PRESS RELEASE
Troy Jackson Amasses Statewide Attention After Earning Endorsement Of Maine’s Largest Union
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South Portland, ME — Local news outlets across Maine are highlighting fifth-generation logger, former Maine Senate President, and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Troy Jackson earned the endorsement of the Maine Education Association, the state’s largest union, during a press conference Wednesday afternoon where they named him a "relentless champion for working families, public schools, and educators."
MEA pointed to Jackson’s decades-long record of standing with working people and fighting for teachers and public education — from securing investments in Maine schools, raising wages for school employees, protecting the pension system, and delivering universal school meals so every student can learn on a full stomach.
See what people are saying:
News Center Maine: Maine US Senate candidate Troy Jackson adds state's largest union to endorsements
The union called Jackson, whose mother was a teacher, a "relentless champion for working families, public schools, and educators."
As Maine Senate president, Jackson sponsored the law that provides free school breakfast and lunch for all students and pushed to raise state funding for public education, enabling the state to meet its obligation to fund 55% of K-12 education costs.
Jackson, a former logger, used the occasion to spell out why he believes organizing workers is important. Jackson said, "Working people are not powerless, We are made to feel like we're powerless, but when we stand alone, and that's the way they want us, to be separated, divided, so that we're never are able to pick our heads up, we're never able to do anything to, you know, capture that power, and build the life that we want, and that to me is what unions, that's what the MEA has always been about."
Spectrum News Maine: Maine educators back Troy Jackson for U.S. Senate
The National Education Association and the Maine Education Association on Wednesday praised Jackson, a Democrat, for his votes to raise teacher and support staff salaries, provide free meals to all children, help lower the cost of childcare and maintain 55% state funding for local schools.
“We support those who value the role of public education in supporting our communities, our economies and strengthening the fabric of our democracy,” said Jesse Hargrove, president of the MEA.
“Voters in Maine have a real, generational opportunity to elect a champion this November,” said Robert Rodriguez, secretary-treasurer of the National Education Association. “NEA pledges here today that the largest labor union in this country is going to knock on every door, make every phone call.”
“Working people are not powerless,” he said. “We are made to feel like we’re powerless when we stand alone. And that’s the way they want us, to be separated, divided so that we never are able to pick our heads up, never able to do anything to capture that power and build the life that we want.”
WVII/Fox Bangor: Troy Jackson Earns The Endorsement of Maine’s Largest Union
Scott McDonnell: The Maine Education Association endorsing U.S. Senate Democrat Troy Jackson, pointing to Jackson's time in the State House, where he worked to increase state funding for public education and higher wages for teachers and staff. He's also consistently received strong ratings in the MEA's legislative scorecard.
Jessie Hargrove: We support leaders who stand with us, who trust educators and students. We support those who value the role of public education in supporting our communities.
Troy Jackson: I watched firsthand how hard my mother and her colleagues worked, how much they cared about their students, and how far too often their voices were ignored by the people in power.
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