Major Union May Soon Endorse a Democrat

[CMT]

The Largest Union in the AFL-CIO could endorse a Democrat in the pesidential primary race as early as Wednesday, with Howard Dean, Dick Gephardt and John Kerry among the top contenders.

Andy Stern, President of the Service Employees International Union, characterized an endorsement as a best-case scenario, saying mebers at this week's conference will drive the decision. If a consensus does not emerge, an endorsement could be delayed.

The 1.5 million-member SEIU is the nation's fastest growing union and among the most progressive and diverse...The SEIU represents janitors, home health care workers, nursing home workers, hospital nurses and government workers. A large number of its members are hispanic...

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/D/DEMOCRATS_LABOR?SITE=IADES

[AWD]

1. I'm gunning...

...for an SEIU endorsement myself.

I think I have a great shot at it, too. Three years ago, my wife went on strike with SEIU, and we won the battle! Despite not being a formal member of the union, they made me a strike leader during planning meetings (every night at 6pm).

To this day, the librarians (the strike was over the public library system) are still strong. They averted a strike this year based on the strength we had in 2000.

Two side notes to that....I was the main guy who challenged the Huffmaster "hired security" guards the library brought in. Every time they tried to force us off the sidewalk, I demanded to see the law requiring we move. We always got to stand our ground.

Also, my wife was arrested for blocking the doors one day when management wouldn't bargain. 15 brave souls blocked the doors with hundreds of cheering onlookers (the postal union came down to offer interference to the police, but we asked them to stand down. The police were on our side anyway and treated us nice). The "SEIU 15" were processed and released in time to get back on the picket lines thatevening.

I'm hoping my support that year followed by my labor platform will get me that huge endorsement.

[CMT]

2. Good Luck

I hope you get it. I hope Dean gets this nod too. I know his speech to SEIU local in San Francisco on Saturday went over very BIG and the local president was extremely complimentary towards Dean. We will see.

[RogueTrooper]

3. Well you have my support

and I hope you get the support of the SEIU. Anybody who stands up for the rights of working American's is a good man IMHO.

:yourock:

[AWD]

8. Thank you

...I know I can get the support of the Democratic Party here and pull in a lot of left power based on my stances and my history...now to just change the electorate by a huge GOTV push.

[David__77]

4. SEIU is a "left" union.

My gut says "Gephardt." But other voices in labor may win out and go with Dean. It all depends on him actually.

[dean4america]

5. It's going to Dean

Even if he doesn't get the full SEIU endorsement, it looks increasingly likely that Local 250 (san fran area) and the one in NYC (sorry, don't recall the number) will go their own way and opt for Dean. These are two crucial locals, with an amazing organizational structure. If Dean ONLY got those two, it would still be a huge deal.

[JeniB]

6. No offense to Dean, but why?

Gephardt has such a strong union background. Again, no offense intended, but on what basis would this huge union have to back someone with no national track record at all. If not Gep then maybe Kucinich. It's not a popularity contest. It's about backing someone who has strong ties to unions.

[dean4america]

7. well...

while it's a nice thought to say that it is about backing someone who has strong ties to unions, i think what SEIU gets is that it is about backing someone WHO CAN WIN. Besides, Dean IS good on labor issues.

[JeniB]

9. And

Gephardt CAN win!!

[AWD]

10. I have a hard time...

....when anybody says a candidate CAN'T win. Anybody CAN win. Gep is in my "i'm not sure" category on that one.

The people at Camp Wellstone this weekend had high praise for him.

[dsc]

11. I admit I am not enamored with

the Cleveland local of this union. They tried to sink, with utterly dishonest ads, a badly needed Human Services Levy in Cuyahoga County. It was not only mean spirited but downright stupid. The levy passed, labor was split, and money was wasted (both the unions and liberal money to pass the levy). I sincerely hope the national union is smarter.