IFPTE Proudly Endorses Bob Ferguson for Governor of Washington
Statement by IFPTE International President MattHEW Biggs and IFPTE Secretary-Treasurer Gay Henson
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, DC – As the executive officers of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, a labor union representing more than 90,000 members across North America, we wholeheartedly endorse Bob Ferguson for Governor of Washington State.
Since being elected as the state’s Attorney General in 2013, Attorney General Ferguson has proven himself to be a steadfast advocate for working families, for unions, and for economic justice He’s prosecuted employers for wage theft, stopped corporate franchise “no-poach” agreements that limit workers’ wages and labor mobility, helped secure improvements to worker protections at the Hanford site, and has gone after corporate interests that seek to undermine worker rights and weaken collective bargaining. He has also successfully proposed legislation to prevent employers who commit wage theft from receiving state and local government contracts, and legislation to increase state penalties for wage theft. Before serving as Attorney General, Ferguson’s legal career included serving as a law clerk in the Federal District Court for Eastern Washington and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
As a candidate for governor, he understands the priorities of IFPTE members, including the thousands of members of SPEEA-IFPTE Local 2001 who live and work in Washington, as well as the thousands of federal employees in the state working at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, at the Army Corps of Engineers, and at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. He’s committed to supporting and keeping aerospace jobs and advanced manufacturing in the state, leveling the playing field for workers who want to form and join unions, expanding support for STEM education and workforce development, and improving affordable housing and childcare.
Ferguson will bring a thoughtful, common-sense, and principled approach to the Governor's Office from day one. Based on his record of supporting working families, standing up for good jobs, and protecting civil rights and the public interest, we are confident he will continue to forward good policies, needed legislation, and effective leadership as Governor of Washington.
Across the United States and Canada, IFPTE represents 90,000 highly skilled workers in the federal, public, and private sectors. IFPTE is an affiliate of the AFL-CIO and the CLC. More information can be found at www.IFPTE.org.
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