Local Unions Endorse Russell Gilbert’s Re-Election to Chattanooga City Council

Firefighters, Police, SEIU, other Unions Support Pro-Labor Candidate for Council

(Chattanooga, TN)  Five of the most influential labor unions in Chattanooga announced their unanimous support for Russell Gilbert in his re-election bid for the District 5 city council election.  The Service Employees International Union (SEIU Local 205), International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 820 and the Chattanooga Building and Construction Trades Local all have members who work as city employees and have endorsed Gilbert.  Also supporting Mr. Gilbert are the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW Local 175), and the Chattanooga Area Labor Council.

“City government needs people on the council who have an independent voice and aren’t afraid to speak truth to power,” says Alonzo Strickland, an SEIU member who works on the city’s street cleaning crew. “Russell Gilbert will stand up for what’s right and that’s why our union and these other labor organizations support him for re-election”.

Gilbert was elected in a special election last November and is on the ballot this time for a full, four-year term. Early voting begins February 11 and Election Day is on March 3. A full list of dates and voting locations is available through the Hamilton County Election Commission.

The SEIU is the largest single labor union in North America, with a membership of 2 million members and is part of the Change to Win (CTW) labor federation. SEIU Local 205 represents public employees who work for the City of Chattanooga.