Unions

Teamsters Local 814 Emphatically Endorse Ben Kallos for Manhattan BP

Professional Movers Union Mobilizing to Elect “Tireless Fighter for City’s Working-Class”
Local Cites Long Track Record of Advocacy for Worker’s Rights, Affordable Housing

Today, Teamsters Local 814’s executive board announces their endorsement of Councilperson Ben Kallos for Manhattan Borough President. “In a crowded field with several other principled progressive candidates, says Local 814 President Jason Ide, “Kallos stands alone for being such a tireless fighter for the city’s working-class, and for never being afraid to hold the city’s most powerful institutions to account.” “Our union’s membership looks forward to hitting the streets and helping him be elected as Manhattan’s next Borough President,” he added.

Local 814’s Secretary-Treasurer Walter Taylor also weighed in by praising Kallos’ work ethic and his follow through on key issues that matter to the city’s workers. “With a lot of candidates talking about building back our city and creating a just recovery, Ben is one of the few that will really do the work to make that happen,” said Taylor. “Whether it’s affordable housing or union jobs, we look forward to standing alongside Ben and keeping the fight going for a better city,” he added.

“Sometimes people forget that it’s the movers, and the truck drivers and the nurses, and so many other workers, that keep this thing going -- and that sacrifice for the rest of us,” Taylor continued. “Well Ben is one of the few that’s never forgotten that,” he added. “And together we’re going to be issuing some wake-calls after he wins,” said Taylor.

Read the Endorsement Letter

Dear Council Member Kallos

It is the privilege of Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 246 to endorse you for Manhattan Borough President because you are fighting corruption in government and we need you to continue the fight.

Our union has been blowing the whistle on corruption and waste involving auto parts and outsourced repairs for years. When we shared our concerns with you, you not only expressed concern, but immediately held a hearing of the Contracts Committee affording us an opportunity to testify about our concerns in public and get it all out there on the record. You went further to follow up on our initial report to the Department of Investigations and even filed your own report. But you didn’t stop there, you went straight to the Mayor on this and show no signs of slowing down. As a union-side labor lawyer, you not only knows how to fight for us but how to win.

Our members repair and maintain New York City’s fleet of vehicles and we endorse Ben Kallos for Borough President to be Manhattan’s fixer!

Very truly yours,

Jospeh Colangelo, President
SEIU NYC Local 246

Read the Endorsement Letter

Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181, representing 14,000 members, endorsed New York City Council Member Ben Kallos for Manhattan Borough President. ATU Local 1181 represents school bus operators, matrons, and mechanics as well as operators of MTA buses and Access-A-Ride Paratransit. With today’s announcement, Kallos has been endorsed by 74 district councils and local unions for Manhattan Borough President.

“We endorse Council Member Ben Kallos for Manhattan Borough President because he has always stood up for our members and the countless students, working families, and disabled New Yorkers we transport,” said Michael Cordiello, President and Business Agent of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1181.

As a candidate in 2012, Kallos joined ATU Local 1181 in support of the Employee Protection Provision (EPP), marching across the Brooklyn Bridge, joining picket lines during their strike, and bringing coffee to warm members in the cold. Since being elected to the City Council in 2013, Kallos has been dedicated to ensuring operators and attendants have the tools they need to transport students safely each day. Kallos even authored laws to give operators and attendants more time for dry runs and created an opportunity to flag bad routes before the start of the school year.

“I am proud to have the support of our bus drivers who get our students to school and provide transportation for our disabled,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “We must support the bus drivers who get us where we need to go from the disabled to our children going to school.”

The International Union of Elevator Constructors Local One representing 3,000 members endorsed New York City Council Member Ben Kallos for Manhattan Borough President. With today’s announcement, Kallos has been endorsed by 73 district councils and local unions for Manhattan Borough President.

“We are all in for Council Member Ben Kallos for Manhattan Borough President and will be taking to the streets to elect a champion for labor. Kallos understands the importance of training and experience when it comes to elevator work throughout our city,” said Lenny Legotte, President-Business Manager of International Union of Elevator Constructors Local One. 

“New York City’s skyline wouldn’t be the same without constructors from Local One who build and maintain the elevators that carry us hundreds of feet into the sky as part of our daily vertical commutes,” said Council Member Ben Kallos. “It is testament to the training and expertise of the members of International Union of Elevator Constructors Local One that elevators are so safe and reliable throughout our city and we must do everything in our power to maintain them.”

Local One Elevator Constructors have been shaping the skylines of New York and New Jersey since we were chartered on June 7, 1894. We proudly represent 3,000 members that live and work in New York City, Westchester, Rockland, Long Island and New Jersey. Our highly trained and certified members specialize in installing, servicing, repairing and modernizing elevators, escalators and other conveyances. The members of Local One are the most progressively skilled, best-trained and safest working mechanics and apprentices in the industry. This is due to the outstanding and comprehensive training they receive through the National Elevator Industry Education Program (NEIEP). This training gives us confidence in our skills, pride in our work and strength in our union. Our Local Union is one of 76 Local Unions that make up the International Union of Elevator Constructors. The International Union represents over 25,000 members in the United States and Canada.

“When the Carpenters stood up to irresponsible developers who would put workers in dangerous situations just to make a buck, Council Member Ben Kallos was there and he will continue to stand with us to protect workers and residents alike as the next Manhattan Borough President,” said Joseph A. Geiger, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters.

“When the city uses tax dollars to subsidize development, those dollars should be creating good paying jobs with training necessary for safer construction. Council Member Ben Kallos has worked alongside the Carpenters for prevailing wages and training on dozens and dozens of city projects. We need Ben Kallos as our next Manhattan Borough President to fight for good paying jobs and training on every tax payer subsidized project,” said Michael Cavanaugh, Vice President of the New York City and Vicinity District Council of Carpenters.

The New York City District Council of Carpenters and Joiners of America is a representative body comprised of nine individual Locals and over 20,000 union members. The District Council functions as the voice for thousands of New York City’s most dedicated and skilled Carpenters, Millwrights, Dockbuilders, Timbermen, Cabinetmakers, Floorcoverers and Industrial Workers. Above all else, the District Council is dedicated to guarantee that every worker in our represented trades has rights in the workplace, a fair wage, a healthy family and hope for the future. The construction industry is prone to exploitative and dangerous conditions in the workplace; our efforts are to eliminate those tendencies through strong advocacy and direct action. The United Brotherhood of Carpenters is one of North America’s largest building-trades unions, with nearly a half-million members in the construction and wood-products industries.

New York City locals:

1. Local 20 – Carpenters – Staten Island
2. Local 45 – Carpenters – Queens
3. Local 157 – Carpenters – Manhattan
4. Local 212 – High Rise Concrete
5. Local 740 – Millwrights & Machinery Erectors
6. Local 926 – Carpenters – Brooklyn
7. Local 1556 – Dockbuilders & Timbermen
8. Local 2287 – Resilient Floor Coverers
9. Local 2790 – Industrial & Shop Workers