Portside

 CSEA President Danny Donohue has announced the union's endorsement of Hillary Clinton for President of the United States. "There is no question that Hillary Clinton is the most qualified candidate in the race for President and has demonstrated her ability to lead over and over again," Donohue said. "Just as important, she has earned the respect of CSEA members and other working people, and the majority of our members strongly support her candidacy."

"I am honored to have earned the support of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) Local 1000, and to stand with them in the fight to help working families get ahead and stay ahead," Clinton said. AFSCME and CSEA have spent decades working to strengthen America's middle class and to give workers a voice.

"American workers built the middle class by fighting for higher wages, safer working conditions, retirement security, and the right to collectively bargain. Now, working families are under attack by Republicans who want to silence workers, strip them of their hard-won rights, and keep stacking the deck for those at the top. As President, I will stand up for workers and fight attacks on collective bargaining. I will fight to protect retirement security, including defined benefit plans and Social Security-because when unions are strong, families are strong, and when families are strong, America is strong."

"I am proud to stand with public sector workers at the federal, state, county and municipal levels of government. They make this country work. Together with the men and women of AFSCME and CSEA, I know that we can continue making progress and build a better future for working families across America," said Clinton.

At a time when too many Americans are feeling the consequences of an economy out of balance, Donohue expressed confidence that Clinton will pursue policies that help working people earn better wages to support their families while protecting benefits and retirement security. He noted that on a range of issues from foreign policy to women's equality, Clinton is best qualified in the presidential field. CSEA was the first union to support Clinton in her successful runs for the United States Senate from New York and her bid for the White House in 2008.

*** CSEA represents nearly 300,000 members in NYS.