CWA BACKS REELECTION FOR TEN NYS ASSEMBLYMEMBERS WITH TRACK RECORDS OF FIGHTING FOR WORKERS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 31, 2020
Contact: Hae-Lin Choi, CWA District 1 New York State Political Director  
hchoi@cwa-union.org  |  212-344-2515

CWA BACKS REELECTION FOR TEN NYS ASSEMBLYMEMBERS WITH TRACK RECORDS OF FIGHTING FOR WORKERS
Rozic, Simotas, Nolan, Cruz, Richardson, Lentol, Niou, Rosenthal, Epstein, Reyes Get CWA Nod

NEW YORK - Following a year of massive statewide gains for working people including the recently signed NY Call Center Jobs Act, the Communications Workers of America, District 1, has decided to back ten members of the New York State Assembly representing New York City, crediting them with demonstrated commitment to New York’s working people. CWA, with 65,000 members across New York, will endorse:

• Nily Rozic (Assembly District 25)
• Aravella Simotas (Assembly District 36)
• Catherine Nolan (Assembly District 37)
• Catalina Cruz (Assembly District 39)
• Diana Richardson (Assembly District 43)
• Joe Lentol (Assembly District 50)
• Yuh-Line Niou (Assembly District 65)
• Linda Rosenthal (Assembly District 67)
• Harvey Epstein (Assembly District 74)
• Karines Reyes (Assembly District 87)

“CWA members have been on the front lines of fighting for workers’ rights again and again over the years, and we have always been able to count on these ten Assemblymembers to fight alongside us,” said Dennis Trainor, Vice President, CWA District 1. “From protecting call center jobs to standing with striking workers to establishing farmworkers' right to organize, each one of them has shown unparalleled commitment to worker justice, and by extension, making this state even stronger.”

New York State saw some huge legislative victories in 2019 that were the result of years of hard work by an Assembly body that has fought tooth and nail to pass historic pro-worker legislation, massive tenant protections, vital democracy reforms, and more. 

The 2020 election is already shaping up to be a major battle, with several challengers emerging in Assembly races throughout New York City, and voters will have to work hard to ensure that New York remains on track to continue making improvements for workers. The ten endorsed candidates have a proven track record of standing with CWA members on the picket lines as well as in the halls of the capitol, so CWA is ready to work hard to make sure that they are able to continue making improvements throughout the state.

“Over the past few years, workers’ voices have inspired a new movement in the fight to uphold and strengthen labor rights and protections,” said Nily Rozic, Assembly District 25. “CWA’s commitment to representing their members’ best interests has been critical to elevating these voices and delivering progress for workers across New York. I am honored to receive their endorsement and look forward to continuing the work ahead.” 

"I am incredibly honored to receive the endorsement of CWA District 1,” said Aravella Simotas, Assembly District 36. “Our unions make New York strong and I am proud to be an ally to organized labor in the fight for economic equality. CWA has worked tirelessly to protect good jobs, fair wages and quality telecommunications services in our communities. I am so grateful to have their support and I look forward to continuing to work together to strengthen the rights of workers and pass progressive policies to improve the lives of working families throughout the state."

“Fighting for working people is something I learned from my Dad, a long time shop steward of CWA,” said Catherine Nolan, Assembly District 37. “Whether walking a picket line with him or listening at the dinner table as he described defending someone in a grievance proceeding, I learned the value of honest work and the need for strong representation. In Albany, I fight everyday to make that a reality for the people of the 37AD and all the people of our state.” 

“With renewed energy in Albany, the last legislative session resulted in some of the most progressive laws supporting the rights of workers,” said Catalina Cruz, Assembly District 39. “Leadership from CWA District 1 was key in ensuring many of those victories and I was proud to fight shoulder to shoulder with their members. I am honored and thankful for the support of CWA District 1 and I am committed to continuing to work together to protect their members and workers around our state.”

“I am so proud and honored to receive the endorsement of CWA District 1, which has been an indispensable ally in our shared fight for social justice and economic fairness,” said Diana Richardson, Assembly District 43. “Going into 2020, I couldn’t be more excited to be joined by the hardworking members of CWA to continue that fight and achieve real, progressive change for all New Yorkers.”

“I'm proud to have the backing of the Communications Workers of America and its thousands of members,” said Joe Lentol, Assembly District 50. “We've partnered together on some incredibly important issues over the years, most recently on the NY Call Center Jobs Act to protect jobs here in New York. I'm thrilled to have their support and I look forward to continuing our fights together for working people in New York."

“I’m thrilled to have the support of CWA and its members,” said Yuh-Line Niou, Assembly District 65. “We’ve stood side-by-side to protect our values and take on wealthy corporate interests - from the strike line at Verizon to the push to pass historic legislation protecting call center jobs from outsourcing. With CWA’s support, I’m ready to keep fighting for Lower Manhattan and working families across this state."

"I am honored to have the support of the indefatigable women and men of Communications Workers of America, District 1,” said Linda B. Rosenthal, Assembly District 67. “Despite the perilous times we’re living in, last year we fought together and won protections for call center workers. I am proud to stand with CWA, to continue fighting together to protect workers and their families and to ensure that they get their fair share of the profits born of their labor.”

“I am honored to receive CWA’s endorsement for my re-election,” said Harvey Epstein, Assembly District 74. “I look forward to working  together to strengthen unions, workers’ rights, and social and economic justice.”

“I am proud to have the support of the members of CWA District 1,” said Karines Reyes, Assembly District 87. “This union has made it their focus to enact progressive change, through advocating for safe staffing levels in hospitals, fighting for graduate student workers to get a fair wage, protecting call center jobs in our state, and seeking to implement a public campaign finance system that helps maximize the power of the people and minimizes the power of big corporations. These are causes that I have dedicated my career to and I am glad that we can continue the fight for these policies in Albany!”

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The Communications Workers of America represents 700,000 working men and women in telecommunications, customer service, healthcare, media, airlines, public service and