FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 13, 2018
Contact: 313–923- 7781
press@gretchenwhitmer.com
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Michigan State Conference Endorses Gretchen Whitmer for Governor
15,000-member Union is 11th Statewide Labor Organization to Endorse Whitmer
LANSING, MICHIGAN — Today, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Michigan State Conference announced their support for Gretchen Whitmer for Governor. With this latest endorsement, Whitmer’s unprecedented momentum continues, as 11 statewide labor organizations and unions representing more than 340,000 Michigan workers and retirees join her movement.
IBEW Michigan State Conference Chair Tim Hutchins said that when Michigan workers have needed a fighter, they’ve turned to Gretchen Whitmer, like when she threw open the doors of the capitol when the governor locked the people out to pass anti-worker “right to work” legislation, and fought back against attacks against prevailing wage.
“Hardworking Michigan families deserve a governor who will fight for our wages and rights to collectively bargain, and create real pathways for more people to get into the skilled trades,” said Hutchins. “Whitmer has been on the front lines fighting for Michigan workers, like when she brokered the deal to expand Medicaid to over 630,000 Michiganders as Senate Democratic Leader and threw open the doors of the Capitol when Rick Snyder locked the people out to pass anti-worker laws in secret. Without doubt, Whitmer is our strongest candidate to take back the governor’s office and shake up the dangerous status quo in Lansing.”
IBEW Michigan State Conference’s 12 locals include: Local 8 — Toledo; Local 58 — Detroit; Local 131 — Kalamazoo; Local 153 — South Bend, IN; Local 252 — Ann Arbor; Local 275 — West Michigan; Local 445 — Battle Creek; Local 498 — Traverse City; Local 557 — Saginaw; Local 665 — Lansing; Local 692 — Bay City; Local 906 — Upper Peninsula including Iron Mountain, Marquette and Escanaba.
“I’m honored to have this endorsement because for too long, Michigan workers haven’t had someone who’s in their corner,” said Whitmer. “If we’re going to grow our state’s economy, we’ve got to start investing in people again. That means making skilled trades training available to people of all ages, because Michigan cannot be a successful state until it’s a state of successful people. Together, we’re going to make sure that as we grow our economy, our families’ incomes grow with it.”
The IBEW Michigan State Conference represents 15,000 skilled workers and retirees in the electrical trades industry.
Whitmer was one of the first candidates for governor in the entire country endorsed by EMILY’s List, and they are committed to leveraging their national fundraising network to ensure that Gretchen has whatever it takes to win this race. She is also supported by the Progressive Women’s Alliance and locally by MI List.
Whitmer is also endorsed by organizations representing more than 340,000 Michigan workers, including: the Michigan Education Association, the Michigan Construction and Building Trades Council; the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters and Millwrights; the Michigan State Utility Workers Council; the Michigan Pipe Trades Association; the Michigan Joint Council of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union; United Food and Commercial Workers Locals 876 and 951; Communications Workers of America District 4; Iron Workers Local 25; the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 299; the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 1M; and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Michigan State Conference.
Whitmer is also being supported by former Michigan Governor James Blanchard, former Michigan Attorney General Frank J. Kelley, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, Wayne County Executive Warren Evans, Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon, Assistant Democratic Senate Leader Steve Bieda (Warren), Democratic Senate Floor Leader Morris Hood III (Detroit), Associate President Pro Tempore Hoon-Yung Hopgood (Taylor), Assistant Democratic Senate Caucus Chair Vincent Gregory (Lathrup Village), Senate Democratic Whip Curtis Hertel (East Lansing), Senator Rebekah Warren (Ann Arbor), Democratic House Leader Sam Singh (East Lansing), Democratic House Floor Leader Christine Greig (Farmington Hills), Assistant Democratic House Whip Erika Geiss (Taylor), Representative Fred Durhal (Detroit), Representative Sherry Gay-Dagnogo (Detroit), Representative Leslie Love (Detroit), Representative Robert Kosowski (Westland), Representative Kevin Hertel (St. Clair Shores), Representative Kristy Pagan (Canton), Representative Robert Wittenberg (Huntington Woods), Representative Patrick Green (Warren), Representative Tim Greimel (Auburn Hills), Representative Jeremy Moss (Southfield), Representative Pam Faris (Clio), Representative Phil Phelps (Flint), Representative Tim Sneller (Burton), Representative Donna Lasinski (D-Scio Township), Representative Ronnie Peterson (Ypsilanti), Representative Jon Hoadley (Kalamazoo), Representative Tom Cochran (Mason), Representative David LaGrand (Grand Rapids), Representative Winnie Brinks (Grand Rapids), Representative Terry Sabo (Muskegon),Representative Sara Cambensy (Marquette), and Representative Scott Dianda (Calumet).
