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Kenney picks up two more labor endorsements

The city's two nonuniform unions, representing 15,000 active workers, endorsed James F. Kenney for mayor Tuesday, giving the former city councilman a clean sweep of municipal organized labor.

The city's two nonuniform unions, representing 15,000 active workers, endorsed James F. Kenney for mayor Tuesday, giving the former city councilman a clean sweep of municipal organized labor.

Kenney had previously been endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Fire Fighters Local 22.

The latest endorsements, while not unexpected, provide another boost for Kenney, who has garnered support of the majority of the city's major unions, including the AFL-CIO, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees District 1199C.

Pete Matthews, president of AFSCME District Council 33, which represents the city's blue-collar workers, said the alliance of all the city unions for one candidate was "unprecedented in recent mayoral elections."

District Council 33 represents 10,000 city workers, including sanitation workers, clerical employees and prison officers.

AFSCME District Council 47 represents around 5,000 city workers who have "white collar" jobs, such as accountants and engineers.

Fred Wright, District Council 47's president, said more than 40 percent of his members voted to endorse Kenney in an online poll, the largest percentage given to any of the six Democratic candidates.

Kenney said he was "humbled" by the endorsements.

"I get really angry when someone tells me our workers are bums and don't work hard," he said. "One thing I can guarantee you is dignity, conversation, and face-to-face negotiations."