(Woodbridge, VA) – Today, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, and IBEW Local 26 announced their endorsement of Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy for Governor of Virginia. The unions represent 9,000 workers in Virginia, and over half a million workers nationwide. Today’s endorsements mark the first union endorsements in the Virginia Democratic primary at both the national and regional level.
“Jennifer Carroll Foy has a proven track record of fighting for the working families of Virginia,” said Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters Executive Secretary-Treasurer, William C. Sproule. “For far too long, Virginia has been led by politicians who ignored the problems of working men and women. Jennifer Carroll Foy has proven to be a real advocate and representative of the working class. The members of the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters understand her commitment to their livelihoods, through her fight to ensure a prevailing wage on state-projects, her outreach to protect and enhance apprenticeship programs, and her continued commitment to ensuring workers are heard on the job. We proudly endorse Jennifer Carroll Foy for Governor and look forward to working together to make workers’ rights a priority in the Commonwealth.”
“Jennifer Carroll Foy is a candidate that comes along once in a lifetime. A champion for working families and all of labor, she sponsored and shepherded the passage of bills to improve the lives of everyday Virginians, including a bill to establish prevailing wages for public construction projects and combat wage theft. A proven, qualified, and decisive leader, we know she will be a Governor who expands opportunities to enter the middle class,” said George Hogan, Business Manager of IBEW Local 26. “She is a leader who gets things done for working people because she understands our challenges. We’re thrilled to endorse Jennifer Carroll Foy this early in the process.”
“I am honored to receive the support of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, IBEW Local 26, and Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters today. I know what it’s like to work hard without support and barely survive on the minimum wage. That’s why I fought hard in the House of Delegates to strengthen workers rights, improve quality health care, and raise the minimum wage,” said Jennifer Carroll Foy. “Unions are key to addressing income inequality, strengthening workforce development, and making Virginia the best place in the country to work and raise a family. Not only that, trade unions are paramount to ensuring racial, social and economic justice for all. If I’m elected, Virginia will be a pro-worker model for the nation and I’ll keep up my fight to strengthen the middle class.”
Carroll Foy has been a champion for working families throughout her career, and as delegate, she passed the biggest expansion of labor rights in decades. In the House of Delegates, Carroll Foy passed groundbreaking legislation instituting a prevailing wage on all state-funded construction projects, fought for legislation to provide quality health care coverage to thousands of construction workers, and pushed to increase the minimum wage in Virginia to $15 per hour.
Jennifer Carroll Foy has dedicated her life to service. As one of the first African American women to graduate from Virginia Military Institute, a former foster mom, a magistrate judge, and public defender, Jennifer has embodied the ideals of community, honor and commitment in every facet of her life. During her time in the legislature, Jennifer has led the way on the Equal Rights Amendment, proudly supported the successful fight to expand Medicaid to 400,000 Virginians, and passed a budget that includes a 3% salary increase for teachers. She is a proud mother to twin three year olds, and wife to her husband Jeff, who she met her first week at VMI.
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