Welch tells unions he’ll protect their pensions

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Updated: February 22, 2012 12:14PM

In the 7th District state representative race, local unions are putting their support behind candidate Emanuel “Chris” Welch.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Illinois Council, Local 399 Operating Engineers, International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 recently endorsed Welch as their candidate for state representative in the upcoming March 20 primary.

Local 399 Operating Engineers has over 10,000 members statewide, while SEIU Illinois Council joins together more than 165,000 members who are part of a wide variety of industries, while Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 represents over 100 bargaining units of employees employed by cities, towns, counties and other municipal bodies.

Welch said he’s happy about receiving the endorsement from the unions as well other groups and organizations that have thrown support their way. “I’ve proved that I’m someone who has backed worked families,” he said.

“When I’m elected I’m going to work closely with the unions,” he said. “I’m connected to a lot of their issues.”

He said prior to becoming endorsed he met union officials or filled out questionnaires from unions to find out where he stood on certain issues. Welch said the main issue they were most concerned about was the pensions.

“I’m going to go to Springfield and fight to protect their pensions,” he said. “I don’t believe that people currently paying into the system shouldn’t be penalized.”