The largest health workers union said today it is endorsting Governor Martin O'Malley in the upcoming election.
The group, 1199 SEIU, made the announcement at the Eubie Blake Jazz Center in Baltimore.
In endorsing O'Malley, union representatives cited his commitment to creating middle class jobs, advocating for free and fair union elections and ensuring affordable, quality healthcare care for Maryland.
The union said its members will hit the streets to canvas neighborhoods as well as organize a direct mail and paid media campaign. The group will focus on key races in Prince George's County, including county executive, and several Maryland State Senate seats.
Issues of importance for health care workers include the union's "Heart of Baltimore" campaign, an effort to improve jobs and care through ensuring free and fair union elections in the city's health care institutions; access to quality, affordable health care; expanding coverage for uninsured Marylanders; increasing Medicaid reimbursements to the state's nursing homes and hospitals; remediating Medicaid fraud; and keeping the Prince George's hospitals open and expanding.