Gubernatorial candidate Joyce Craig Courtesy photo

MANCHESTER – The New England Chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees recently announced its endorsement of Joyce Craig for governor.

AFSCME Council 93 represents more than 45,000 workers across New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont and Maine.

“We are both proud and excited to support Joyce Craig’s candidacy for governor,” said Mark Bernard, executive director of AFSCME Council 93. “When it comes to respecting and appreciating the hard work and contributions of public sector workers, we don’t have to guess where Joyce stands. As mayor of Manchester, we could always count on her to listen carefully to the frontline workers and ensure they were treated fairly. We also knew her efforts to work collaboratively with us were aimed at ensuring essential public services were adequately funded and effectively delivered. New Hampshire needs a leader and it’s clear Joyce is the strongest candidate and is in the best position to win back the Governor’s Office.”

“I’m from a union family and I know firsthand the valuable work that New Hampshire labor organizations provide working families across our state. I am thrilled to earn the support of AFSCME Council 93 and their dedicated members who keep our communities running,” said Craig. “We have to do more to support working families and address the challenges facing our state. I am committed to partnering with local communities to invest in affordable housing, defend family-sustaining union jobs and create opportunities for all Granite Staters to succeed.”

“Coming from a labor family, Joyce understands the issues that hardworking NH families face daily – from fair wages, and affordable housing, to the right to collectively bargain,” said Karen Sutkus, president of AFSCME Local 298. “She is also a staunch supporter of reproductive freedom and the need to protect and strengthen public education. Joyce has been a strong ally of our local unions – helping to secure multi-year contracts and singing the praises of the employees who keep the city running and she’ll make a great governor.”

This is Craig’s 10th endorsement from organized labor; no other candidate in the race has more than one. It is clear that her message of supporting working families, investing in affordable housing, strengthening our public schools and creating more family-sustaining jobs is resonating with hardworking Granite Staters.