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UAW Holds Off on Presidential Primary Endorsement |
The UAW will not make an endorsement in the 2008 presidential primaries.
Members of the UAW International Executive Board have chosen an official “no endorsement” position. As a result, UAW locals, retiree groups and other bodies also will make no primary endorsement.
UAW President Ron Gettelfinger says the decision was made, in part, because many candidates have offered proposals that would protect working families.
We’ll have a number of candidates to choose from—especially on the Democratic side—who are listening and responding to the concerns of working Americans. We’ve heard a number of thoughtful and important proposals which would advance workers’ rights, address America’s health care crisis, promote U.S. manufacturing jobs and reverse our failed trade policies.
Gettelfinger encourages UAW members to participate in state caucuses and primaries.
There’s a healthy diversity of opinion among UAW members as to which candidate can most effectively challenge the special interests who want to capture our government on behalf of the wealthy and the privileged.
The union will be involved after the primaries in the presidential and congressional elections.
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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RUN ALL THEM dam ILLEGAL ALIENS, out of the UNITED STATES
AND THIER WILL BE MT job,S RUN ALL BACK TO MEXICO
I’ll Support any of the Democratic candidates if they should get the nomination. Every one of them would be vastly superior to any of the Republicans. IMO however,I feel that one of our Democratic candidates rises head and shoulders above the rest of the pack. Hillary Clinton gets my vote in the primary, because I believe she is the strongest and the smartest candidate running period. She will win against any of the Republicans.
I really don’t agree with the decision of the UAW International executive board not to endorse any of the Democrats in the primaries.
Here was the time, and opportunity, to endorse eiher Rep. Kuscineh or Sen. Edwards, who both have stronger stances on workers rights in the U.S., and in trade agreements.
This was the “time and opportunity” to get Senator Clinton’s attention, and thus, to move her on labor positions. This was a lost opportunity.
I respect the decision of the UAW to not endorse. It’s a tough choice, but 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.
(Senator Obama also voted for the Oman Free Trade Agreement)
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.
Here’s where my candidate stands on Labor: http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=R5yUfh7zFJA&sdig=1
Like I said, I know it’s a tough choice. I hope you’ll join me in making the right one.
As a Teamster - I am fully behind JOHN EDWARDS. I would hope the AFL CIO would see that this guy has a lifetime of fighting for the regular folk behind him, and he speaks with such clarity and power in his words. He is shown to beat every single GOP candidate, who do not support our unions by the way, and he’s the only Democratic candidate shown to beat them all.
Clinton and Obama both have trouble in FL and OH against McCain - Edwards does not - please throw our total union support behind John Edwards.
EDWARDS SUPPORTERS - FRIDAY THE 18th of JANUARY - donate to John online and help him reach his goal of $7 Million raised in one day - that number will pass the money Republican Ron Paul raised a month ago in one day.
Comment #4 here is SPOT ON!
Please click the youtube link in their post - Hillary Clinton does not support labor like John Edwards does. See what John has to say about labor.
Why isn’t the AFL-CIO helping more to get John in the White House? I’d be voicing strongly how this appears like Clinton money has stopped the voice of the worker even in the union. Everywhere I go, Edwards has great union support!
SEE POST #4 here on this page.
AND DON’T FORGET TO DONATE TO JOHN EDWARDS ON FRIDAY THE 18th of JANUARY!
Help him break the fundraising record set by Republican Ron Paul.