John Edwards Gains Carpenters' Endorsement, Loses Machinists'

An endorsement from the Carpenters' Union shows organized labor is taking note of Senator John Edwards' willingness to speak up on fair trade, health care, and the economy. The UBC made the unusual move of endorsing Senator John Edwards' candidacy for president Thursday, August 30th. The national union, whose founder was also key in the creation of Labor Day, made no endorsements in the last presidential race and has not participated in recent presidential primaries.

Senator Edwards met with union leaders last week in Las Vegas. Afterwards, the union's executive board and 35 leaders from across the nation voted on his endorsement. The results showed an overwhelming confidence in Edwards.

Carpenters President Douglas J. McCarron said endorsing the Senator was an easy decision.

"Edwards' active and visible support for trade unions, on picket lines and in the board rooms made him the obvious, and to our leadership, only
choice in this election," McCarron said. "Our endorsement is based on the Senator's outspoken support for all of organized labor and his focus on America's working families."

The endorsement will be made official at a union rally in New Hampshire on September 8th. Other reasons the group gave for endorsing Edwards include strong stand on trade, and his appeal to moderate voters. The union is especially concerned about the results of expanding trade agreements on middle class jobs.

"We believe that Senator Edwards truly understands the impact these agreements have had on working Americans."

McCarron added that Edwards has the appeal to reach out to middle class voters, most importantly the union's own members, address concerns about jobs, health care and the economy," McCarron said.

The United Brotherhood of Carpenters dates back to 1881, and its founders were instrumental in progess made during the early labor movement. The union has membership of over 500,000 men and women employed in the building-trades. Membership includes a wide range of tradespeople, from carpenters, cabinetmakers, floorlayers, roofers, and drywallers, to workers in forest-products and related industries.

The endorsement is significant for Edwards, especially since an endorsement from the International Association of Machinists union went jointly to Hillary Clinton and Governor Mike Huckabee. Edwards' campaign had expressed confidence in earning the machinists' approval. In the case of the IAM, polling of their membership showed a clear preference and belief that the bigger-named Democrat (Clinton) had a better chance of winning. The unions are roughly equal in membership size, with the IAM coming in at around 450,000 to the UBC's 512,000.

SOURCE

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