For Immediate Release: May 29, 2013 Contact: Nathan Smith | 718-612-4453 | njsmith74@gmail.

com

1199 SEIU Endorses Austin Shafran for City Council

Largest Union in NYC Joins Shafrans Labor Coalition Queens, NY 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, the largest union in city and the largest healthcare union in the nation, today announced its endorsement of Austin Shafran for City Council. Representing over 350,000 workers, including more than 220,000 in New York City alone, 1199 is highly regarded as the largest and one of the most politically active unions in the city with a long and winning tradition of working with progressive candidates to win elections and expand economic opportunities for working families. Following the endorsement last week by the Hotel Trades Council, and previous endorsements by the Working Families Party, 32BJ, the NYC Central Labor Council, and Teamsters Joint Council 16, Shafran has built the strongest and most diverse coalition of support among the labor community and progressive organizations of any candidate in this hotly contested race. Austin is a real progressive who will fight hard for quality healthcare and good jobs for all working people, said Kevin Finnegan, Political Director of 1199 SEIU. As someone raised in a union household who spent his entire life working for the public, Austin has the right experience and strong values we need as a champion for workers and the middle class. We will work hard to get him elected to the City Council as a leading voice for progressive issues that matter to working families. The talent of New Yorks workforce is second to none, and I will fight every day to ensure they get the fair pay and full benefits to match their service, said Austin Shafran, candidate for City Council (CD-19). Our middle class was built on the promise of good jobs, great schools, affordable housing and quality healthcare, and I will do everything possible to make sure that commitment is met and maintained for all New Yorkers. I am sincerely honored to have the support of 1199, which has rightfully earned iconic status in the progressive labor community for its efforts to bring economic and social justice to countless families. I look forward to passionately working with them and their members for years to come. In addition to the endorsement by 1199 SEIU, a full list of union endorsements, can be found at: http://www.austin4council.com/endorsements. Throughout his career in public service over the past decade, Shafran has worked in the city, state, and federal levels of government, helping enact policies and legislation to improve the lives of seniors, children, women, working families and businesses.

Shafran most recently served in Governor Cuomos Administration as Vice President of Public Affairs for the states economic development agency, where he played a significant role in executing the Governors aggressive job growth and small business development agenda. In this capacity, Shafran helped to foster the growth of tens of thousands of new jobs and local businesses, while helping reduce the tax burden on middle-class families to its lowest rate in almost 60 years through fair share tax reform. A former semi-professional baseball player, Shafran has volunteered to coach little league and mentor young players in local youth sports organizations in our community. For more information about the campaign and to get involved, please visit www.austin4council.com. ###