http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/manufacturing-auto-s443.jpgThe union joins historic labor coalition for Shankland, including the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.

STEVENS POINT, WI – The United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 4 has endorsed State Rep. Katrina Shankland for Congress in Wisconsin’s 3rd Congressional District. The union joins the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO and 14 other unions in endorsing Shankland ahead of the August 13 Democratic primary election.

“The UAW Wisconsin State CAP Council is proud to endorse Katrina Shankland because she is a proven and effective fighter for workers and working families. She has consistently stood with us — from joining our picket lines to leading the fight against right-to-work and other anti-union attacks at the Capitol. We are ready to get to work with Katrina to take down Derrick Van Orden, who stands against everything the UAW stands for,” said John Drew, Chairperson of the UAW Wisconsin State CAP Council.

Over the past 12 years in the State Assembly, Shankland has built a track record supporting unions across both the public and private sectors. Most recently, she introduced the Workers First package of ten bills that includes restoring prevailing wage laws and repealing the right to work for less law in Wisconsin.

“I am proud to be running a pro-worker, pro-democracy campaign to take on Radical Derrick Van Orden — and win — so working families and seniors can have a member of Congress who has their backs. I look forward to working closely with the UAW to strengthen labor protections and grow union membership so everyone has a voice in their workplace,” Shankland said.

She continued, “Last year, I was proud to stand with UAW International Union Local 722 in Hudson at the GM parts distribution center. These workers courageously stood for all workers as they advocated for a cost of living adjustment, better wages, and more fairness in the workplace by ending tiers and restoring pensions for new workers. I heard a lot of stories from workers, from the person who was making $19 an hour after three years to those who had been working for eight years and hadn’t gotten a basic cost of living adjustment. This was unfortunately similar to what I heard in Chippewa Falls and De Pere as I stood with Teamsters who were striking over the summer as well. As an elected official, I will always stand with workers — on the line and by putting them first in the Capitol and the halls of Congress.”

UAW’s endorsement builds on Shankland’s momentum. She has now earned endorsements from 15 unions, the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO, Congressman Mark Pocan, former Congressman Dave Obey, more than 40 state and local elected officials, End Citizens United, Social Security Works, and United Rural Democrats. Last week, she became the first Democrat in WI-03 to release TV ads, with her first two focused on her record of co-sponsoring and passing 225 bipartisan laws in the State Legislature and her third focused on reproductive freedom. Head-to-head polling shows Shankland is the only Democratic candidate who beats Van Orden in the general election this November, 48-46%.

Katrina Shankland is a state representative in the Wisconsin State Assembly. In the Legislature, Katrina has passed 225 bipartisan laws, including increased access to affordable rural healthcare, help for farmers, expanded protections for first responders, and stronger clean water laws. Katrina is running for Congress to bring some common sense to the Capitol, fight against extremism, and deliver results for the hard-working people of Wisconsin. For more, go to katrinashanklandforcongress.com.