Premier Christy Clark took her lunch break with workers on a Victoria construction project Wednesday, receiving the endorsement of the Ironworkers International Union and its B.C. local.

鈥淲e may not agree with Premier Clark on every issue, or the BC Liberals, but we believe their plan for economic growth, for apprenticeship training and all the lunch bucket and kitchen table issues that affect our members is the right one for us,鈥� said Doug Parton, Ironworkers Local 97 business manager, surrounded by union members on the site of a new downtown building. Local 97 has 1,800 members in B.C.

The Ironworkers endorsement came as the B.C. Federation of Labour launched an attack ad depicting Clark in an 80s-style video game, wearing a hardhat as she collects points for closing a school and understaffing a seniors鈥� home.

Parton said his union is a member of the B.C. Fed, but he doesn鈥檛 agree with them campaigning for the NDP in the May 9 election.

鈥淔or years they鈥檝e been known and thought of as a labour party, but what鈥檚 happened in the past has us very concerned,鈥� Parton said. 鈥淲hen they came out against the George Massey bridge, that鈥檚 a direct attack against the ironworkers, and I can鈥檛 take that any other way.鈥�

NDP leader John Horgan said Local 97 didn鈥檛 endorse anyone in the last election, and shrugged off the endorsement as Clark finding 鈥渢wo members of the labour movement to stand with her鈥� long before the election campaign.

Horgan said he sides with Lower Mainland mayors who did not choose the Massey tunnel replacement.

鈥淭he member who is currently representing 琉璃神社 [Clark] may not have as good an understanding of what the transportation needs are in the Lower Mainland,鈥� Horgan said.