John,

I was born in a union-strong household. When I was just 3 years old and my father died unexpectedly, it was his union that paid for his funeral. When my sister when she got sick, her union supported her.

So when I became CEO of one of the nation's largest anti-poverty organizations, it was unequivocal that we'd work with organized labor. We provided millions to a local union to improve training for home health workers, invested over $10 million annually in job training, and provided emergency relief funding for child care and health care workers during the pandemic.

I have seen the power of unions to provide a path to and protect the middle class. And it's why I'm not shocked to see unions on the rise in this country.

Stagnant wages, cruel working conditions, and rising inequality are boiling over into what many have dubbed #HotLaborSummer. Workers are demanding better, and they are doing it with the overwhelming power that only comes from a union.

Unions make our economy strong. Unions make Maryland strong. The unions make us strong.

And that is how we make a Maryland where no one is left behind.

Solidarity forever,

Wes