Christine Quinn and Stu Appelbaum (Photo: RWDSU)

She may not have announced her bid yet, but Council Speaker Christine Quinn has started to collect support from key labor allies as she campaigns for City Hall. To wit, the politically active Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union gave Ms. Quinn their official seal of approval tonight, with RWDSU President Stu Appelbaum offering especially effusive praise in the process.

“Throughout her career, Chris Quinn has consistently fought to make life better for vulnerable and marginalized residents of our city, including low-wage workers, immigrants, people of color, the undocumented, the homeless, the unemployed, and LGBT New Yorkers,” Mr. Appelbaum said in a lengthy statement. “We are a progressive, activist union that represents and organizes the most vulnerable and marginalized workers in our city today. We believe Chris Quinn will be a progressive, activist mayor for those workers and their families."

Although Ms. Quinn has stymied the paid sick day bill--one of the RWDSU's priorities--she backed several other labor goals, including the living wage bill and standing against Walmart, both of which were cited by Mr. Appelbaum tonight.

“Chris will be our first living wage mayor, implementing the most robust living wage legislation and policy framework in the country. This is a game-changer that will give thousands of struggling residents every year access to living wage jobs,” he contended. “She will also be our first progressive mayor of a Walmart-free New York City, because of her years of work keeping the nation’s biggest job destroyer out of the five boroughs.

Labor support for Ms. Quinn will undoubtedly be helpful as she aims to defeat several Democrats running to her left on economic issues, including Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Comptroller John Liu and former Comptroller Bill Thompson. Ms. Quinn was previously endorsed by UFCW Local 1500.

View Mr. Appelbaum's full, eight-paragraph endorsement below:

“The biggest challenge our city faces is the growing number of people struggling to survive. Chris Quinn’s progressive record of results and leadership shows that she is best prepared to address this challenge as mayor, and that’s why we are endorsing her,” 

“Throughout her career, Chris Quinn has consistently fought to make life better for vulnerable and marginalized residents of our city, including low-wage workers, immigrants, people of color, the undocumented, the homeless, the unemployed, and LGBT New Yorkers. We know she will continue to build on that record as mayor,”

“We are a progressive, activist union that represents and organizes the most vulnerable and marginalized workers in our city today. We believe Chris Quinn will be a progressive, activist mayor for those workers and their families, a strong, determined mayor who will help make the American dream a reality for many New Yorkers struggling to survive,”

“She has made city government more responsive and attuned to underserved communities and to people who feel invisible and forgotten. She will continue to do that as mayor. She will fight hard to reduce income inequality and slow the alarming growth of the working poor,” 

“Recognizing the fragile future so many New Yorkers face, Chris is committed to expanding the scope of what government does to support and strengthen working people. She has proven she knows how to use the levers of government to get it done,”

“Chris will be our first living wage mayor, implementing the most robust living wage legislation and policy framework in the country. This is a game-changer that will give thousands of struggling residents every year access to living wage jobs,” 

“She will also be our first progressive mayor of a Walmart-free New York City, because of her years of work keeping the nation’s biggest job destroyer out of the five boroughs. She will continue to focus on using economic development to attract high-road pro-union employers that want to create good jobs for New Yorkers,” 

“Chris Quinn will be a transformative mayor—our first mayor with her record of leadership to make the city a stronger and better place.”

Christine Quinn making her exit from the living wage rally. (Photo: Colin Campbell)

City Council Speaker Christine Quinn won't tolerate anyone messing with Mayor Bloomberg and Stuart Appelbaum, president of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, doesn't want messing with Ms. Quinn for angrily leaving this morning's rally celebrating the upcoming vote to pass the living wage bill after someone mocked the mayor.

Ms. Quinn made her exit from morning's rally on the City Hall steps when someone shouted a crack about "Pharaoh Bloomberg." Mr. Appelbaum, who was in attendance at the awkward rally, leapt to the Speaker's defense this afternoon with a press release reminding people of her role in getting the living wage bill vote passed in the first place.

"Make no mistake, there would be no living wage law bill without the Speaker," Mr. Appelbaum said. "Even though Chris may have left the rally after declaring her support for the bill, the most important thing for us to remember is that thousands of new Yorkers will receive higher wages because she had the courage to stand up and pass the living wage law."

Mr. Appelbaum has backed of the living wage bill. The bill is a rare point of contention between Ms. Quinn and Mayor Bloomberg, with whom she normally enjoys a rather cozy relationship.

Ms. Quinn made her break from the living wage rally after she listed off the long roster of polticial figures who were present at the event.

"Everybody but Pharoah Bloomberg!" the man shouted.

Ms. Quinn spun around and addressed the heckler.

"That’s not appropriate," she said. "If that’s what this protest is about, I’ll go right back on inside.”

And go inside she did. Ms. Quinn may disagree with Mr. Bloomberg about living wage, she clearly has no tolerance for people disrespecting the mayor--and that's all right by Mr. Appelbaum, who regularly weighs in on a variety of issues. No other city union has responded to the pharaoh flap. We're not holding our breath.

“Rory Lancman has been one of the most aggressive and effective advocates for working people in New York," said Stuart Appelbaum, President of RWDSU. “Our endorsement of his candidacy sends a clear message: Rory is the candidate of working people in this Congressional race.”

The RWDSU boasts of a 40,000 strong membership, but its real strength has been in its increasing advocacy of social justice matters over the last couple of years, most recently in its concerted push for a living wage bill in New York City.

RWDSU has also led the effort to keep Walmart out of New York City, and Mr. Lancman was one of the most vocal advocates of keeping the big box retailer out of the five boroughs.

“I’ve dedicated my career in public life to fighting for the things that matter to working New Yorkers, and it’s a great honor to have the backing of RWDSU and organized labor in this race,” Mr. Lancman said. “Together, we can take back Congress from those who have been tilting the economic playing field away from middle-class and working people for years.”

If Mr. Lancman is to prevail in his Congressional campaign, he will have to rely on the support of labor groups like the RWDSU. His opponent, Grace Meng, received the support of the Queens County Democratic Party earlier this week, and Mr. Lancman will have to count on labor coming out for him in a big way to counteract the county party's organizational strength.

It sounds like they are ready.

“Time and again, Rory has stood up for the rights and interests of our members in tough contract negotiations and in the ongoing battle against Walmart’s efforts to enter New York City,” Mr. Appelbaum added. “We need more people in Congress like Rory Lancman – elected officials who will promote a progressive agenda and do what is necessary to improve the lives of working people and rebuild the middle class."

Queens City Council member Liz Crowley is also in the race.
 

Jewish Labor Committee's Fundraising Invite

The Jewish Labor Committee, which is headed by Stuart Appelbaum, is hosting their annual dinner as labor makes their big push for living wage legislation. Mr. Appelbaum is also the President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU). Among the labor bigwigs attending Mr. Appelbaum's event is Richard Trumka, the national head of the AFL-CIO.

Further connecting the dinner to the living wage fight, the  Jewish Labor Committee has recently been campaigning for the bill, which would require taxpayer-subsidized projects to pay higher wages. "Having prominent Jews on board with living wage and understanding living wage as an important issue for progressive Jews to support is certainly helpful," one insider familiar with the event said. "Though let me stress that tonight is much bigger than living wage--Israel and other issues will be discussed."

The fundraiser will also be attended by several Rabbis and the heads of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York.

In addition to labor's push for the living wage legislation, Mayor Michael Bloomberg is also engaging the issue.  At the State of the City address tonight, he is expected to announce a renewed push for development of Kingsbridge Armory in the Bronx where there would be preference for high-wage developers instead of a mandate. The RWDSU says they support this plan.

View the event's guests below:

In a statement, RWDSU head Stuart Appelbaum, who has made his name over the past several years as one of the city's most ferocious critics of Mayor Michael Bloomberg, had high praise for the president, describing as a champion of the working class.

President Obama has done more for working people than any President in recent memory. When you examine his biggest victories—economic stimulus, healthcare reform, auto industry recovery, financial reform, pay equity reform, middle class tax relief, restoration of collective bargaining rights—it is clear that he has delivered on his central promises of hope and change. His presidency has been transformative under the most difficult of circumstances. He has been a stalwart defender of working men and women during a time of obscene obstructionism in Congress. Yet his record of progressive accomplishments has been woefully unacknowledged. He deserves more credit and gratitude.

The stakes in the 2012 Presidential election could not be higher. Millions of Americans are still reeling from the Great Recession. From the beginning, President Obama has strengthened government and advanced a bold set of policies that prioritize the needs of workers and the unemployed. And he has succeeded despite reactionary forces trying to thwart him at every turn.

Simply put, President Obama has been an underappreciated champion of working people. Over the next year, we plan to campaign vigorously for him throughout the country.

Earlier this week, SEIU endorsed Mr. Obama for president. Both unions are gearing up for a massive mobilization for the president in the face of what is expected to be an onslaught of soft money from the Republicans.

President Obama has come under fire from some liberals for ignoring the needs of labor, especially over his waffling over the Employee Free Choice Act and his embrace of some of the right's rhetoric over teacher's unions.

RWDSU represents 100,000 U.S. and Canadian workers in retail and food processing. The RWDSU Executive Board unanimously voted for the endorsement.

Jim Messina, President Obama's 2012 campaign manager, talked up the president's record.

“RWDSU and the President both know that in order to create true middle class security we must lay the foundation for a fairer economy in which everyone plays by the same rules, and hard work and responsibility pay,” he said.

“Upon taking office, President Obama made the issue of workers’ rights – including safe, secure workplaces and access to affordable health care – a top priority. RWDSU has been at the forefront of this fight, and we are proud to have its endorsement,” said Messina.

Although the leadership of the RWDSU is headquartered in the city, they have chapters all over the country, and are preparing an on-the-ground effort in Midwestern and Southern swing states.

This evening, the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union--one of the leaders of the anti-Walmart fight--are hosting a concert featuring Indie artists Caithlin de Marrais (formerly the frontwoman of the acclaimed Ranier Maria) and Yellowbirds at Union Hall  in Park Slope.

"We have a creative collective that is about getting cool and buzzed about bands and artists excited about the campaign against Walmart," said RWDSU spokesman Dan Morris. "There is lot of interest in this campaign and in this fight."

A poll by The New York Times showed that 62 percent of residents favor Walmart opening in the city. 

According to a recent report, the mega-retailer has been in talks with the developer The Related Companies about opening a store in East New York, however the deal would require state approval.

The anti Walmart coalition is preparing a series of concerts designed to raise public awareness about the store's plans, and are planning a concert in the near future called "Riffs of Resistance: Brooklyn Bands Against Walmart."

Mayor Michael Bloomberg has said he favors the right of the store opening in the city, but a host of leading lawmakers, including all of the front-runners for 2013, have come out against the idea.