Plasterers and Cement Masons Back Clinton

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/04/16/plasterers-and-cement-masons-back-clinton/

by Seth Michaels, Apr 16, 2008

The Plasters and Cement Masons (OP&CMIA) union has endorsed Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) for president. The 45,000-member union announced the endorsement today during the annual conference of the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department. OP&CMIA President Patrick Finley says Clinton would be a strong leader and a pro-working family president.

We need a leader with Hillary Clinton’s ability to turn around the economy and rebuild the middle class. She has a clear record fighting for working families and is the strongest candidate to go toe-to-toe with John McCain in November.



Twelve other unions affiliated with the AFL-CIO have endorsed Clinton: AFSCME, AFT, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU), Bricklayers (BAC), Letter Carriers (NALC), Machinists (IAM), Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU), Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT), Sheet Metal Workers (SMWIA), TCU/IAM, Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and 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.

Among AFL-CIO affiliates, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) 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.

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 April 22, when Pennsylvania will hold its primary.