The UAW strike is a good time to examine who has union support and who does not. There have been comments made about who spoke out first in support of the UAW in their strike against GM. As if it the heart and soul of union support can be measured if one spoke out in favor of the UAW at 2:00 p.m. vs. 4:00 p.m.
The endorsements garnered by our front runners paints a more accurate picture than the latest pro-union speeches, or position statements in support of the strike.
Let's examine the endorsements as of today. No hyperbole, no anecdotes, no distortion of voting records, policy positions and speeches, just the facts on their union endorsements. I believe that the actions of the unions speak louder than their words.
If you know of other endorsements made by labor unions that were not mentioned here, I will update the diary to reflect any additions that I may have missed. To be consistent, I used the number of members that the article stated that each union currently lists. Full disclosure: I am an Edwards supporter at this point in time.
Edwards:
Steelworkers, miners endorse Edwards
The decisions by the USW, which represents 1.2 million workers and retirees, and the UMW, with a membership of just over 100,000, vaulted Mr. Edwards, at least temporarily, to the front of the Democratic competition for the backing of labor organizations.
Edwards Receives Support Of Carpenters Union
The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, representing more than 520,000 members from all political affiliations, today endorsed Senator John Edwards for president. After carefully considering all the candidates from both parties, the Carpenters Union chose Edwards as the candidate with the best chance of winning the White House and the person who will best represent hard-working families
The Transport Workers Union Endorses Edwards
Transport Workers Union president James C. Little said they chose Edwards because he has the best chance to beat the Republican candidate in November 2008. He also said Edwards has been a steadfast supporter of organized labor.
The Transport Workers Union has 200,000 members and retirees in airlines, railroads, public utilities and public transportation, including workers at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority in New York City, the nation's largest public transit system. They also represent workers at Amtrak and at American and Southwest airlines. The endorsement from the New York City-based union was a snub to Hillary Rodham Clinton, a New York senator and the Democratic front-runner.
Clinton:
New York's UFCW Local 1500 Endorses Clinton
UFCW 1500 represents more than 22,000 members working in the grocery industry across the metropolitan New York area, and is the largest grocery workers union in the state.
Public Employees Federation endorses Clinton for president
The New York State Public Employees Federation announced Sept. 17 that its executive board had chosen Clinton, as did an overwhelming number of its membership who participated in an online poll. The union, which represents 57,000 professional, scientific, and technical employees, said that Clinton was committed to protecting the rights of employees and would strengthen the middle class.
CSEA supports Clinton run
ALBANY, N.Y. -- New York's Civil Service Employees Association announced it was endorsing Sen. Hillary Clinton for president Wednesday.
A crowd of about 250 people from the union cheered as Clinton said she wanted a labor department in Washington that was "actually" pro-labor.
Union president Danny Donohue said CSEA members would work hard to elect Clinton.
"Clinton has demonstrated by action, not talk, that she is a tireless advocate for working men and women," Donahue said.
CSEA, founded in 1910, has 265,000 members statewide.
United Transportation Union Endorses Clinton
In a statement released today on the endorsement, UTU International President Paul Thompson said:
The UTU has a long history of picking winners early. Hillary will be a president that America’s working families can count on. Time and again, as a United States senator, she has stood with us.
The UTU intends to devote our considerable resources to encouraging our 125,000 active and retired members, their families, friends and neighbors to register to vote and cast ballots on Election Day 2008 for Hillary.
Sen. Hillary Clinton Racks Up Postal Workers' Union Endorsement
The National Association of Letter Carriers endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton for president on Wednesday, saying the New York senator has the strength and experience to bring change to the White House.
The National Association of Letter Carriers represents 300,000 active and retired U.S. Postal Service city delivery carriers.
Hillary, Huckabee Win Machinists Dual Endorsement
Orlando, FL, August 30, 2007 – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), one of the nation’s largest and most politically active trade unions, is endorsing New York Democratic Senator Hillary Clinton for President. The 700,000-member IAM also took the unusual step of endorsing a Republican candidate for the primaries, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.
"Hillary Clinton earned the IAM’s endorsement by focusing on jobs, health care, education and trade – the bread and butter issues of the American middle class," said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger. "She is the only candidate of either party to come forward with a comprehensive manufacturing policy and the only candidate to connect with millions of Americans who feel invisible to the current administration."
Sen. Hillary Clinton Wins TCU Endorsement for President
August 30, 2007—At a meeting of TCU’s Executive Council, International President Bob Scardelletti announced today that TCU has endorsed Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) for President of the United States.
"Hillary is without a doubt the right candidate for our members. She has earned our support by the positions she has taken for workers. She is right on Amtrak, she is right on pensions and she is right on workers’ rights." He pointed out that Senator Clinton has a 93 percent favorable voting record on labor issues. The Transportation Communications International Union represents approximately 46,000 members in the U.S., most employed in the railroad industry.
Clinton endorsed by The International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
Clinton, for her part, gained a sizeable endorsement from the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers, which boasts a membership of over 100,000 workers.
Dodd:
Major endorsement by labor goes to Dodd
Democrat Chris Dodd yesterday picked up one of the presidential campaign's first major labor endorsements -- from the same union that helped propel John F. Kerry to the Democratic nomination in 2004.
The endorsement of the 280,000-strong firefighters union is coveted because of its ability to organize volunteers and its history of standing by its candidate even when the political waters are rough. In 2003, it was the most visible union to stick by Kerry when his campaign was struggling.
Schaitberger said that not only has Dodd supported firefighters in Congress, but he also has been pushing bills for the union since 1976, when he was in the Connecticut House of Representatives.
Obama:
Obama picks up the endorsement of The New York City Correction Officers' Benevolent Association
Obama announced his first union endorsement on Clinton's home turf, where he gained the backing of The New York City Correction Officers' Benevolent Association, representing 9,000 jail workers. ]
"Barack Obama is the one candidate who will put an end to the divisiveness in this country," said Norman Seabrook, the president of the association.
Obama called the endorsement "an honor."
The presidential contender also picked up an endorsement from the former head of the Iowa Democratic Party, Gordon Fischer, who said that Obama had enough appeal among Republicans and Independents to not only win the election, but be an agent of change in Washington, bringing a "freshness" and "new perspective" to the White House.
In summary:
Edwards - four endorsements, 2,020,000 members.
Clinton - eight endorsements, 1,615,000 members.
Dodd - one endorsement, 280,000 members.
Obama - one endorsement, 9,000 members.
Clinton wins with eight endorsements to Edwards four, but Edwards endorsements carry the weight of 405,000 more members.
What does this say about union support for each candidate? Obviously, Edwards and Clinton have the most support and Obama, the least.
(Of course, endorsements never are true indications of actual union votes, and more endorsements will be coming which could change the picture dramatically for all candidates)
This is a snapshot of union sponsorship as of September 25, 2007, and I tried to submit the numbers without prejudice to any candidate.
Update: edgery pointed out in the comments that the machinists union who endorsed both Clinton and Huckabee, has 1/3 members who are Republicans. Endorsements do not extrapolate into votes, obviously, but it is something to be noted.
I have updated Clinton's totals to reflect more endorsements that have been brought to my attention since posting.