SEIU Florida Members Announce Endorsements For 2020 Elections

SEIU | Jun 30 2020 

MIRAMAR, FL — SEIU Florida, which represents more than 55,000 active and retired health care professionals, public employees, airport workers, adjunct faculty and property service workers in the state, has announced a slate of endorsed candidates for the 2020 August and November elections who will best serve the needs of Florida’s poor and working families.

The candidates earned the endorsements based on their commitment to fight for everyday Floridians and SEIU’s “Unions For All” electoral platform which focuses on:

— worker and union rights

— racial justice 

— access to quality, affordable healthcare

— supporting a minimum wage of at least $15 an hour

— affordable housing

The endorsements and platform are backed by a multi-million investment in get-out-the-vote, communications and other outreach efforts. Additionally, hundreds of SEIU Florida members have pledged thousands of hours to work phone banks, text banks, and participate in dozens of other actions for the primary and general elections.

Specific issues include fixing the structural racial justice issues that are in the way of true economic freedom and justice; a living wage for nursing home employees who care for our seniors but can’t afford health care for themselves; a minimum wage of $15 per hour; protection of Medicare; support for adjunct faculty and K-20 education funding; a resident physician bill of rights; the ability to join a union for airport workers and others who are excluded from statutory protections; and the expansion of Medicaid which would provide critical health insurance to 700,000 working-class Floridians who otherwise have no health coverage at all.

“If the COVID-19 crisis has taught us anything, it’s how important it is to have leaders who listen to the voice of essential workers and make our community’s safety and prosperity central to their platforms,” said Martha Baker, RN, president of SEIU Florida. “Our endorsed candidates will stand up for all workers, for quality and affordable healthcare, racial justice and a living wage. We are confident in their ability to lead our state in this unprecedented time.”

The endorsements range from races for Congress, State Senate, and State House as well as numerous local and county leadership positions.

SEIU Florida endorsements include the following school Board members:

Palm Beach County School Board, District 5: Frank Barbieri     

Pinellas County School Board, District 4: Eileen Long