TWU Local 100 Endorses Adriano Espaillat in 13th Congressional Race

Hands Held High, TWU President Endorses Espaillat. Also in photo are TWU Local 100 Sec-Treasurer Earl Phillips and Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez
Hands Held High, TWU President Endorses Espaillat. Also in photo are TWU Local 100 Sec-Treasurer Earl Phillips and Councilman Ydanis Rodriguez

MARCH 14 -- TWU Local 100 today became the first union in the City to jump into the hotly contested Democratic primary in the 13th Congressional District by endorsing State Sen. Adriano Espaillat. Local 100 President John Samuelsen made the announcement at a press conference at union headquarters in Brooklyn, with a beaming Espaillat at his side. Samuelsen said that more than 3,000 Local 100 members live in the 13th CD, which straddles Manhattan and the Bronx.

The Local 100 Executive Committee earlier voted unanimously to support Espaillat over long-time incumbent Charles Rangel and a second challenger, Rev. Michael Walrond. Samuelsen said that the union’s endorsement is based on Espaillat’s long record of support for fair contracts for transit workers as well as safe and clean working conditions. Espaillat said that TWU’s endorsement is “extremely important to me” because it comes from the “men and women who move this city, who get us to work and home safely every day.”  He also said that transit workers contribute mightily to the City’s economic vitality. Espaillat added that he would be a “champion” for workers in Congress.