The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 9 announced today that they were backing Elizabeth Crowley in the heated primary to replace Gary Ackerman in a Congressional race in Queens.
“Elizabeth Crowley understands the needs of our membership. Only 12 years ago, she was working on job sites throughout the City. She understands that construction sites need to be safe and that an honest day of work deserves an honest day of pay,” said said union head Joseph Ramaglia. “As a Council Member, she has worked tirelessly to create jobs and advocate for workers. That is the type of person we need to send to Washington.”
DC 9 represents more than 11,000 painters, decorators, glaziers, and paint makers in the city. Ms. Crowley must count on the support of the building trades if she is to counter the support that the Queens County Democratic Party has provided to Grace Meng and the Working Families Party has given Rory Lancman, her two biggest rivals for the race.
Ms. Crowley is a member of DC 9, and before entering the City Council in 2009 worked as a restorative painter.
“As a DC 9 painter, I put on a hard hat and worked on historic sites throughout New York City. I learned the importance of safety standards, training, and fair pay for a day’s work,” said Ms. Crowley. “I learned that there is no more important voice for workers then the labor movement. I have carried that voice to the City Council, and as working families are attacked nationwide, I will bring that voice and fight to Washington everyday.”
