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SEIU battles over Bernie
SEIU battles over Bernie
Fearful that the powerful labor union might soon endorse Hillary Clinton, supporters of the Vermont senator have petitioned top leaders to hold off on endorsing a candidate.
By Annie Karni
09/01/15, 07:11 PM EDT
Updated 09/01/15, 10:35 PM EDT
Driven by fears that the powerful SEIU labor union is close to announcing an endorsement of Hillary Clinton, a contingent of Bernie Sanders supporters within the union is petitioning the organization's international executive board to hold off on endorsing a candidate.
With SEIU’s executive committee set to meet in mid-September, a growing number of hard-core Sanders supporters have become more vocal about urging union brass to withhold a Democratic primary endorsement at this stage in the race. Close to 300 SEIU leaders, members, retirees and staff have signed the petition urging the union to hold off.
“Sanders’ campaign is drawing thousands into a movement around the very issues we support in our day-to-day organizing,” the petition reads. “To make an early endorsement of Hillary Clinton would put our union in direct opposition to this growing movement ... and working against Sanders in the primaries will only alienate and confuse many SEIU members who are actively engaged in various movements, including the Fight for $15, immigration and higher education reform, Black Lives Matter, and many more progressive causes.”
...
Top SEIU officials are also keenly aware of the revolt among rank-and-file teachers who publicly called on the American Federation of Teachers to withdraw its endorsement of Clinton last July, claiming there had been little internal discussion with teachers before the union backed Clinton. At one large local SEIU affiliate, staff were told to quell dissent from Sanders’ supporters, a labor source said.
...
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-seiu-unions-213221
Fearful that the powerful labor union might soon endorse Hillary Clinton, supporters of the Vermont senator have petitioned top leaders to hold off on endorsing a candidate.
By Annie Karni
09/01/15, 07:11 PM EDT
Updated 09/01/15, 10:35 PM EDT
Driven by fears that the powerful SEIU labor union is close to announcing an endorsement of Hillary Clinton, a contingent of Bernie Sanders supporters within the union is petitioning the organization's international executive board to hold off on endorsing a candidate.
With SEIU’s executive committee set to meet in mid-September, a growing number of hard-core Sanders supporters have become more vocal about urging union brass to withhold a Democratic primary endorsement at this stage in the race. Close to 300 SEIU leaders, members, retirees and staff have signed the petition urging the union to hold off.
“Sanders’ campaign is drawing thousands into a movement around the very issues we support in our day-to-day organizing,” the petition reads. “To make an early endorsement of Hillary Clinton would put our union in direct opposition to this growing movement ... and working against Sanders in the primaries will only alienate and confuse many SEIU members who are actively engaged in various movements, including the Fight for $15, immigration and higher education reform, Black Lives Matter, and many more progressive causes.”
...
Top SEIU officials are also keenly aware of the revolt among rank-and-file teachers who publicly called on the American Federation of Teachers to withdraw its endorsement of Clinton last July, claiming there had been little internal discussion with teachers before the union backed Clinton. At one large local SEIU affiliate, staff were told to quell dissent from Sanders’ supporters, a labor source said.
...
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-seiu-unions-213221