Labor Strong 2025 Coalition Representing 320,000+ New York City Workers Unites to Elect Pro-Union Majority in City Council

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 19, 2025
Contact: Thea Setterbo, 212-815-1536
tsetterbo@dc37.net

Labor Strong 2025 Coalition Representing 320,000+ New York City Workers Unites to Elect Pro-Union Majority in City Council

Five major unions issue first joint endorsements for 12 incumbent candidates 

NEW YORK— Five of New York City’s prominent labor unions announced today they would once again unify under the Labor Strong Coalition to help elect pro-worker candidates in the upcoming Primary Election. The Coalition also issued its first round of endorsements for 12 candidates running for reelection in the New York City Council.

Labor Strong 2025 includes 32BJ SEIU, Communications Workers of America District 1 (CWA), District Council 37 (DC 37), Hotel Trades Council (HTC), and the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA). The five unions represent more than 320,000 members and voters in New York City, including doormen, telecommunications workers, public service workers, nonprofit workers, hotel workers, hospitality workers, casino workers and nurses.

Labor Strong spent more than $2 million to help elect more than 50 candidates in the 2021 and 2023 City Council races, resulting in a supermajority of union supporters in the council.

“Our Labor Strong electoral coalition is an example of the power of unity within the labor movement. We helped elect strong pro-worker majorities in New York City Council elections in 2021 and 2023. We’re uniting again to make the New York dream a reality in 2025 for our members, working New Yorkers, and all of us together. There’s a reason labor unions are some of the most popular institutions in the United States. Our members keep New York City running, and 32BJ is committed to making sure we have labor champions in the City Council. Through the Labor Strong Coalition, we are ready to mobilize, organize, and elect champions who will fight for fair wages, affordable housing and healthcare, and the dignity that working families deserve.” - Manny Pastreich, President, 32BJ SEIU

“Now more than ever, working people deserve—and demand—elected leaders who will truly fight for us against the billionaire class trying to weaken and undermine our communities. CWA District 1 is proud to once again stand with our Labor Strong partners to help elect legislators who have shown a true commitment to NYC’s working families, and we’re ready to show what a powerful force workers are when we join together and fight for the working and living conditions we deserve!” - Dennis G. Trainor, Vice President, CWA District 1

“Solidarity is our strength– as individual unions and as a Coalition– and there has never been a more critical time to come together and fight for candidates who will put our workers and working families first. DC 37 is proud to partner with our Labor Strong allies to elect a City Council that respects our collective bargaining rights and advances social and economic justice for all New Yorkers. The incumbent candidates in this initial endorsement are great advocates for our members.” - Henry A. Garrido, Executive Director, District Council 37

“HTC is committed to ensuring we have steadfast advocates in the City Council who will fight for workers over corporate interests—no matter the obstacle. Labor Strong has proven that we are strongest when we partner with our union allies to elect legislators we can count on. Today, we are proud to once again join this coalition to support candidates who will champion the wages, safety, and well-being of hospitality workers throughout the city." - Rich Maroko, President, Hotel and Gaming Trades Council

"NYSNA is proud to once again work with our Labor Strong union partners in 2025 to elect a pro-worker, pro-union and pro-healthcare justice majority in the New York City Council during this critical election year for our city's future. Our Labor Strong coalition of union siblings in hotel, building service, communications and the public sector have a strong track record of success in previous elections. We are excited to announce this first slate of endorsements, which includes many champions for safe staffing, fair hospital funding and health equity." - Nancy Hagans, RN, BSN, CCRN, President, NYSNA

The first slate of candidates endorsed by Labor Strong 2025 includes the following incumbent council members:

Shaun Abreu, District 7
Chris Banks, District 42
Tiffany Caban, District 22
Carmen De La Rosa, District 10
Eric Dinowitz, District 11
Jennifer Gutiérrez, District 34
Kamillah Hanks, District 49
Crystal Hudson, District 35
Farah Louis, District 45
Julie Menin, District 5
Sandy Nurse, District 37
Chi Ossé, District 36

The coalition will announce its next round of endorsements in late April. New York’s Primary Election day is June 24, 2025.

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With 175,000 members, including 85,000 in New York, SEIU 32BJ is the largest building services union in the country.

The Communications Workers of America represents 700,000 working men and women in telecommunications, customer service, healthcare, media, airlines, public service and manufacturing. District One represents 65,000 total members in New York State.

District Council 37 is New York City's largest public employee union, with 150,000 members and 89,000 retirees.

HTC represents hotel, club, racetrack, and casino workers in a region which includes NYC, Northern New Jersey, and Upstate New York. 

The New York State Nurses Association represents more than 42,000 members in New York State. We are New York’s largest union and professional association for registered nurses. NYSNA is an affiliate of National Nurses United, AFL-CIO, the country's largest and fastest-growing union and professional association of registered nurses, with more than 225,000 members nationwide.