Altmire gets transit union nod
The news business in a nutshell: right after writing up a long post on all of Mark Critz's union endorsements, his Democratic opponent Jason Altmire gets one out of left field.
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85 announced its endorsement of Altmire today in the 12th District primary, and actually the nod isn't all that surprising -- Altmire speaks out often on transportation and infrastructure, and is a member of the House transportation committee, as the union notes in its press release.
UPDATE 4:45 p.m. Critz got an ATU endorsement too, from a different local. Statement below.
Altmire/Critz statements after the jump:
From Team Altmire:
Pittsburgh, Penn (February 7, 2012) - Amalgamated Transit Union Local 85 today endorsed Congressman Jason Altmire in his re-election bid in the newly-drawn 12th Congressional District. In announcing the endorsement, ATU Local 85 President Patrick McMahon said:
“We support Jason Altmire because he supports the hard-working families that rely on public transit. Our union has always supported Congressman Altmire and he has always been there for our region’s transit employees and riders. He has used his position on the Transportation Committee to fight for western Pennsylvania jobs and funding. The ATU Local 85 proudly endorses Congressman Jason Altmire in his 2012 campaign for the combined 12th Congressional District seat.”
Local 85 represents the 2,200 active transit workers and 2500 retired employed by the Port Authority of Allegheny County. Our members consist of operators, maintenance, first level supervisors, secretaries, and some support staff.
From Team Critz:
The Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1279 today endorsed Congressman Mark Critz in the race for the newly drawn 12th Congressional District. ATU Local 1279 President Mike Walters praised Critz for his support of public transit and his work to create jobs.
“Mark Critz knows that funding local transit is a key component to growing our economy and creating jobs and that is why ATU Local 1279 is 100 percent behind him in his campaign,” Walters said. “We need Mark Critz in Congress because we can count on him to stand up for transit and fight to create jobs for the working men and women of Western Pennsylvania.”
Local 1279’s endorsement is the latest in a string of union endorsements Critz has received. Critz said that these endorsements are proof that he is the candidate who will fight to create jobs and support policies that strengthen the middle class.
“The endorsement of ATU Local 1279 demonstrates that I am committed to funding public transit so working people can actually make it to their jobs,” Critz said. “The vast majority of labor unions are supporting my campaign because they know that creating good paying jobs is my top priority and that they can count on me to fight for policies that strengthen the middle class.”
Critz has been endorsed by the United Mine Workers of America, Laborers District Council of Western Pennsylvania, United Steelworkers, Service Employees International Union and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.