SEIU Endorses Betsy Hodges for Minneapolis Mayor

SEIU Endorses Betsy Hodges for Minneapolis Mayor

Minneapolis, MN – Today at a small gathering near Saint Anthony Falls overlooking downtown Minneapolis, members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) announced their endorsement of Betsy Hodges for first choice for Minneapolis mayor.

“Today I am proud to announce, on behalf of SEIU of Minnesota, that Betsy Hodges is our clear choice for Minneapolis Mayor,” said Donna Alexander, a security officer with Local 26 who works in downtown Minneapolis. “I have lived in this city since 1968. I love Minneapolis and want to see it become greater. Betsy Hodges says what is keeping us from being greater is that we are becoming a city of haves and have nots. We agree. And we believe Betsy Hodges is the woman with the right vision to lead us to solutions.”

With approximately 30,000 members statewide, SEIU is Minnesota’s fourth largest and fastest-growing labor union. Thousands of SEIU members work in Minneapolis, cleaning and protecting some of Minneapolis’s largest commercial and public buildings, and working in hospitals, clinics and public schools. 

“I believe Betsy will be a great partner for our members in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and home care agencies,” said Zev Nicholson of SEIU Healthcare Minnesota. “As Mayor, we believe Betsy will keep the lines of communication open so we are notified when health care facilities seek city approval for projects or issues that will impact our members who work in these buildings.”

“We know Betsy is committed to addressing the needs of communities as the schools address the racial achievement gap, and we believe her leadership on this issue will help us find solutions to make our schools great,” said Carol Nieters, Executive Director of SEIU Local 284. “We have had a great partner in Mayor R.T. Rybak for years, and we look forward to continuing that partnership with a great leader – Betsy Hodges. Her leadership will be crucial to ensuring success and prosperity not just for us, but for our families and our communities.”

SEIU members held a candidate forum in May. In this year’s ranked-choice Election, SEIU may endorse additional rankings later in the summer. However, Betsy Hodges is the clear, first choice for Mayor for SEIU members and leaders.

“We believe Betsy is the best candidate to partner with SEIU in building a strong middle class with good jobs and hope for the future,” continued Alexander. “We believe she will help hold big corporations responsible for paying their fair share. We want to partner with Betsy on policies that improve workplace safety and ensure that even the lowest paid workers in Minnesota earn family supporting wages and benefits."

SEIU is made up of the workers who provide care and support for our community members in hospitals, nursing homes, schools and the Twin Cities’ larges public and private buildings. Our members are employed in a variety of occupations at facilities throughout the state, including:

• ·         Hospital, clinic, and nursing home workers and in-home support (SEIU Healthcare MN)
• ·         Paraprofessionals in Public School and early childhood education systems (SEIU Local 284)
• ·         Commercial and public building maintenance employees, security officers and other employees (SEIU Local 26)
• ·         Minneapolis Public School maintenance employees (SEIU Local 63)

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SEIU is the workers who provide care and support for your family in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and the Twin Cities’ largest public and private buildings.  The SEIU Minnesota State Council coordinates the electoral, legislative and outreach work of the SEIU Locals in Minnesota to increase the effectiveness of their collective bargaining and new member organizing campaigns.  By building the political involvement of approximately 30,000 SEIU members throughout the state, the State Council is working to improve the lives of all Minnesotans.  The State Council’s board is comprised of elected leaders, members, and staff of the four SEIU Local Unions in Minnesota.