to Carmen’s Local 589 and the six local unions of UAW Region 9a, Mermell has been endorsed by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the National Education Association, Massachusetts Nurses Association, IBEW Local 103, the Massachusetts State Council of Machinists, and the entire SEIU Massachusetts State Council, which represents five local unions.
She has dominated the crowded field with broad support from top progressive leaders and organizations including Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, former First Lady Diane Patrick, advocate for women’s equality Barbara Lee, the Coalition for Social Justice and local leaders across the district and state. A full list of endorsements can be found here.