In a swift and decisive move this week, three employee rights organizations joined the “Emblem to Win” Campaign and gave their official endorsement to Democratic Congressional Candidate, Tracy Emblem, in a contested primary.

The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades of the United States and Canada, District Council 36 (IUPAT); International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, Iron Shipbuilders, Blacksmiths, Forgers and Helpers (IBB); and the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, Local 4 (BAC) agree with Tracy Emblem that “working families are the backbone in this key district and they deserve a leader who will stand up for them.”

When asked what prompted IUPAT’s decision to make a financial commitment so early in a contested Democratic primary, DC36/LU831 Business Representative Paul Vauchelet stated, “Tracy Emblem has got a lot of fight, a lot of fire in her belly. She is someone who will really fight for our working families.”

Many of the AFL-CIO affiliates have been active in races in the 50th since the 2006 special election. With the emergence of Emblem’s winning message, professionalism and natural leadership, the tides are shifting past party loyalties to focus on the only viable Progressive Democrat that can unseat the incumbent, Republican Brian Bilbray. The labor unions are in it to win, are backing a fresh face and have invested in Tracy Emblem as their “Emblem for Change”.  

“The voters are ready for change,” Emblem said. “These progressive labor groups, like many folks residing in the 50th, believe that we need to focus on economic recovery in our own communities by returning our tax dollars to our neighborhoods, cities and schools, through well-paying jobs.”

This follows the support of several other local labor unions earlier in 2009, such as the Office and Professional Employees International Union, Local 30 (OPEIU); United Association Plumbers & Pipe Fitters; International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, and Reinforcing Iron Workers, Local 229.