OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS AFL-CIO PRESIDENT ROBERT J. HAYNES ON TODAY’S ELECTION RESULTS

The following is the official statement of Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Robert J. Haynes on the results of today’s election.

“Tomorrow morning America wakes up to a new America. The majority of Americans decided to go in a new direction that makes work pay again and rebuilds the middle class and this country in the process. On November 4th, the nation voted to elect Senator Barack Obama for President. I am elated that we will now see an end to viciously anti-labor agenda that has ruled over the United States for the last 8 years. Voters across the country have issued a resounding vote in favor of turning this country around and ending the economic policies that have so devastated our country. The Labor Movement looks forward to working with the Obama-Biden Administration to create real change for working families.

“I am also thrilled to congratulate Senator Kerry on his re-election to the U.S. Senate. John Kerry has tirelessly fought for working families for over two decades and I know he will continue to fight on our behalf.

“And in New Hampshire, I am pleased to congratulate former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen on her election to the U.S. Senate. This is a real victory for the people of New Hampshire who will now have a pro-working family Senator in office replacing Senator John Sununu who has time and time again voted along with President Bush and against working families. On behalf of the 10,000 union members who work in Massachusetts and live in New Hampshire, I am grateful that New Hampshire will now have Jeanne Shaheen as their U.S. Senator.

“In Massachusetts, the incredibly reckless Question 1 proposal to eliminate the state income tax was defeated by voters who recognized it was just too dangerous. Times have been hard enough and cutting the state budget by nearly 40% was only going to make things worst. Now that we have defeated Question 1, and with the help of both our Democratic administration in Massachusetts and now our Democratic administration in Washington, D.C., we can begin to lift up working families across the state and nation.

“These four vital campaigns received invaluable support from union members who participated in a tremendous grassroots effort, both in Massachusetts and in New Hampshire. My deepest gratitude goes out to all our union leaders and members who made time out of their daily schedule to participate in phone banks, labor walks, and reached out to union members to get out the vote. The Labor Movement has demonstrated once again the electoral power of union families, and sent a strong message that now is the time to put the needs of working families first.”