Teamsters back Greg Abbott as unions split endorsements in governor's race
Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday drew the backing of a slew of labor unions, including the Texas Teamsters, in his bid for a record fourth term in office — a series of endorsements that the Republican touted as a first from labor groups that have historically backed Democrats.
The governor has long had a rocky relationship with unions. The state’s largest labor group, the Texas AFL-CIO, is a vocal critic of Abbott’s and is backing state Rep. Gina Hinojosa in her Democratic primary bid to challenge him. The union’s 250,000 members include teachers, firefighters, public employees and more. The Service Employees International Union’s Texas branch, which counts airport workers, hospital employees and janitors as members, also is backing Hinojosa.
“Greg Abbott does not represent workers. During his 12 years in office, his divisive politics have made our families worse off,” Leonard Aguilar, president of the Texas AFL-CIO said in a statement. “Texans deserve a governor who will fight for all workers.”
“Governor Abbott has kept an open door to the Teamsters union during his tenure, willing and eager to partner with us on job creation and workplace protections,” said Brent Taylor, vice president of the union’s southern region, which includes Texas. “The Teamsters do not care if you have a D, an R or an I next to your name. We're interested in one thing: Are you ready to help us tackle big issues to improve the lives of working families.”
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/abbott-teamsters-endorsement-21333700.php
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