Gov. Quinn Says SEIU Is A Strong Voice For Working People

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.laborradio.org/node/12133

Submitted by Doug Cunningham on October 11, 2009 - 3:55pm
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By Doug Cunningham

At SEIU's Illinois convention in Chicago over the weekend Governor Pat Quinn said SEIU is a strong voice for working families on a range of issues.

: "SEIU is a strong union. It's a strong voice for working people. They've organized all across our state helping people who do some of the hardest jobs in our society, and helping them get a decent wage, decent working conditions and decent health care. And I really believe in that. I believe in SEIU. They're fired up and ready to go when it comes to
organizing everyday people. To me it's a great inspiration."

Christine Boardman is President of SEIU Local 73. She says the union wanted to bring as many members as possible together for this convention to stress the need for grassroots mobilization and organization. Boosting both is key to effective action on many issues critical to working families. Boardman says SEIU workers in Illinois and nationwide are facing difficult struggles brought on by the economic crash.

: "The biggest issues right now that we're confronting - layoffs. major cutbacks, furlough days. Those are all things that are on the agenda of most of the employers. And since most of our members are public employees, the fact that we have so many busted budgets, whether it' s in school districts, the state of Illinois, the city of Chicago - that budget crisis is actually being taken out on the backs of working families."