Today in Philadelphia, we joined our brothers and sisters in SEIU 32BJ, SEIU 668 and the SEIU Pennsylvania State Council in endorsing Democratic candidate Tom Wolf for Governor of Pennsylvania in 2014.
“Tom Wolf has spent most of his life advocating for fairness, in business and in the community,” SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania President Neal Bisno told the gathered crowd. “As head of the Wolf Organization, he shared 20 to 30 percent of his annual profits with the employees who made those profits possible.”
Wolf stressed that he believes fairness is important to building a Pennsylvania that works for all of its citizens, not just the people at the top.
“Don’t let anyone tell you fairness isn’t important,” Wolf told those gathered on Friday. “I’d love to go toe to toe with anyone says fairness doesn’t matter.”
Home care worker and member of the United Home Care Workers of Pennsylvania Zekia Ruffin spoke on behalf of her fellow healthcare professionals and stressed that she’s supporting Tom Wolf for governor because she knows he will work hard to make sure that she and healthcare professionals will be able to take care of themselves properly while working to care for others.
“I have been a home care worker for seven years and it has been a real challenge taking care of my three children on low wages and lack of healthcare,” Ruffin said. “I support Tom Wolf because he will provide an avenue for Medicaid Expansion so myself and other home care workers can get affordable healthcare that doesn’t deplete our monthly income.”
SEIU’s vision for a healthier Pennsylvania is one with a thriving middle class with fully-funded public schools and services, family-sustaining jobs, and access to quality, affordable healthcare. We are proud to stand with Tom Wolf because he shares our vision on how to move Pennsylvania forward in a new direction and create a fresh start.