UAW Won't Endorse Presidential Candidates

[Khephra]

DETROIT -- The United Auto Workers' executive board will not endorse a candidate in the Democratic presidential primary, instead leaving that decision to its local organizations, the union said Friday.

The UAW, which has 675,000 active members and another 500,000 retirees, decided at its quarterly board meeting in St. Louis to make no recommendation. The executive board's decision frees up the union's community action groups in 11 regions to endorse the candidate of their choice or follow the board in making no endorsement.

UAW President Ron Gettelfinger said the union is not backing a particular candidate because several Democrats would be good choices to run against President Bush.

"UAW members and all of America's working families urgently need a strong alternative to the failed policies of the Bush-Cheney administration," he said. "Fortunately, a number of Democratic presidential candidates offer thoughtful, progressive approaches on health care, fair trade, workers' rights, education and other issues."

Organized labor so far has split into two camps: unions that support Howard Dean and those that back Dick Gephardt.

more...................

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-democrats-uaw,0,4685706.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[Buckminster Fush]

1. Wonder if this is good or bad news?

While I agree with their ideology that just about any Dem is better than the present administration, not giving a full/unified endorsement to any one particular candidate could be a double-edged sword. Perhaps when the dust settles in a few months, they can back one or the other???

[Khephra]

3. As a Dean supporter

I think this is worse for Gephardt than Dean.

My reasoning?

Gephardt should have had them in the bag. As it is they're split into two camps. That second camp (Dean) should have never had a chance at doing that, but he did. It's better off in the longrun for Dean if they don't support anyone, but worse off for Gephardt since he didn't have them wholeheartedly.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

5. That's what I gathered from the announcement

[NNN0LHI]

2. Funny that the union that I belong to would have the same position as me?

http://www.uaw.org/news/newsarticle.cfm?ArtId=223

For Release: Friday, November 07, 2003

UAW International Executive Board will make no recommendation in Democratic presidential primaries

The UAW International Executive Board, meeting in St. Louis yesterday, has taken the position of “no recommendation” in the Democratic presidential primaries. The “no recommendation” position frees up the UAW’s 11 regions to work through their respective Community Action Program (CAP) structures to endorse the candidate of their choice, or not endorse.

“UAW members – and all of America’s working families – urgently need a strong alternative to the failed policies of the Bush-Cheney administration,” said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger.

“Fortunately, a number of Democratic presidential candidates offer thoughtful, progressive approaches on health care, fair trade, workers’ rights, education and other issues of vital concern to working families,” Gettelfinger continued. “There is a healthy diversity of opinion among UAW members as to which Democratic candidate can mount the strongest challenge to George W. Bush. We will encourage our members and their families to fully participate in the caucuses and primaries by working with their regional director and through their regional CAP Council to support the candidate of their choice.”

[Upfront]

4. Smart decision

Now if they could see fit to help the Democratic Governer in Michigan even though she was not there 1st choice. Sometimes even a blind squirrel can find an acorn.

[Buckminster Fush]

6. Granholm

She did inherit quite a bad situation, didn't she? I live in SE Michigan and things are bleak at best right now for this state.