Hamilton – The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 73 announced its endorsement of Senator Steve Sweeney for reelection in the Third Legislative District, giving the Senate President the support of the Council’s 8,200 members who work for cities, counties, the state, the private sector and other local levels of government in New Jersey. Council 73 is affiliated with AFSCME, the nation’s largest union of public employees and the AFL-CIO.

“Senator Sweeney has earned our endorsement and our determined support because of his commitment to working people and his willingness to fight for our needs,” said Gerard Meara, the director of Council 73. “We want him to keep up the fight on our behalf and we need him in the Legislature. When it comes to the battles that are important to our members, Steve Sweeney is the guy we want to remain at our side.”

Meara cited Sweeney’s successful effort to require quarterly payments to the state’s pension funds with steady and reliable increases to restore fiscal solvency to the retirement funds, his forceful advocacy for a $15 minimum wage, pay equity for women in the workforce, the patient-centered-health-care plan that will produce savings and better care for public employees and the new drug benefits system that will reduce prescription costs.

 “These are the day-to-day issues that have a real impact on the lives of working people,” said Meara. “They are pocketbook issues for our members who work hard every day to support themselves and their families. Steve Sweeney understands the challenges of working families and he’s willing to fight for us. We are endorsing him and standing behind that endorsement with a commitment to get him reelected.”