Deb Haaland Sits Down with New Mexican Union Leaders

Haaland discusses her record of partnering with workers; pledges to stand with labor as governor

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Today, Deb Haaland, candidate for New Mexico governor, hosted a “Union Strong” lunch at her campaign headquarters in Albuquerque, bringing together more than 20 union leaders from 10 labor organizations representing workers from across the state to discuss priorities for working families and the state’s labor movement. The event is part of Haaland’s priorities to ensure working families have increased pay, reliable benefits, and every New Mexican has opportunities to support their family.

“I know what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck. Nobody deserves that sort of uncertainty, and attacks on unions in recent years leads to that uncertainty,” said Haaland. “I’ve stood alongside workers on picket lines, in the halls of Congress, and as Secretary of the Interior, and I will always give New Mexico’s unions and workers a seat at the table.”

Haaland’s record of championing labor spans her entire career, from early days as a proud Teamsters member to her work as Secretary of the Interior. When she ran for Chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, she won with AFSCME’s endorsement and enforced union printing at the Party while supporting union priorities. In 2018, Deb Haaland for Congress became the first campaign in New Mexico to unionize and one of the first in the entire country. During her time in Congress, Deb twice served as an original cosponsor of the PRO Act, a bill that would bolster workers’ rights bargain collectively against large corporations by addressing issues like employer interference in union elections and providing stronger penalties for unfair labor practices.

Haaland went on to say, “With all the chaos coming out of Washington, New Mexico needs someone who will fight for those who wake up early and go to sleep late. This is about who we are as a state and the kind of future that we want to have together.”

Haaland’s campaign continues to build momentum, with endorsements from scores of local elected officials and leaders. She has committed to meeting voters where they are across all 33 counties of New Mexico.