Federal workers' union endorses Kerry

[JI7]

<WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's largest federal workers' union, battling the Bush administration on government outsourcing and other issues, is endorsing Democrat John Kerry for president.

The announcement by the American Federation of Government Employees is set for Friday at the union's convention in Pittsburgh. Kerry taped a speech that will be played at the meeting.

The endorsement isn't a surprise. The union is fighting the Bush administration on an overhaul of the civil service system, collective bargaining rights being stripped for workers in some agencies and annual pay raises.

"This president came right out of the box and punched us right in the mouth," said union President John Gage.>

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