by Seth Michaels, May 9, 2008

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president.

The union, which represents 600,000 federal and District of Columbia government employees, made the endorsement after extensive member polling and a meeting of its national Executive Council.

John Gage, president of AFGE, says Obama’s energetic campaign and support of working families will mobilize voters around the country and help pro-working family candidates up and down the ticket in the fall. Gage said Obama would tackle the challenges facing the federal workforce and all working families, including job privatization and underfunding and understaffing of Social Security and veterans’ programs.

Sen. Obama has proven himself to be a friend of labor, displaying a firm understanding of the critical importance of both a healthy labor movement and a strong federal workforce.

This is an historic election, given the issues that all Americans face as one people and one country. An overwhelming number of Americans recognize that our country is on the wrong track. Our economy is hurting. Good-paying jobs are disappearing. There are millions of Americans without health insurance, and millions more live in fear that they are one step away from losing health care coverage….We believe Barack Obama has the ability and the judgment to help unite a large measure of the American people around real solutions to bring about the change we need.

Gage added that the union has “the utmost respect” for Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.), whom he described as a strong voice on issues important to federal employees.

Among AFL-CIO affiliates, Obama has been endorsed by the Boilermakers (IBB), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), Plumbers and Pipe Fitters (UA), Postal Workers (APWU), Transport Workers (TWU), which initially gave its endorsement to former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), and the Utility Workers (UWUA).  

Thirteen unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO have endorsed Clinton: AFSCME, AFT, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Bricklayers (BAC), Letter Carriers (NALC), Machinists (IAM), Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU), Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), Plasterers and Cement Masons (OP&CMIA), Sheet Metal Workers (SMWIA), TCU/IAM, Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and United Transportation Union (UTU).

Two unions that endorsed Edwards, the Mine Workers (UMWA) and United Steelworkers (USW), have not announced endorsements for another candidate for president.

The IAM and IUPAT endorsements of Clinton in the Democratic primaries were accompanied by endorsements of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in the Republican primaries.

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the UAW have announced they will not make endorsements during the primary season. The Fire Fighters (IAFF) union, which endorsed Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), has not announced a new endorsement.

In August, the AFL-CIO Executive Council said it would not yet make an endorsement for a 2008 presidential 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.

Six primaries remain in the presidential nomination process. The next will be May 13 in West Virginia.

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