Today, John Edwards won the endorsement of the Steelworkers and the Mine Workers Unions. I have previously reported that the Steelworkers Union was set to endorse Edwards today, but the Mine Workers Union came as a pleasant surprise. These two great organizations join the Carpenters Union in endorsing Edwards. This makes him the candidate with the most union support so far. These three unions combined represent almost 2 million workers.
"I am especially honored to receive the support of the Steelworkers and Mine Workers unions," said Edwards, "These are the workers who built the middle class in America, and they are the backbone of the American labor movement. They understand how important it is to fight back when jobs, safety, standards and our values are at risk—and they know what's at stake in this election."
"These workers have felt the negative impact of a broken system in Washington that is rigged against America's working families for far too long—whether it's the tragic lack of oversight in mine safety, trade agreements written to benefit multinational corporations while they ship American jobs overseas, or the millions of working Americans who still can't afford health insurance," added Edwards. "As president, I will proudly lead the fight on behalf of working families with their support—and together we will win."
Check out what the union leaders had to say about Edwards:
"Senator John Edwards is committed, as he has been throughout his life, to going to bat for everyday Americans and to changing a broken political system that leaves millions of Americans without a voice in their government," said Steelworkers President Leo W. Gerard. "Edwards is right on the issues that matter to us, and he's the candidate with the best chance of winning in the general election. The big corporations don't need another president who does their bidding. It's time we had a president who will fight for working people—and that's what John Edwards will do."
"Senator Edwards' positions on the issues of importance to UMWA members make him the best fit of all the candidates for president," UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said. "We need a president who cares about ordinary working people instead of the richest Americans and the big multinational corporations. We believe John Edwards is that person, and we will work as hard as we know how on his behalf anywhere and everywhere we can."
I'd like to thank these great unions for supporting John Edwards, the best candidate for president of the United States. Happy Labor Day to everyone!
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USW Members Presidential Survey Results:
"Thank you to everyone who took the time to respond to the presidential survey. Thousands of you registered your top picks. "
The results are as follows:
Top Choice
John Edwards 37.1% Bill Richardson 1.2%
Hillary Clinton 25.3% Ron Paul 1.0%
Barack Obama 12.6% Mike Huckabee 0.5%
Dennis Kucinich 5.8% Chris Dodd 0.3%
Joe Biden 5.3% Mike Gravel 0.2%
Fred Thompson 4.0% Tom Tancredo 0.2%
Rudy Giuliani 2.8% Sam Brownback 0.2%
John McCain 2.2% Duncan Hunter 0.0%
Mitt Romney 1.3%
The Steel Workers Union is a lot more than just for steel these days - it's an umbrella union for all kinds of different jobs (since there is so little steel work done in the States they had to diversify and have only kept the name).
I hope whoever wins the Dem ticket and becomes Prez will help to strengthen unions again - so the middle class doesn't disappear.
Also, to Jeff's point, from Roy Teixeira:
Hmm, irrelevant? I think not.
Hey, there's another Bret W? And he seems to be Conservative too! How cool!
I prefer to call it leisure day although I have worked many Leisure days in the past. It's just another day.
Edrie Unions are responsible for the sinking of American auto-manufacturers and the airline industry. But that said most union employees are government workers. So the Steel workers endorsement is in fact as irrelevant as Edwards floundering campaign. He is sending his wife out to say asinine things every week just to remind people that he hasn't quit yet.
Which proves just how significant this truly is.
"Republican anti-worker" *chuckle*
Have I "run this country into the ground?" What a joke. I'm one of the people who build and maintain this country. My hands are calloused, my back is creaky, my wrists tingle from jackhammering and my face is burned by 18 years of sun and wind and rain. I'm an outdoor pet. Don't talk to me about "anti worker." I've got my co worker's backs. I don't think the union does.
Unions are in bed with special interests and often in league with the very entities they pretend to fight against. I know that doesn't square with your vision of a worker's paradise.
There is little ability to debate the merits of issues in today's America. "Pigeonhole opponents" hear you say "I want the borders secured." and they'll attempt to derail the subject by calling you a racist. If you oppose gay marriage, your'e automatically "homophobic." Protest unreasonable environmental legislation and they'll claim you are on the side of "Big Oil" and want to pollute the planet and kill baby seals. If you say "the unions have lost their way" then you are "anti worker." Laughable. Absurd. And frankly, a weak way to disagree.
This will be an election and an administration that actually matters.
Astro like i said, when was the last time unions actually "considered" endorsing a republican president? As far as the primaries i will agree that it is a bump for Edwards but the endorsed Howard Dean as well. It might be enough to get Edwards on the ticket if Obama wins but Hillary won't want him.