Photo: Curtis Paul ~ WJR
DETROIT, July 13, 2025 ~ Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield received a significant boost in her campaign for mayor on Saturday with endorsements from two of Michigan’s most influential labor organizations, the Teamsters Joint Council #43 and the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council. The endorsements were announced at a union-backed rally that drew hundreds of workers and labor leaders, highlighting Sheffield’s longstanding ties to organized labor and her platform centered on working-class empowerment.
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July 12, 2025 ~ At a labor rally hosted by IBEW Local 58, Detroit City Council President Mary Sheffield pledges to prioritize workers’ rights and union partnerships if elected mayor.
(CONTINUED) The rally, hosted by IBEW Local 58, featured speeches from union representatives and community advocates who praised Sheffield’s record on labor issues, including her support for affordable housing, responsible contracting, and worker protections. “This campaign is rooted in the belief that Detroit’s future must be built with and for working people,” Sheffield told the crowd. “I will be… the most pro-labor mayor that the city has ever had.”
Speakers from SEIU Michigan, Unite Here, and the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters emphasized Sheffield’s presence on picket lines and her legislative efforts, including the Industry Standards Board ordinance, which gives workers a formal voice in setting wage and workplace standards. John Perkins, a labor leader representing millwrights and carpenters, said, “She doesn’t just talk about standing with workers—she shows up.”
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(CONTINUED) However, Sheffield’s labor support has not been without controversy. The United Auto Workers (UAW), which endorsed rival candidate Rev. Solomon Kinloch Jr., criticized Sheffield’s campaign for sharing a flyer that included the UAW logo without official approval
While the flyer was created by UAW members who support Sheffield, union leadership called the move misleading. Sheffield later removed the flyer and reiterated her appreciation for the support of individual union members.
Sheffield remains a frontrunner in the race, leading in recent polls. Her campaign continues to draw endorsements from a broad coalition of labor, community, and national organizations. As the August primary approaches, Sheffield’s alignment with labor may prove pivotal in a city where union support has long been a cornerstone of political success.
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