LOS ANGELES, Calif.–As expected, a labor group representing 600,000 union workers endorsed City Controller Wendy Greuel’s mayoral campaign today, while opponent Eric Garcetti earned the backing of another City Council colleague.
The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor’s endorsement of Greuel had been anticipated since the group’s political committee overwhelmingly voted in favor of her last week.
Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary-treasurer of the federation, called Greuel a “truth-teller” and a “fierce advocate for good jobs and a strong middle class, all across Los Angeles.”
Greuel said she was “honored to have the support of our firefighters, 911 operators, nurses, librarians, trash collectors, and more.”
The backing by the federation, which serves as an umbrella group for 300 unions in the region, could mean increased manpower for Greuel’s campaign.
Hundreds of federation members pitched in to do phone banking for several successful council candidates prior to the March 5 primary election.
Greuel was heavily backed by labor groups during the lead-up to the primary election. The city’s sworn police and electrical worker unions pooled together more than $2 million in independent donations to put out mailers and air television advertisements promoting Greuel.
Following the March 5 primary election, Greuel also garnered an endorsement from SEIU 721, which represents 10,000 city employees.
Garcetti’s campaign announced last week it was also “aggressively reaching out to union members.”
Garcetti has support from the Teamsters Joint Council 42, which represents 200,000 working members and retirees, the Communications Workers of America, which has 700,000 members, and the Laborers’ Local 300, which represents 8,000 Los Angeles construction workers.
“I’m proud to have such strong support from labor organizations and their individual members,” Garcetti said following last week’s Federation of Labor committee vote. “So many labor organizations and members are supporting me because of my proven results creating jobs, strengthening our middle class
and solving problems for L.A. residents. I will always stand up for working men and women as L.A.’s next mayor.”
Garcetti finished first in the primary election, followed by Greuel.
Over the weekend, Garcetti earned the endorsement of unsuccessful mayoral candidate Emanuel Pleitez. Councilman Paul Krekorian endorsed Garcetti on Monday, and Councilman Paul Koretz threw his support behind Garcetti today.
