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AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION ENDORSES CLINTON

(Press Associates, Inc.)

AMALGAMATED TRANSIT UNION ENDORSES CLINTON

By Mark Gruenberg

PAI Staff Writer

            WASHINGTON (PAI)--Joining a lengthening list, the 180,000-member Amalgamated Transit Union endorsed Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) for the Democratic presidential nomination, on Nov. 29.   Its board vote was 17-0, with one abstention, due to self-perceived conflict of interest, by a member close to the Clintons.

            “Hillary Clinton has the strength and experience to deliver the change that America’s working families need,” ATU President Warren S. George said in a statement.  “She has a deep commitment to rebuilding the middle class and addressing the pocketbook issues that most matter to our members,” he added.

            In a telephone interview, George elaborated, explaining the decision was not easy because “we have good candidates running this time and it’s tough when you have to split hairs” among them.  “But her record on transit issues, transit security and health care was too much for our board, and our members, to ignore,” he said of Clinton.

            ATU, which represents bus, subway and paratransit workers nationwide, joins the Sheet Metal Workers/UTU, the Letter Carriers, AFSCME, the Machinists, Teachers, the Bricklayers, and the Transportation Communications Union/IAM in backing Clinton. 

            The Steel Workers, the Mine Workers and the non-AFL-CIO Carpenters back former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.), who ran third in two polls ATU ran among its members in the last three months, George said.  No international union backs Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), who ran second in the ATU surveys, while the Fire Fighters endorsed Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-Conn.), who trailed.

            George said Clinton led both surveys, getting 38% in the latest one, ahead of Obama (26%) and Edwards (11%).  ATU is about 9% Republican and those members split between former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.  Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani “was far behind,” George said.

            The two surveys also asked ATU members to discuss key factors in making an endorsement.  Electability, favorable-unfavorable ratings and “who would you like to see as president” came out on top, he said.  Clinton came out on top on electability, along with 68% of members praising her stand on mass transit issues.

            George said ATU members, especially in the first caucus state, Iowa, and the first primary state, New Hampshire, will start working for the senator.  “We have members in every state, except Hawaii,” he pointed out.   ###

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