Hyde Park, NY (10/14/10) – Local 200United of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has announced its endorsement of Didi Barrett for State Senate in the 41st District. The Local represents more than 13,000 members across upstate New York.

SEIU Local 200United Endorses Didi Barrett for State Senate

Hyde Park, NY (10/14/10) – Local 200United of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has announced its endorsement of Didi Barrett for State Senate in the 41st District. The Local represents more than 13,000 members across upstate New York.

In endorsing Barrett, the union cited her “commitment to work towards the goals of assuring better wages, benefits and rights for our members.”

Barrett thanked the union for its endorsement. “I am honored to receive this endorsement from SEIU Local 200United. I am committed to doing whatever I can to attract and keep good jobs here in the Hudson Valley and to supporting the hard working people of our state.”

The incumbent in the 41st District, Sen. Stephen Saland, voted against several bills impacting workers that were brought to the floor this year: the Wage Theft Prevention Act designed to strengthen the Labor Department’s ability to recover lost wages for low-wage workers taken advantage of by employers; and prevailing wage requirements for service employees, which guarantees that building service workers for public agencies are paid prevailing wages.

Sen. Saland also voted against Early Retirement for Teachers, which provided for early retirement without penalty for NYSUT members age 55 with 25 years of creditable service and was used as a tool to prevent lay-offs; and a bill to protect against workplace bullying.

Barrett has been endorsed by 29 entities, including Local 21 of the Plumbers, Steamfitters and Service Technicians Union, New York State Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers Political Action Committee (NASW-NYS PAC), NYS Pipe Trades Association.

New York’s 41st District includes all of Columbia County and most of Dutchess County. For more information on the campaign and a complete list of endorsements: www.didiforsenate.com .

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