By Elyse Clonan, Contributing Writer

The Utility Workers Union endorsed Mark Critz Wednesday in the race for the recently reconfigured 12th Congressional District. It’s a subset of the AFL-CIO.

UWUA National President Mark Langford praised Critz’s devotion to creating jobs and fighting for the livelihood of the middle class.

“Mark Critz is fighting in Washington to protect the right of workers to join a union and he has shown that he is willing to fight for jobs here…,” Langord said. “[He] showed real courage when he opposed the Republican Balanced Budget Amendment which would have been devastating to the middle class and would have led to massive cuts to Social Security and Medicare.  [He] has been there for workers and the Utility Workers are proud to endorse Mark Critz for Congress.”

“… The endorsement of the Utility Workers is a boost to my campaign,” Critz said. “We are receiving the vast majority of labor union endorsements because they know that creating good paying jobs is my top priority and I’ll continue to fight for the working men and women of Western Pennsylvania.”

Critz faces fellow Democrat Jason Altmire in the primary.

Critz has also been endorsed by the United Mine Workers of America, Laborers District Council of Western Pennsylvania, United Steelworkers, Service Employees International Union, Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1279 and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.