Clinton snags sixth union endorsement
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Tuesday secured her sixth union endorsement.
The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America backed the former New York senator and secretary of State as “a fighter” on labor issues at several levels of government.
{mosads}”We encourage her to continue her efforts regarding long-term and strategic budgeting for our country’s infrastructure, implementing secure measures for pension reform, and eradicating the payroll fraud epidemic in our nation’s construction industry,” Douglas McCarron, the union’s president, said in a statement.
The national group, which says it represents about 500,000 workers, cited Clinton’s support for Davis-Bacon wage laws for contractors on federal projects as well as support for collective bargaining rights.
The Huffington Post first reported the endorsement on Tuesday.
“On the very first day in office, I’m going to get to work to reverse the incredible pressures on the working people of America,” Clinton said in a statement shared by the group.
“We’re going to go back to enforcing labor laws. I’m going to make sure that employers are held accountable for wage theft and all the other abuses that they engage in,” she added.
Clinton has received several other union endorsements in recent weeks, as Vice President Biden considers jumping into the 2016 race.
Biden recently met with AFL-CIO chief Richard Trumka.
It is unclear if the AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest labor federation, will throw its weight behind any candidate during the Democratic primary.
Clinton has been backed by the American Federation of Teachers; the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers; the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers; the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry; and the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers and Allied Workers.
Rival candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) landed the backing of National Nurses United last month.