AFL-CIO Endorses Knowles For U.S. Senate
Cites Record on Job Creation, ANWR Support, Consistent Support for Working Families
U.S. Senate Candidate Tony Knowles said he was proud to receive the endorsement of the Alaska AFL-CIO, a coalition of 60 local unions and central labor councils that represent over 50,000 union members in Alaska. The endorsement of Knowles came after both leading candidates for the U.S. Senate seat spoke before the Alaska AFL-CIO's biennial convention last week in Anchorage.
"In my six years as mayor and eight years as governor, I worked to create jobs and stand up for Alaska's working families and I'm proud now to have the endorsement of Alaska's largest labor organization," Knowles said. "Alaska's future is bright when we stand up to Washington and special interests, create new jobs here at home, not abroad; open ANWR and build the gas pipeline to create jobs and provide the nation with the energy it needs; and support working families with affordable health care and prescription drugs and ensuring that their kids get a quality education."
Knowles noted the many challenges facing working families today: more than a million American jobs lost under the current Administration, cuts in overtime eligibility, support for outsourcing jobs, dismantling of public sector jobs through privatization, and skyrocketing health insurance rates.
"As members of the labor community we are concerned about how new jobs are going to be created in Alaska," said Mike Bozine, President of Building & Construction Trades Council." For over twenty years the Murkowski name has had no success in opening ANWR. It is time for a change. Alaska needs a new, bi-partisan approach to convince a majority in Congress of the wisdom of developing our coastal plain's oil and gas resources. Tony Knowles is that voice and he is the right person to send to Washington, DC."
"Sadly, the incumbent Senator has failed to support Alaska workers on these critical issues: job losses through outsourcing, loss of overtime benefits, and giving in to special interests on issues like prescription drug costs and privatization," said Dianne O'Connell, Program Director of the Alaska Nurses Association. "Tony Knowles supports Alaska workers with a pro-jobs, pro-business attitude; strong support for project labor agreements; tax cuts for working class families; and tax incentives for companies that create jobs here at home and offer health insurance."
"Sen. Murkowski's supporters say outsourcing is good for the economy and workers like me should 'quit whining'," said Phyllis Rice, a member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Local 601. "I think our economy prospers when American workers are on the job, earning a good, living wage and that's why I'm supporting Tony Knowles for the U.S. Senate."
"Frankly, we are tired of outside special interests distorting the truth about Tony Knowles record like Americans for Job Security that recently returned to Alaska television," said John Garrett, Business Manager of Sheet Metal Workers International Association, Local 23. "This ad is bogus. As governor Tony Knowles created over 30,000 new jobs, there was a surge in oil jobs, and wages in the mining industry significantly increased. If people question Tony's record on these issues I challenge them to go down to the Department of Labor and check the books because Tony Knowles has a proven record of providing Alaskans with job opportunities and improving Alaska's economy."
"The 8,000 state employee members of ASEA clearly understand Tony Knowles' record and his commitment to the people who deliver services to the people of Alaska on a daily basis. His record shows he treats all the working men and women of this state fairly, equitably, and with respect," said Jim Duncan, Business Manager of Alaska State Employees Assoc. (AFSCME Local #52). "And let me also respond to these television ads that say Tony Knowles did not support the economy or maintain jobs in Alaska. Nothing could be further from the truth. On commercial fishing, Knowles created a state water cod fishery worth $20 million a year for small boat fishermen in our coastal communities, boosted the CDQ allocation, brokered a deal on the Pacific Salmon Treaty along Alaska's terms that resulted in record catches in recent years, and he sued the federal government over the closure of the waters of Glacier Bay National Park."