Labor was energized and united at a Nov. 1 get-out-the-vote rally for Bill de Blasio for mayor. Hundreds turned out at Brooklyn Borough Hall to hear leaders from all the major unions in the city voice their support for de Blasio and rally their troops to get to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

“We have a new day coming for New York City,” UFT President Michael Mulgrew told the cheering crowd.  “Who’s going to make sure this city is for everyone?” he asked and the crowd roared back, “de Blasio!”

George Gresham, the president of hospital and health care workers union 1199SEIU, told the crowd, “We are on the eve of making sure we have a champion once again for New York City’s working people. After 20 years of policies tilted to the 1 percent, a new day will begin on Tuesday.” 

De Blasio, in turn, voiced his support for organized labor when he told the crowd, “the best public policy would be to have more men and women in unions so that our cities are strong and our families are strong.” He promised that as mayor he would continue to support workers who are in unions and those who are trying to organize unions.

De Blasio urged his supporters not to be complacent and make sure to vote on Tuesday — and asked them to bring their friends, family members and neighbors to the polls with them.

Among de Blasio’s strong supporters who turned out for the labor rally were Giovanni Espinoza, a paraprofessional at PS 156 in Brooklyn, and Linda Pearson, a retired teacher from Kappa V/MS 518 in Brooklyn. 

“Bill de Blasio is for the students, parents and educators of this city,” Pearson said.  “He understands that children need a well-rounded education, not just teaching to the test.”