PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: September 29, 2014
Contacts: SEIU Local 99 – Blanca Gallegos 213-500-9594; bgallegos@seiu99.org, SMMCTA – Sarah Braff – 310-829-5438, smmctapresident@smmcta.com, SMRR – Patricia Hoffman – 310-829-9472, oppenhoff@earthlink.net, LA Labor Federation- Priscilla Cheng; 213.381.5611 x133; PCheng@launionaflcio.org
Teachers, School Workers, Renters, L.A. County Working Families Join Together to Endorse Candidates for Santa Monica Malibu School Board
SANTA MONICA, CA — The Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teachers Association, Education Workers of SEIU Local 99, Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights, and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor are endorsing Ralph Mechur, Oscar de la Torre, Laurie Lieberman and Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein for the Santa Monica-Malibu School Board.
“These candidates have our support because they understand that student success depends on what happens inside and outside the classroom,” said SEIU Local 99 Interim Executive Director Scott Washburn. “They know that students need great teachers and a full team of caring support staff to ensure they can learn in a clean, safe, healthy and supportive environment.”
“Whether we work in the classroom or in the school cafeteria, workers at Santa Monica-Malibu Unified share a deep commitment to helping our students learn and succeed,” said Sarah Braff, President of the Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teachers Association. “We are proud to come together in support of candidates who value the contributions of all workers on campus and who share our goal of providing a high quality education for all students.”
“Successful schools are at the heart of a great community,” said Patricia Hoffman, Spokesperson for Santa Monicans for Renters’ Rights. “These candidates show a commitment to our students and are dedicated to making Santa Monica an even better city.”
“These candidates share the same values as working families. When parents have good jobs, children have the stability they need to learn and excel in school,” said Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary Treasurer of the L.A. County Federation of Labor.
With their endorsements, union members and local residents are committing to campaign efforts that will include phone banks and door-to-door voter outreach efforts. Election day is Tuesday, November 4, 2014.
###
The Santa Monica Malibu Classroom Teachers Association (SMMCTA) represents Child Development Teachers, Early Childhood Teachers, K-12 Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Adult Education Teachers, Substitute Teachers, Nurses, Speech Pathologists and other non-administrative positions within the Santa Monica Malibu Unified School Districts.
Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 99 represents nearly 45,000 education workers in K-12 schools, early education centers, and community colleges throughout Southern California, including nearly 1000 custodians, cafeteria workers, bus drivers and others providing essential student services at Santa Monica-Malibu Unified.
Santa Monicans for Renters Rights (SMRR) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of rent control.
The Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, represents hundreds of thousands of working women and men. It is the second largest central labor council in the country, representing over 300 unions throughout Los Angeles County.
