Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria) has nabbed the support of another labor union in his quest to become the next Queens Borough President on Tuesday.
The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 94 officially endorsed Costa on Nov. 18 at Union Hall in Manhattan because of his long-standing partnership to ensure that building maintenance workers receive fair wages, good benefits and safe working conditions.
“We believe that Costa will continue to work with Labor to design bills protecting its constituents, continuing to introduce bills promoting sustainable practices and to work with both sides to help the city to thrive,” said Kuba Brown, business manager and financial secretary of Local 94.
Constantinides believes the Big Apple wouldn’t be what it is without the support of labor unions like Local 94, which has more than 6,000 members.
“Local 94 members make sure the buildings in the ‘City That Never Sleeps’ are always awake,” said Constantinides. “They make sure our New York City public school students get heat in the winter and cool air in warmer months.”
Last week, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1500 members, which comprises of 22,000 grocery workers across the city, endorsed Constantinides in Oakland Gardens for his decade-long work in championing the living standards for all families.
“His vision has always included an agenda that is comprehensive of all New Yorkers. Whether it’s fighting to save his local supermarket or pushing for better climate protections, Costa will stand up vigorously for all New Yorkers,” said Tony Speelman, president of UFCW Local 1500. It is because of his tenacity, especially when it comes to supporting the labor movement, that UFCW Local 1500 is proud to endorse Costa for Queens Borough President!”
Constantinides was humbled to receive the Local 1500 endorsement.
“UFCW Local 1500 embodies the spirit of the labor movement with its tireless advocacy for Queens’ supermarket workers,” said Constantinides. “Together over the last decade, we have built a partnership dedicated to preserving these jobs, which are a pathway to the middle class, and creating new ones.”
Last week, Constantinides also backed his the efforts of City Council staffers in their ongoing unionization movement.
“New York City is an expensive place to live, where some of the people who work for us struggle to make rent,” said Constantinides. “The bright, ambitious people who put in long hours for us in the name of a better city deserve fair wages, good benefits and protections. I support any effort District Council 37, AFSCME makes to unionize throughout New York for our municipal employees, and if I have to join a picket line outside my office, I will.”
