An energetic, visionary, and proven leader, Eric Lesser will partner with our next Governor to make sure she is the most successful in the country. Together, they will work on the biggest issue our state faces: the skyrocketing cost of living. Eric has a plan to fix our broken transportation system, build more housing, create better jobs, protect our environment, and make our state more affordable and equitable.
Eric understands that Massachusetts has so much going for it. But despite our Commonwealth’s considerable advantages, it’s harder and harder to live here. It’s too expensive – housing is out of control, transportation is unreliable, and childcare costs are crushing families. Meanwhile, small pockets of our state boom while entire regions are left behind. Our current situation doesn’t work: it creates skyrocketing prices and gridlock in some places, and vacuums jobs and opportunity from others.
For Eric, supporting unions runs in the family. Eric’s father was a union organizer with the International Ladies Garment Workers Union (ILGWU) and the United Electrical Workers (UE). His paternal grandfather was a tool & die maker and active in his union. His maternal grandmother was a New York City public school teacher and active in her union. And his maternal grandfather was a longshoreman in New York City and active in the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA).
Eric has a long history of supporting workers and unions during his time in the State Senate. As Lieutenant Governor, he will continue to listen to labor leaders and support the fair treatment of workers in Massachusetts.
In 2018, the Supreme Court decision Janus v. AFSCME found that public sector employees did not have to pay union fees even as they benefited from union-negotiated contracts. In response, Eric led negotiations on legislation ensuring that public unions in Massachusetts could seek reasonable reimbursement from non-members for services like representation in grievance proceedings.
As co-chair of the Future of Work Commission, Eric brought labor leaders from many sectors to the table alongside government and business while leading an investigation on how to make employment more equitable for workers in Massachusetts and making subsequent recommendations.
In 2019, Eric rallied alongside Stop & Shop workers who were staging a historic, widespread strike to renegotiate their contracts.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 93 and United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1459 have endorsed Eric’s campaign.
To honor Warren Cowles, a Longmeadow Department of Public Works foreman who was killed while responding to a snowstorm, Eric put forward a bill to ensure that all public workers killed in the line of duty are eligible for death benefits.
Eric supports unions in his own place of work, publicly endorsing the Massachusetts State House Employee Union.