The Utility Workers Union of America has announced their endorsement of Barack Obama

[Hope And Change]

Utility Workers Back Obama

By Sam Graham-Felsen - Feb 25th, 2008 at 10:06 am EST


The Utility Workers Union of America has announced their endorsement of Barack Obama...

(Washington, DC) – National President D. Michael Langford of the Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) announced the union’s endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for President and plans to immediately begin activating its membership for the critical primary contests ahead. The announcement follows a vote by the union’s executive board.

The UWUA represents 70,000 active and retired members working in the gas, water, electricity and nuclear industries, including nearly 10,000 in Ohio and another 8,000 in Pennsylvania.

"Senator Obama understands our issues, supports our goals and will do what is right for utility workers, our families, our communities and our country," President Langford said. "We join him in his fight for change in America that will put working people first. I urge every one of our members to get involved in his campaign to lead this country forward."

Senator Barack Obama said, "I thank President Langford and the utility workers across the country for supporting our movement for change. They have stood up for the rights of their workers and as president I will stand with them to pass universal health care, cut taxes for the middle class, and create jobs. Every working American should be able to know that in this country we value their work and will reward it with a few basic guarantees - wages that can raise a family, a retirement that's secure and dignified, and working conditions that are safe. And that's the kind of leadership I intend to offer as President."

In addition to Senator Obama’s longstanding support of issues important to workers such as the Employee Free Choice Act, Senator Obama has shown leadership on the critical issues facing utility workers and consumers. Senator Obama has pledged to rebuild our nation’s crumbling infrastructure and is the candidate most likely to lead our country to true energy independence.

President Langford explained, “We have been fortunate to have an exceptional field of Democratic candidates who have all pledged to help fix the problems facing working people. There is a consensus that we must raise wages, create fair trade, protect pensions and restore workers’ rights. However, we believe that Senator Obama also shows exceptional leadership in the area of energy independence – he’s the only candidate that has not shut the door on a variety of energy sources. An energy policy that seeks to drastically reduce our dependence on foreign oil and help clean our environment must include a number of existing sources combined with new technologies.”

Having voted to endorse a presidential candidate, the UWUA will inform its members of Senator Obama’s policy positions and organize them to participate in get-out-the-vote programs. The UWUA pledged to do everything possible with its membership and the communities where UWUA families live and work to help Barack Obama become President.

http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/post/samgrahamfelsen/gGgNkk#comments

[workinclasszero]

1. Yay!!!

Another great union joins with Obama, the next POTUS!!!!:applause::toast:

[MoJoWorkin]

2. More and more of HRC's" so-called base" seem to be abandoning ship

[cali]

3. Excellent. The endorsements keep coming for Obama

and they've just about stopped for Hill. Who in hell wants to board a sinking ship?

[Renew Deal]

4. Another great union endorsement for Obama.

:bounce:

[babylonsister]

5. wOOt! Good decision! GOBAMA! nt

[Prophet 451]

6. Do endorsements actually matter?

Please understand, I'm not trying to cut down Obama or play up Hillary here but I'm British, we don't do endorsements here (although we occasionally get a kind of anti-endorsement). Does this stuff actually make any difference?