State Green Party Press Release

Morrill for Governor - Pennsylvania Green Party

Morrill Gets Labor Endorsement

Morrill for Governor
P.O. Box 7571
Reading, PA 19601
570- 372-0503
http://www.michaelmorrill.org

NEWS RELEASE

August 8, 2002 For Immediate Release
Contact: Eric Prindle 215-559-2290

Endorsement by American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1723 is a first for PA Greens.

(HARRISBURG, PA)-History was made this week as the executive board of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1723 voted unanimously to endorse Michael Morrill for Governor of Pennsylvania. This is the first time a union has endorsed a Green Party candidate in Pennsylvania.

"I am overjoyed at AFSCME Local 1723's decision to endorse me for governor," said Morrill today. "This is recognition of the Green Party as the real party of working families. I am honored and proud to accept this historic endorsement."

Local 1723 represents 700 professional and technical employees at Temple University in Philadelphia. The local is part of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). AFSCME is an AFL-CIO affiliated union.

"This is the first of many expected labor endorsements," said Vicki Smedley, the Green nominee for Lt. Governor. "From this day on, labor cannot be taken for granted by the old parties. Working people finally have a real option."

"The Morrill/Smedley campaign will be aggressively seeking endorsements by other unions," said John Hogan, co-chair of Labor for Morrill.

"We fully expect more endorsements to follow this breakthrough as more unions recognize Morrill's lifelong dedication to the values of the labor movement."

Morrill is a former member of AFSCME and the Teamsters. He has worked for unions and labor rights organizations, and is currently out of state working on a union organizing drive.