Breaking....IFPTE Endorses Obama

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/04/24/ifpte-endorses-obama/

by Seth Michaels, Apr 24, 2008

The International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) union has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president.

The IFPTE Executive Council voted unanimously yesterday to endorse Obama. The union represents more than 75,000 engineers, technicians and scientists across the public and private sector.

IFPTE President Gregory Junemann says the IFPTE Executive Council believes in Obama’s ability to be a leader on health care, retirement security, protecting workers from privatization and outsourcing, ensuring worker-friendly trade and passing the Employee Free Choice Act.



While IFPTE applauds both Democratic candidates, our union’s internal polling results, coupled with Senator Obama’s unblemished record of support for the critical issues facing IFPTE, prompted our action to endorse Senator Obama. IFPTE’s Executive Council agreed that Senator Obama is the candidate best suited to address the major concerns of America’s working men and women.

Among AFL-CIO affiliates, Obama has been endorsed by the Boilermakers (IBB), the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), the Plumbers and Pipe Fitters (UA), the Postal Workers (APWU), the Transport Workers (TWU), which initially gave its endorsement to former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), and the Utility Workers (UWUA).

Two other unions that endorsed Edwards, the Mine Workers (UMWA) and United Steelworkers (USW), have not announced any plans to endorse another candidate for president.

Thirteen unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO have endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.): AFSCME, AFT, the Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), the Bricklayers (BAC), the Letter Carriers (NALC), Machinists (IAM), Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU), the Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), the Plasterers and Cement Masons (OP&CMIA), Sheet Metal Workers (SMWIA), TCU/IAM, the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and the United Transportation Union (UTU).

The IAM and IUPAT endorsements of Clinton in the Democratic primaries were accompanied by endorsements of former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee in the Republican primaries.

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the UAW have announced they will not make endorsements during the primary season. The Fire Fighters (IAFF) union, which endorsed Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), has not announced a new endorsement.

In August, the AFL-CIO Executive Council said it would not yet make an endorsement for a 2008 presidential candidate, freeing AFL-CIO unions to endorse candidates for the caucuses and primaries. The AFL-CIO will continue the Working Families Vote 2008 campaign to help elect a worker-friendly Congress and president. The next test for the Democratic candidates happens on May 6, when Indiana and North Carolina hold primaries.

[Political Heretic]

1. Smart people for Obama!

[Political Heretic]

3. ugg...seconds after I posted that I realized that could be interpreted as saying clitnon supporters

are stupid. That's not what I meant. I was just being lighthearted about a bunch of engineers endorsing Obama. No intended "implied" comment.

[panader0]

5. It's not "smart " versus " dumb"

but all polls and surveys show that the more education one has, the more likely they are to support Obama. Among folks with post college education, it's about 95%.

[Poll_Blind]

2. WOW! You can tell the unions know who's got it going on, who's going to...

...give the working men and women a fair shake.

PB

[liberaldem4ever]

4. Great news! K&R

[catgirl]

6. K & R!!

[Omaha Steve]

7. Needs one more R

Kick.