Victory Fund candidate Jenny Durkan announced the support of five labor unions in her race to become Seattle’s mayor this fall. The new endorsements adds to her list of over a dozen unions supporting the candidate, in addition to her backing by the Chamber of Commerce. Durkan is former U.S. Attorney for Western Washington, making history as the first openly gay U.S. attorney in the country.
Endorsements for Durkan include the Aerospace Machinists Union District Lodge 751, Teamsters Local 117, the Pacific Northwest Regional Council of Carpenters, Port of Seattle Fire Fighters Local 125, and Sailors’ Union of the Pacific. Teamsters 117’s most recent work in Seattle is its fight to get Uber and Lyft drivers in the city the right to unionize.
Teamsters 117 is also known for its efforts to have businesses pay more to help fund Seattle’s Office of Labor Standards, which enforces minimum wage and sick time laws. However, The Chamber of Commerce, which also backs Durkan, fought that push. Lambro states that Teamsters 117 wants the next mayoral administration to increase labor law enforcement and increase pay for Uber and Lyft drivers, to make their rates more comparable to taxi drivers. Durkan was previously involved with Teamsters as a baggage handler in the 1970s, and Lambro expects her to follow through with the union’s wishes if elected.
