SEIU 200United has endorsed Green Party congressional candidate Matt Funiciello, a labor endorsement Funiciello says is a “historic landmark” in his third party bid for Congress.

“I’m excited about endorsing an unreservedly pro-worker candidate like Matt Funiciello,” said Don Smith of Glens Falls, chairman of the union’s local chapter. “I’m proud to be a leader in a union that endorses candidates based on their message, and not just their party affiliation.”

The union will encourage its members in the district to vote for Funiciello and will recruit volunteers to make telephone calls and canvass door to door on behalf of his candidacy, said Jessica Dowsett, the union’s lead political organizer.

The union, affiliated with the national Service Workers International Union, represents employees of municipalities, schools, colleges, human service agencies and sports franchises in western and northern New York.

“I’m really, really pleased. … From my thinking this is yet one more historic landmark in the campaign. This is a really big deal to me,” Funiciello said in a telephone interview.