Amy Kennedy Leads Economic Relief Roundtable with Governor Murphy and Union Leaders

Brigantine, NJ — Earlier today, Amy Kennedy, candidate for New Jersey’s Second Congressional District, led an Economic Relief Roundtable with Governor Murphy and Union Leaders from across South Jersey on the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

The event comes after Kennedy called out Jeff Van Drew for his refusal to advocate for federal funding to support state and local governments during the COVID-19 crisis.

Kennedy discussed her economic recovery plan, the need to diversify South Jersey’s economy to provide good-paying jobs, and to help rebuild the economy following the pandemic.

“We have a long road ahead of us, but to make real change and to ensure that our communities can move forward, we have to be willing to do the work,” said Amy Kennedy. “Our communities can’t afford the political games we’ve seen in our country. We need relief and we need it now. That relief begins with more stimulus and direct payments to our families, federal funding for state and local governments, additional PPP loans to employers, and expanded unemployment benefits to help our communities survive.”

“We need strong leadership in Congress.  We need leaders that do not waver in supporting our union men and women and their families and leaders who don’t just stick a finger in the air to see which way the wind is blowing when deciding how to vote.  That leader is Amy Kennedy,” said Governor Murphy. “Jeff Van Drew turned his back on South Jersey’s working families when he gave President Trump his undying support. He’s done nothing to renew the vital federal unemployment benefits that families need now to make ends meet or to ensure New Jersey gets a fair share of federal stimulus. Amy stands with labor because she knows first-hand, as a former union member herself, the importance of a union in fighting for and protecting better wages and health care, better workplace standards, and greater respect for working families. Amy gets it, and everyone here gets it. Jeff Van Drew, sadly, forgot.”

“I’m proud to stand here in support of Amy Kennedy,” said Lieutenant Governor Oliver. “Amy has spent her career advocating for our working families, and she’ll continue that fight in Washington. Her recovery plan will provide immediate relief for our families, strengthen our healthcare system, and bring jobs back to South Jersey.”

“As a former union member herself, Amy Kennedy knows how important it is to support our workers through this pandemic,” said New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech. “The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a brutal toll on our members, and we haven’t seen any urgency from Jeff Van Drew to fight for the economic relief that our struggling workers and families need.”

“This pandemic has decimated the gaming industry in South Jersey, and immediate support for our workers is urgently needed,” said Unite Here Local 54 President Bob McDevitt. “The working families who had supported Van Drew for decades were abandoned by him in their most desperate hour. It’s disgraceful that a man who owes his entire political career to working people has cast them aside to pursue the agenda of billionaires and Wall Street thugs.”

“Throughout this crisis, the workers of the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) have risked their lives to keep our public transportation running, and now it’s time for Congress to repay the favor,” said ATU International Vice President Ray Greaves. “Transit workers, like all of South Jersey’s workers, are struggling during this pandemic through no fault of their own. We need leaders like Amy Kennedy, who will put politics aside and ensure that our workers have the support they need.”

“Our workers are putting themselves at risk every day, yet we’ve seen no urgency to help them from leaders like Jeff Van Drew,” said UFCW Union Representative Matte Kane. “Now more than ever, we need leaders in Washington who will fight to defend good-paying union jobs and worker protections. Amy Kennedy has proven she’s a friend of South Jersey’s workers and will always put our community above party politics.”

Amy has received the following labor endorsements:

New Jersey Education Association (NJEA)

Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)

American Federation of Teachers – New Jersey (AFT)

National Education Association (NEA)

Communication Workers of America – New Jersey (CWA-NJA)

New Jersey State Building & Construction Trades Council

New Jersey AFL-CIO

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA)

American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)

UNITE HERE Local 54

Sheet Metal Workers International Association (SMART)

SEIU Local 32BJ

SEIU State Council and Local 1199

New Jersey State Firefighters Benevolent Association

United Auto Workers (UAW)