Political Action: TEAMSTERS JOINT COUNCIL NO. 40

Local Union Officers and Stewards visiting with Pennsylvania Conference Endorsed Candidate for Governor of Pennsylvania Dan Onorato. 

Left to Right: James Beros, Alan Snyder, Dan Onorato, Ken Baird, Roy Marshall and Tim Sprowls.

Friends and Members of Teamsters Local 585 with Pennsylvania Governor Candidate Dan Onorato at the petition-signing event.

Dan addressing supporters at the Teamsters Local Union 585 Union Hall.

PA CONFERENCE OF TEAMSTERS ENDORSE DAN ONORATO FOR GOVERNOR

February 4, 2010

PHILADELPHIA: The Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters today endorsed Dan Onorato for Governor at their headquarters on Delaware Avenue in Philadelphia.  The Teamsters’ endorsement is the first statewide labor union to make an endorsement in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.  Later today, Dan will travel to Wilkes-Barre to discuss his plan to rebuild Pennsylvania’s economy at a press conference at the Wilkes-Barre union hall.
 
          “I am honored to receive the endorsement of the hardworking men and women of the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters,” Onorato said.  “I am the proud son of union members and I know your support is one of the most sought-after by candidates, because you work tirelessly to elect the candidates you believe in, and I am grateful to have you in my corner.”

          “Dan Onorato is the only candidate for Governor who knows what it takes to help lead and manage a large economy – because he has done it,” said Bill Hamilton, the President of the PA Conference of Teamsters, Eastern Region International Vice President.  “We have seen Dan’s work as Allegheny County Executive and his commitment over his career to helping create good jobs and family sustaining wages.   He’s stood up for workers and we are proud to stand up for him.”

          The Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters has 92,000 members across the Commonwealth.  Though originally a union of freight drivers and warehouse workers, current members work in virtually every occupation imaginable, both professional and non-professional, in the private and public sectors.  Formed in 1903, the Teamsters are nationally recognized as America’s largest and most diverse union.

          “We need to grow Pennsylvania’s economy, and Dan is the only candidate with the experience to lead us out of this economic crisis,” said Roy Marshall, Secretary-Treasurer PA Conference of Teamsters.  “Our members in Allegheny County have seen and benefited from the economic revitalization Dan put in motion, and we know he can replicate that revitalization across the Commonwealth.”

          In January, Onorato released a plan to grow Pennsylvania’s economy and help create family-sustaining jobs.  Onorato’s plan has five (5) central tenets:

• Establish a climate where businesses can succeed;
• Launch a “Grow Your Own” success strategy to help firms start, expand and prosper;
• Encourage entrepreneurship and innovation;
• Boost export opportunities for Pennsylvania companies and attract foreign companies to the state; and
• Ensure that Pennsylvania’s workforce is prepared for and able to access high-skill, well-paying jobs.

          As Allegheny County Executive Onorato has focused on helping create a strong business and jobs climate.  After six years of his leadership, Allegheny County now has more jobs than any other county in Pennsylvania and the county’s unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the state and over two percentage points lower than the nation’s.