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Stage Employees Union Endorses Clinton |
The Theatrical Stage Employees union (IATSE) has endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) for president in the 2008 campaign.
The union, which represents more than 100,000 members in the motion picture, theatrical and television professions, is the 11th AFL-CIO-affiliated union to support Clinton.
IATSE President Thomas C. Short says Clinton has a record of strong support for working families:
Hillary Clinton’s ability to create real change for America’s working families is exactly what this country needs. She has the strength and experience to provide quality, affordable health care for every American and rebuild our middle class.
Last month, IATSE Local 1, which represents many of Broadway’s technical workers, settled a contract after two-week strike. Union members ratified the contract Sunday.
Clinton has won the endorsement of 10 additional unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO: AFSCME, AFT, the Amalgamated Transport Union (ATU), the Bricklayers (BAC), the Letter Carriers (NALC), the Machinists (IAM), the Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU), the Sheet Metal Workers (SMWIA), TCU/IAM and the United Transportation Union (UTU).
IAM’s endorsement of Clinton in the Democratic primaries was accompanied by an endorsement of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in the Republican primaries.
Three national unions are backing former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) in the Democratic primaries: the Mine Workers (UMWA), Transport Workers (TWU), and United Steelworkers (USW). The Fire Fighters (IAFF) union has endorsed Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.).
In August, the AFL-CIO Executive Council said it would not yet make an endorsement for a 2008 candidate, freeing AFL-CIO unions to endorse candidates for the caucuses and primaries. The AFL-CIO will continue the Working Families Vote 2008 campaign to help elect a worker-friendly Congress and president.
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Maybe if Thomas Short spent his time doing something aside from attacking striking workers and encouraging union-scabbing, he’d have some credibility.
The fact that he endorsed Clinton only makes me more determined to vote for Edwards.
Read the Nation magazine’s article about HRC and her hedge fund connections. She is the candidate of the bankers and money launderers; it’s a disgrace that any labor union would even consider endorsing her. It’s all about perceived ‘electability’ and selling out the interests of workers for a few token bills that only barely start to address the disparities in wealth and poverty. Big Bill did more damage to human rights with his ‘effective death penalty act’ and for corporate rights with his support for big media consolidation than even George Bushit, HRC set back the cause of universal health care with her incompetence and corporate insurance friendly half measures. The only real pro-labor candidate out there is Ralph Nader, who may end up as the Green PArty candidate and has a stronger track record for workers rights than any democrat.
I respect the decision of IATSE President Thomas C. Short. It’s a tough choice. Still, I think it’s only fair to remind your membership of Clinton’s votes against Labor.
S. 3569—The Oman Free Trade Agreement expands the failed model of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). Like NAFTA and CAFTA, the Oman agreement does not contain adequate environmental protections or enforceable protections for such core worker rights as the freedom of association. Oman is not a democracy, and its workers are unable to form independent unions or to bargain collectively. At the same time, the agreement allows any company incorporated in Oman to sue the U.S. government, undermining the ability of state and local governments to protect public health, strong communities and the environment. The bill passed June 29, 2006.
H.R. 6—The overhaul of the nation’s energy policy (H.R. 6) is expected to create thousands of jobs through the construction of pipelines, power plants and new nuclear power facilities. It also would allow the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve the construction, expansion or operation of any facility that imports or processes natural gas, including liquefied natural gas. The Senate passed the conference report on the bill July 29, 2005.
S. 2020—As part of the budget reconciliation process, which included tax cut and spending cut legislation, the Bush administration and congressional Republican leaders were seeking $70 billion in tax cuts, mostly for the wealthy, paid for in part by huge cuts in vital working family programs. After some changes, the Senate passed a $60 billion tax cut bill, with more than three-quarters of the benefits going to families with $100,000 or more in annual income. The bill passed Nov. 18, 2005.
H.R. 2739—U.S. and international labor and human rights activists long have fought to include strong and enforceable workers’ rights standards, including the freedom of association, in trade agreements. The U.S.-Singapore Free Trade Agreement negotiated by the Bush administration did not include enforceable core labor standards. The agreement also contained a new temporary guest-worker program for professional workers entering the United States from Singapore. The bill passed July 31, 2003.
H.R. 2738—U.S. and international labor and human rights activists long have fought to include strong and enforceable workers’ rights standards, including the freedom of association, in trade agreements. The U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement negotiated by the Bush administration did not include enforceable core labor standards. The agreement also contained a new temporary guest-worker program for professional workers entering the United States from Chile. The bill passed July 31, 2003.
H.R 3295—The Help America Vote Act overhauls our nation’s election system by creating minimum national standards for voting machines, provisional ballots and statewide voter registration lists. The conference report passed Oct. 16, 2002, 92-2. (Clinton was one of only 2 Senators in the entire country to go against Labor on this one!)
Here’s where my candidate stands out from business as usual: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LY0AqYXZC4
Like I said; it’s a tough choice. I hope you’ll join me in making the right one.