Vicki Walker Announces Key Union Endorsements

Unions choose Walker as their candidate for Secretary of State.

Vicki Walker

(SALEM, Ore.) - State Senator Vicki Walker received endorsements from three major unions last week in her bid for the Democratic nomination for Secretary of State.

Most recently, the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555 endorsed Walker. UFCW is one of the largest private sector unions in the state representing 18,000 workers in Oregon and Southwestern Washington.

The Oregon State Building and Construction Trades Council and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757, also chose Walker as their candidate of choice. The Building Trades Council stated that the "skilled union tradesmen and women appreciate your willingness to listen and act on their issues."

She believes these endorsements demonstrate her growing support from the working men and women of this state. "I am extremely appreciative of their support," Walker said. "These unions are recognizing me for my work in the legislature, my vision for the Secretary of State's office, and my commitment to their members. Big ideas should always triumph over big money."

Walker has been a long-time advocate of union workers. In the 2007 Legislative Session, she sponsored a bill that provides unemployment insurance benefits to workers in multi-employer bargaining units who are locked out of work due to a labor dispute involving a different employer. Moreover, she brought interested parties together to solve a long-standing disagreement on how to apply prevailing wage to public works projects.

"My campaign for Secretary of State reflects my work in the legislature to bring accountability to state government and fairness to all workers," Walker concluded.

Walker's list of endorsements and her Counting for Oregon plan detailing her vision for the Secretary of State's office can be viewed on her Web site at vickiwalker.com.