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United Steelworkers Endorse Obama for President |
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The United Steelworkers (USW) union has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president. USW President Leo Gerard reported the union’s Executive Board unanimously voted to endorse Obama this morning.
The USW first endorsed former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) last summer. Edwards suspended his campaign in February and yesterday endorsed Obama.
Gerard says Obama will be a strong leader on working family issues and that he shares Edwards’ commitment to fair trade, workers’ rights and health care.
Sen. Obama’s call for a significant change of direction amounts to far more than a compelling rallying cry. It is buttressed by his record of consistent support for workers, by his call for sweeping changes to our health care system, by his unflinching support for Employee Free Choice, and by his insistence that America’s trade policies must, first and foremost, serve the interests of America’s working families.
Sen. Obama has shown his commitment to working families by proposing significant investments in the future of American manufacturing, in the revitalization of our nation’s infrastructure, and in 21st century clean energy technologies that will lead to significant growth in domestic jobs. He is clearly the candidate who can best lead our nation out of the dark period of economic decline created by the Bush administration’s allegiance to Wall Street profiteering at the expense of worker prosperity.
Gerard described both Obama and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton as “far superior” to Sen. John McCain.
Among AFL-CIO affiliates, Obama also has been endorsed by AFGE, 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 also gave its initial endorsement to Edwards, 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 the United Transportation Union (UTU).
Another union that endorsed Edwards, the Mine Workers (UMWA), has not announced its endorsement 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.
Five primaries remain in the presidential nomination process. Next Tuesday, voters in Kentucky and Oregon head to the polls.
4 Comments
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Not to mention the entire Change to Win coalition has endorsed Senator Obama. I know by definition CtW unions are not AFL-CIO unions, but it does show that a huge section of the labor movement is behind the Senator from Illinois.
Demoted Hillary Clinton strategist Mark Penn may no longer have the coveted title of chief strategist, but he remains a key member of the Clinton campaign’s senior staff.
People who represent union-busters should not be welcome in the Labor Community.
People who represent death squads targeting trade unionists should not be welcome in the Labor Community.
Some argue that it is possible to “compartmentalize” these issues — that you can be a union-buster one day and a supporter of workers’ rights the next. I disagree and contend that there should be no place in the campaign of a Labor endorsed candidate for someone who earns a paycheck helping companies that violate the basic human rights of working men and women paper over their offenses — regardless of what title they carry.
It’s time to break from the old politics of the past, where candidates had one story they told working families and another they told corporations and CEOs.
We need a new politics — and leaders who will jettison high-priced consultants who work both sides of the aisle in favor of working families.
There is no place at the table for union-busters. Sign this petition and tell Hillary Clinton that it’s time to fire her union-busting chief advisor, Mark Penn.
http://changetowinaction.org/campaign/no_union_busters?source=200804_unionbust_blg
The President of the Communications Workers of America AFL-CIO Larry Cohen has endorsed Barack Obama for himself and as a supper delegate.
I wholeheartedly agree with Fraternal Order. We must also not forget that it was Bill Clinton, the candidates’s husband that shoved NAFTA down our throats back in the 90’s! Hillary also sat on the board of directors for Wal-Mart and not once uttered a word against that corporation’s abuse and exploitation of it’s workforce!
Personally I believe the time is long overdue when labor and it’s allies form a viable third party alternative to the sham that we have now! Don’t tell me it’s impossible! Anything can happen when enough folks get together and make it happen!