Food workers serve up support for Giannoulias in Illinois secretary of state race

Former state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias won the backing of two local chapters of the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union in what’s likely to be a heated race to replace outgoing Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White.

Locals No. 881 and 1546 of the food workers union, which is affiliated with the AFL-CIO, threw their weight behind Giannoulias and vowed to play a “major role” in electing the former U.S. Senate candidate about 13 months before the March 2022 primary for secretary of state.

“Alexi is a longtime ally of working people and has a proven track record of getting the job done for middle-class families,” said Steve Powell, president of Local 881 and vice president of Illinois AFL-CIO. “During this critical time, Alexi brings an experienced and trusted voice that will strengthen the foundation of our movement. … Local 881 is poised to play a major role in the 2022 campaign and elect Alexi as Illinois’ next Secretary of State.”

Giannoulias has reported $397,700 in campaign contributions, including donations from Cinespace president Alex Pissios and Michael Sacks, an investor in the group that owns the Chicago Sun-Times.

A spokesman for Giannoulias said Local 881 has donated $57,800, Local 1546 has donated $5,000, and a Washington, D.C.,-based branch of the union has donated $10,000.

In a statement, Giannoulias said he’s “honored and proud to stand with UFCW workers to advance their rights and recover from this crisis stronger than ever.”

“I will continue to serve as a voice for them in Springfield and for all hard-working men and women across our state,” Giannoulias said.

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