Amalgamated Transit Union & UA Plumbers and Pipefitters Endorse Kitzhaber
John Kitzhaber’s campaign for Governor picked up more support from labor today – adding the endorsements of two of Oregon’s larger statewide labor unions. Kitzhaber received the backing of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757 and UA Local 290.
“The next Governor of Oregon needs to understand that mass transit policy will be a key element in addressing a wide range of economic , environmental, and social issues”, said ATU 757 President John Hunt. “No one understands this better than John Kitzhaber and our 4,500 members are proud to endorse his campaign for Governor.”
ATU 757 represents around 4,500 transit workers (plus another 700 retires)throughout Oregon and Washington, including: TriMet, Lane Transit District, C-TRAN/C-VAN, Salem Area Transit, WHEELS, Rogue Valley Transportation District, Bend Area Transit, Canby Area Transit, Tillamook County Transportation District, Valley Transit Association, First Transit (TriMet Lift, Portland), City of North Bonneville, Portland Public Schools, American Medical Response Northwest (Josephine County), First Student (Portland Public Schools, Corvallis School District, Corvallis City Transit), MV Transportation, Inc., Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, Inc., Lamar Advertising Company, and the ATU Retired Member Chapter.
“Our members are focused on jobs and they are excited to support John Kitzhaber’s campaign,” said UA 290 Business Manager John Endicott. “John understands our economy and he has a plan to put Oregon back to work.”
The United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada or “UA” as it is commonly known is a multi-craft union whose members are engaged in the fabrication, installation and servicing of piping systems. In Oregon, UA 290 is a statewide union with around 4,400 members. They operate eleven training centers located in Tualatin, Astoria, Bend/Redmond, Brookings, Coos Bay, Eugene/Springfield, Klamath Falls, Medford, Salem, The Dalles and Eureka, CA.
Other labor support for Kitzhaber includes the Oregon AFL-CIO, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555, IBEW Local 48, Oregon State Council of Fire Fighters, Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council, Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, Teamsters Joint Council 37, Boilermakers Local 500, Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 1 Oregon, Heat & Frost Insulators Local 36, Roofers, Waterproofers & Allied Workers Local 156, Cement Masons Local 555, IBEW Local 112, Ironworkers Local 29, Plasterers Local 82, Sheet Metal Workers Local 16, the Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council, and the Pendleton Building & Construction Trades Council.
Kitzhaber also boasts the endorsement of over 120 current and former elected officials.
John Kitzhaber is a former two-term Governor of Oregon. An emergency room physician from Roseburg by trade, he has also served in the Oregon House of Representatives and as the Oregon Senate President. In his career he enacted many progressive reforms, including the Oregon Health Plan, the Oregon Education Act for the 21st Century, the Oregon Children's Plan, and the Oregon Salmon Plan. Since leaving office in 2002, he has continued to work on health care reform, natural resource issues and energy policy, leading several nonprofit foundations and boards.
