The 1.9-million-member Service Employees International Union and the 1.3-million-member United Food & Commercial Workers announced their decisions last week.
Though both Obama and fellow Democratic hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton have strong pro-worker voting records, SEIU President Andy Stern said the key for his union was the rising enthusiasm Obama generated nationally and the view he could take the country in a new direction.
"It\'s not about the specific positions, but about having the right person at the right time," pulling in new generations, young voters and energizing SEIU members, Stern said.
UFCW President Joe Hansen cited Obama\'s talk of the future for unionists, their children and their grandchildren. He noted 40 percent of his union\'s members -- meat cutters, grocery workers, poultry plant workers, checkout clerks, and their colleagues --are under the age of 30.
Obama also has been endorsed by UNITE HERE. Clinton is supported by AFSCME, the American Federation of Teachers, the International Association of Machinists and the United Transportation Union, among others.
Some unions that endorsed Senator John Edwards, who has dropped out of the race, have taken no action to date on another endorsement. That group includes the United Steelworkers.
This article is adapted from reports by Press Associates, Inc., news service.
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The 1.9-million-member Service Employees International Union and the 1.3-million-member United Food & Commercial Workers announced their decisions last week.
Though both Obama and fellow Democratic hopeful Sen. Hillary Clinton have strong pro-worker voting records, SEIU President Andy Stern said the key for his union was the rising enthusiasm Obama generated nationally and the view he could take the country in a new direction.
"It\’s not about the specific positions, but about having the right person at the right time," pulling in new generations, young voters and energizing SEIU members, Stern said.
UFCW President Joe Hansen cited Obama\’s talk of the future for unionists, their children and their grandchildren. He noted 40 percent of his union\’s members — meat cutters, grocery workers, poultry plant workers, checkout clerks, and their colleagues –are under the age of 30.
Obama also has been endorsed by UNITE HERE. Clinton is supported by AFSCME, the American Federation of Teachers, the International Association of Machinists and the United Transportation Union, among others.
Some unions that endorsed Senator John Edwards, who has dropped out of the race, have taken no action to date on another endorsement. That group includes the United Steelworkers.
This article is adapted from reports by Press Associates, Inc., news service.