HUNTSVILLE — The North Alabama Area Labor Council has endorsed a pair of candidates in runoff elections for the Huntsville City Council and school board District 1 seats.
Michelle Watkins, who is seeking the city council post, and Patricia King, the candidate for the city school board, received the labor organization’s backing this week.
The runoff elections are Sept. 24. Watkins faces incumbent City Councilman Devyn Keith and King is opposed by Chaundra Jones.
“In Huntsville’s District 1, as with all other parts of the country, workers are the majority” said NAALC President Jacob Morrison and a member of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 1858. “These candidates – union members themselves – have made strong, material commitments to Huntsville’s working class. It is because of those commitments, and their history of support for working people, that our members voted overwhelmingly to endorse each candidate.”
According to the NAALC, Watkins and King, both members of AFGE Local 1858, agreed to the following efforts to support Huntsville workers:
- Supporting the appointment of union members and working people to existing City Boards and Commissions
- Supporting the creation of a commission devoted to labor and workforce participation led by representatives of organized labor
- Respecting the current “Meet and Confer” policy for school worker organizations
- Opposing attacks on the Retirement Systems of Alabama and fight attempts to cut pensions
- Supporting and helping the NAALC expand our current Labor in the Schools campaign
- Using union print shops moving forward
- Publicly supporting unions and union campaigns
- Maintaining dialogue with North Alabama’s unions
““As an educator, federal government employee, and as a school board member, Michelle’s work to ensure equity and inclusion is changing lives and making a great impact on our city,” said Nadine Washington, a member of the American Postal Workers Union Local 359 and longtime District 1 resident. “Pat King is the most qualified person to run for District 1’s school board position. As an educator of STEM, Pat King’s commitment to a cause is unwavering and she will always follow through on her words.”
Gavin Brunner, a member of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local Lodge 44 has known Watkins for 30 years.
“Michelle’s work on Huntsville’s School Board has shown transparency and A+ communication with the community that will be a fresh breath when added to Huntsville’s City Council,” he said.
“As a resident of District 1, I want the rest of District 1’s residents to have quality representation like I strive to provide in my role as a union representative,” said Jared Legget, President of the Marshall Engineers and Scientists Association (MESA-IFPTE) Local 27. “As members of AFGE Local 1858, Michelle Watkins and Pat King know how quality representation can improve the environmental quality – physically and mentally – of one’s life.
“Since both candidates have received the North Alabama Area Labor Council’s endorsement, I will gladly cast my vote for Michelle Watkins and Pat King to represent Huntsville District 1.”
The North Alabama Area Labor Council, AFL-CIO is the regional federation of unions in North Alabama, consisting of 12 unions.
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