Teamsters Florida Locals Endorse Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate

Crist Stands Up For Working Families, Wood Says

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Five Florida Teamsters locals today announced their endorsement of Gov. Charlie Crist for U.S. Senate.

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Endorsing Crist are Local 79 in Tampa, Local 173 in Bradenton, Local 385 in Orlando, Local 947 in Jacksonville and Local 991 in Mobile, Ala., with Teamster members in the Panhandle.

The Teamsters decided to endorse Crist because of his commitment to creating jobs and rebuilding the economy, issues vital to working families.

"Charlie Crist is a good governor who cares more about people than party," said Local 79 President Ken Wood. "He stood up for President Obama's stimulus package when he thought it would help working families in Florida, even though he took a lot of flak from his own party for doing so."

Crist supports relief for pension funds hurt by Wall Street's meltdown, said Wood, who is also an International Vice President for the union and President of Joint Council 75.

Crist also advocates the Express Carrier Employee Protection Act, which would put employees of all express package delivery companies under the same labor law, Wood said.

"We need to elect politicians who listen to us, who represent us and who protect us, and that's exactly what Charlie Crist has done for Florida's working families," Wood said.  

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

SOURCE Teamsters Local 79