DeStefano Earns Historic Endorsement from Connecticut AFL-CIO!

June 27, 2006

Connecticut AFL-CIO represents more than 210,000 workers - universal health care, moral minimum wage, and track record of fighting for working families propel DeStefano to incredible convention win!

New Haven - John DeStefano's candidacy for governor was overwhelming endorsed today by the AFL-CIO at their annual convention at the Omni Hotel in New Haven. The AFL-CIO has never before endorsed a candidate in a gubernatorial primary in Connecticut but as John Olsen - President of the Connecticut AFL-CIO - said, "We've never had a candidate like this."

Before receiving the endorsement, DeStefano spoke to a packed ballroom of delegates - stopping many times for standing ovations. Standing behind him at the podium were workers from SEIU 1199, AFSCME Council 15, Unite H.E.R.E., and the Building Trades. DeStefano asked for the delegates' support and shared with them his vision for Connecticut.

"Before you can be something - you've got to stand for something," said DeStefano. "I stand for Ovella Watts, who retired last month from the Omni after 30 years of hard work." DeStefano singled out other workers standing behind him, telling the audience, "I know who I work for, I know where I come from, and I know where I'll go home to when all this is over."

Olsen says today's endorsement speaks to DeStefano's incredible record of sticking up for working families. "John has proven over and over again that he understands the issues that working families. He is running on more than promises, he is running of a record of standing up for middle income people. Workers at the Omni and Yale University are better off because of his leadership and he?s initiated more Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) than all the other communities in Connecticut combined. Plain and simple, John has been there for working families and now we?re going to be there for him - today and everyday between now and Nov. 7th."

Speaking after the announcement of the endorsement, DeStefano said, "Having the support of the AFL-CIO and the tens of thousands of families it represents is incredibly important to my campaign. In order to win in August and win again in November, working families must come together for one candidate and today that happened. Together we will fight for universal health care, job growth, lower energy costs, and a moral minimum wage. Together we will make Connecticut a better place for working families."