The top leaders of AFL-CIO unions, including SIU President Michael Sacco, on June 26 voted without opposition to endorse pro-maritime Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in his bid to become the next president of the United States.The federation’s General Board, which designated Obama as the candidate of its choice for the White House, includes presidents of all 56 unions in the AFL-CIO, as well as Executive Council members and representatives of state and local federations, trade departments and constituency groups. The General Board votes by per capita membership.
In conjunction with the endorsement, the AFL-CIO launched a new web site: Meet Barack Obama (http://www.aflcio.org/issues/politics/obama.cfm.)
In its endorsement statement, the General Board noted that Sen. Barack Obama “has secured the nomination of his party in a campaign that has energized millions of Americans and spoken to the hopes and dreams of people from every corner of our nation. His leadership can re-engage disenfranchised Americans and bring our country together. Senator Obama has advocated a change of direction for our nation that mirrors the priorities of the labor movement.”
Obama has a 98 percent voting record on working families’ issues, compared to just 16 percent for Sen. John McCain, his Republican presidential opponent.
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, in announcing the federation’s backing, said, “Barack Obama has proven from his days as an organizer, to his time in the Senate and his historic run for the presidency that he’s leading the fight to turn around America.”
As a champion for working families, Sweeney said, “Obama knows what it’s going to take to create an economy that works for everyone, not just Big Oil, Big Pharma, the insurance companies, the giant mortgage lenders, speculators and the very wealthy. We’re proud to stand with Senator Obama to help our nation chart a course that will improve life for generations of working people and our children.”
The federation’s endorsement was not only a stamp of approval; it marked the beginning of a huge, united political mobilization among working class voters. The AFL-CIO will focus on mobilizing more than 13 million union voters – including union members, families of members, retirees and members of the AFL-CIO community affiliate Working America – in 24 priority states, working to elect pro-labor U.S. senators and representatives, as well as state and local candidates.
When it comes to the U.S.-flag maritime industry, Sen. Obama has expressed very strong support on laws and programs such as the Jones Act, the U.S. Maritime Security Program and cargo preference regulations.
“The Jones Act is a vital part of our national defense and supports American workers,” Sen. Obama said earlier this year. “As president, I would fully enforce it…. Furthermore, maintaining the American Merchant Marine fleet is vital to our economy and national security. I would oppose any move to undermine this Act.”
Concerning the Maritime Security Program, Sen. Obama stated that it “helps ensure U.S.-flag vessels are ready to meet our needs during times of war or national emergency and I support fully funding it. I support funding the Maritime Security Program so that it serves our nation’s national security needs. If the GAO [General Accountability Office] or another independent body finds that the MSP program needs to be expanded, I will support expanding it to the size necessary.”
He added, “Our cargo preference laws are an important way for us to regulate and support the maritime industry. Supporting the maritime industry allows us to ensure that we have the resources we need during times of war and national emergency and maintains standards in the industry. I will continue to support cargo preference laws where they uphold our goals in shipping.”
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