Just 8 days before the most important election in U.S. history, International President John Costa was in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania to fire up a packed Get-Out-The-Vote rally at our Local 85-Pittsburgh, PA to elect Vice President Kamala Harris and pro-union, pro-transit candidates across the Keystone state.
“This is a very important election, and we can’t take it for granted. Our Union was among the first to endorse Harris. Under the current Administration, the word union was not a shameful word. Now, when you say the word union, it’s about working families,” said Costa. “We had the biggest infrastructure bill in the history of this country. It puts more money in our members’ and all working people’s pockets, especially in poor cities. It made safety better for my members, who are getting attacked every day on the job. I’m telling you to vote for your pockets and your jobs. If we don’t elect Kamala Harris this country is going to go backwards. Billionaires are going to get tax breaks. Not working people. The future of our country is at stake, and the ATU will be front and center for the next 8 days to make history by electing Kamala Harris and the candidates here today.”
Other speakers delivering impassioned speeches to the crowd urging everyone to not let up for the last week of the election were Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor and son of Local 85 member Austin Davis, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond, Rep. Chris Delusio, Erin McClelland, Candidate for State Treasurer, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Angela Ferritto, Allegheny-Fayette County Labor Council President Darrin Kelly, and Local 85 President/Business Agent Ross Nicotero.
Also attending were International Secretary-Treasurer Ken Kirk, International Vice President Ray Greaves, ATU Locals from the Pennsylvania Conference Board, ATU Local 689-Washington, DC, ATU Local 819-Newark, NJ, and ATU Local 272-Youngstown, OH. In addition, union members from across Western Pennsylvania attended the rally, including AFSCME, IUOE, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, UFCW, IAM, Bricklayers, Teamsters, LIUNA, and others.
Thanks to everyone who came out to Local 85 for hosting a great rally. We are close to the finish line, but we must not let up. VOTE!