Former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe (D) received recognition from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) on Monday, an important endorsement from the union in his final bid for the governor’s mansion.
The Hill is the first point of sale to report the confirmation.
“Terry has a strong history of advocating for workers and he has a bold vision to move Virginia forward. He knows this is not a time to tinker with the edges, but a time to grow up and be brave. The Virginians can count on him to make real progress as the next governor, “said Robert Hollingsworth, executive director of AFSCME Council 20, which represents 9,000 public sector workers in the greater Washington, DC area.
AFSCME is the largest public sector union in the United States, while Council 20 is the largest in the greater DC area.
“Virginia has recently made tremendous strides in finalizing a law that will allow local collective bargaining. Now we need to build on that advances and ensure the benefits extend to government employees, raise our minimum wage to $ 15 / hour by 2024 and rebuild our economy in truly equitable ways, “McAuliffe said in a statement that responded to the news.
The former governor’s request sets a target for the minimum wage increase two years earlier than what lawmakers approved in its gradual increase in the minimum wage last year.
McAuliffe proposed a business plan last week calling on employers to make paid sick leave and family medical leave available nationwide and to demand a higher minimum wage. The former governor’s plan also calls for federal dollars to be used to help families pay co-payments for childcare for families in need.
Polls show that McAuliffe leads the crowded field of Democrats that includes Virginia Governor Justin Fairfax, the former Virginia Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy, State Senator Jennifer McClellan, and Del. Include Lee Carter.
The Virginia Democratic Party announced last week that candidates would participate in four televised debates. The first will take place on April 6th at the WTVR. The democratic primary will take place on June 8th.
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