All press inquiries: contact communications director Joe Dinkin
at jdinkin@workingfamiliesparty.org or at (978) 223 5868 (cell)
Key Press Clips
Businesses may be made to provide paid sick days
Jon Green on Counterpoint with Scott Harris
"A change in state law last year eased the rules for cross-endorsements, setting up the Working Families Party as a potential kingmaker in close races, such as Democrat Jim Himes’ challenge of US Rep. Chris Shays, R-4th District."
"Working Families see one of its roles as forcing the large Democratic majorities in the legislature to deliver on issues. For that, [Working Families Director Jon] Green makes no apologies. “You have no permanent friends, no permanent enemies,” Green said, it’s just about the issues.”
-Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, “Tiny Political Group’s Loyalty is to Causes”, Aug 4th, 2008.
Us Rep. Chris Murphy, D-5, and Jim Himes, who is running against Republican Rep. Christopher Shays in the fourth Congressional district, both addressed the group, saying that they support its goals of affordable healthcare, good public education, and well-paying jobs.
The party has cross-endorsed Murphy, Himes, and many other candidates, whose names will appear twice on each ballot – once4 for one of the two major parties, and once on the Working Families Party line.
Murphy said the party “is about returning power to the people.”
-Rachel S. King, New Haven Register, “Working Families Party cross-endorses Shays opponent," Aug 17th, 2008.
“For the second year in a row, a coalition of labor and community groups is urging the legislature to pass a paid sick leave bill that would give full time workers at companies employing 25 or more 6 ½ days of paid sick leave a year."
"We’re not asking for the months, for a year, for a month – we’re asking for just six days out of the year,” said Urania Petit, co-chairwoman of the 1st Congressional District chapter of Working Families, a coalition of community groups and labor unions."
-Janie Podsada, Hartford Courant, “A Bill to Give Paid Sick Time,” Sunday, April 6th, 2008.
"THE day after Election Day, the phone kept ringing at La Paloma Sabanera, a coffee house and bookstore owned by Luis E. Cotto."
"The callers congratulated Mr. Cotto on being one of two candidates from the Working Families Party to capture two minority-party vacancies on the City Council; the other was Larry Deutsch, a pediatrician at a community health center in Willimantic."
"Now, Mr. Cotto said, he would no longer be known as just the 'coffee-pourer.' "
-Christine Stuart, New York Times, “Two Become First Time Council Members,” Nov 11, 2007
“Salvio, the highest vote getter in the ward, said he was convinced Gerratana was able to bump of Kirejczyk because he was cross-endorsed by the Connecticut Working Families Party.”
-Rick Guinness, New Britain Herald ,“Gerratana Wins After Recount,” Saturday November 10th, 2007
"Michael Edwards says he stands up for what he believes. Edwards could lose his job at the Farmington Avenue Wal-Mart because on Monday, he held a sign that read, “You can roll back your prices, but not our rights” as he joined the Connecticut Working Families protest there with about 50 other people."
"The protest was sparked by the July 9 sacking of Edwards’ best friend and co-worker at Wal-Mart and allegations of ongoing racism at the store."
-Scott Whipple, New Britain Herald, “Discrimination?” July 31, 2007
"As Aetna’s stock rose, protesters wore blue hospital gowns over their clothes and carried small white paper bags that said “Use this Barf Bag if Aetna’s profits are making you sick.” They were dramatizing thait argument that health insurer’s profits and executive pay are making coverage unaffordable and hurting access to care for many people."
"The rally was organized by Connecticut Working Families, a labor and community coalition that supports ‘single payer’ health care reform, which could drastically reduce the role of health insurance companies."
-Diane Levick and Janice Podsada, Hartford Courant, “Profits and a Protest”, April 27th, 2007