Three unions endorse ‘warrior for working people’ Lucas Kunce for U.S. Senate

Insulators Local 1, Bricklayers Local 1, Tile Setters Local 18 first to step up for Kunce campaign

Calling him a “warrior for working people,” Asbestos Workers Local 1 and the Bricklayers Administrative Council ( Bricklayers Local 1 and Tile Setters Local 18) last week announced their endorsements of Lucas Kunce (D) in the 2024 race to unseat Republican Senator Josh Hawley.

Insulators Local 1 was the first to announce its endorsement. Business Manager Gary Payeur said, “Working families in Missouri deserve a U.S. Senator who understands their struggles, knows what it means to serve, and is committed to investing in their future — that’s why we’re endorsing Lucas Kunce.”

Bricklayer ADC Director Brian Jennewein said their unanimous endorsement was based on two common-sense facts: “Kunce is a fighter for working and middle-class Missourians and he will bring a common sense approach to politics, something we greatly need in Washington and frankly, Missouri. His background, his experience with hard times, his military training and his business smarts have prepared him for this critical position. He has capabilities of understanding workers’ issues and needs that elite-class Hawley could not begin to comprehend.”

‘WARRIOR’
Payeur said Kunce understands the working class:

“Growing up, his family counted on the help of their working-class neighbors to get by when they were bankrupted by medical bills. He served 13 years of active duty in the Marine Corps, then used his experience to be an advocate against corporate corruption. And in Washington, he’ll fight for the right to organize, workplace safety, and the historic investments in infrastructure and next-generation energy we need to rebuild Missouri.

“We’re proud to back Lucas Kunce for U.S. Senate because he’s the warrior for working people that Missouri desperately needs.”

‘I’LL FIGHT LIKE HELL FOR WORKERS’
“I’m honored to have the support of Insulators Local 1 and the Bricklayers Administrative District Council and their two affiliates, Bricklayers Local 1 and Tile Setters Local 18,” said Kunce.

“This is what it means to build a coalition of working-class voters across this state. I’m committed to fighting like hell for workers in the U.S. Senate.”

The Missouri AFL-CIO, which makes the official Labor COPE endorsements for federal and state offices, has not yet made an endorsement in this race, nor has the St. Louis Labor Council, which makes recommendations for federal and state offices to the Missouri AFL-CIO for consideration in making an official Labor endorsement.

“Our unions are certainly free to do as they wish,” said Jake Hummel, Missouri AFL-CIO president, “but there won’t be an official AFL-CIO endorsement until it is done by our body.”