WASHINGTON - UNITE HERE‘s Midwest members plan to support John Edwards‘ bid for the Democratic nomination for president now, even though the national union won‘t make an endorsement until January.
"Our members are emphatic in their support for Senator Edwards, and anxious to get involved," said Noel Beasley, manager of the Chicago and Midwest Regional Joint Board. "We appreciate the executive committee‘s willingness to be flexible and democratic in this process."
The 450,000-member union represents workers in the hotel, restaurant, gaming, laundry, garment and apparel industries.
http://www.newsone.ca/westfallweeklynews/stories1/index.php?action=fullnews&id=99639Culinary Union parent to delay endorsing Democrat until January
LAS VEGAS (AP) - The parent of the 60,000-member Culinary Union says it will hold off endorsing a Democratic presidential nominee until early January.
But UNITE HERE also says it will allow its Chicago and Midwest regional board to support members who will campaign for former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards in Iowa.
The affiliate will commit staff, volunteers and financial resources to Edwards' campaign in Iowa immediately.
The move means the union, whose biggest grouping of hotel workers is in Las Vegas, will not likely pick a candidate until after the Iowa caucuses on Jan. 3.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nevada/2007/dec/05/120510095.html