The California State Association of Electrical Workers (CSAEW), which represents over 104,000 union electrical workers statewide, today announced it has endorsed Xavier Bacerra for Governor.
CSAEW cited Bacerra’s career as a relentless advocate supporting workers’ rights, enforcing labor laws and protecting retirees’ pensions as a U.S. Congressman and U.S. Attorney General as key factors that make him the clear choice to lead California.
“California’s workers need a Governor who will work for them, and Xavier Bacerra has proven throughout his career that he is a union ally who understands that hard-working men and women should be given every opportunity to secure jobs that pay them a fair wage to support themselves and their families and plan for a secure future,” said CSAEW President Neal Lauzon. “He brings a history of supporting labor unions while his competitors have unfairly blamed unions for rising costs.”
Among the key factors in CSAEW’s endorsement was Becerra’s first action as U.S. Attorney General to establish a dedicated division in the Department of Justice focused exclusively on enforcing the state’s labor laws and his decision to bring legal action against employers misclassifying workers as independent contractors and cheating workers by violating wage and hour laws.
CSAEW also hailed Bacerra’s work as U.S. Representative where he passed federal legislation to protect private pension plans and the retirees dependent on them.
CSAEW has worked for nearly 100 years to improve the health and safety conditions for its diverse membership. Its members work across hundreds of classifications from construction electricians to high voltage linemen to sound and tele-communications to public works administration. Its members include a diverse range of classifications and skills – from Inside and Outside Wiremen, Sound Engineers and Technicians, Clerical Workers, Audio Mixers, Stage Managers, Apprentices and more. CSAEW is part of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers which represents 887,000 members nationwide.
