DemDaily: The AFL-CIO Makes it Official
The nation's largest labor federation, the AFL-CIO, endorsed Hillary Clinton last Thursday, bringing with it millions of voters and boots-on-the ground nationwide.
"Throughout the campaign, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to the issues that matter to working people, and our members have taken notice. The activism of working people has already been a major force in this election and is now poised to elect Hillary Clinton and move America forward." -- AFL-CIO President Richard TrumkaAFL-CIO President Richard Trumka
Labor as a whole is the largest single source of organizational funding and manpower in Democratic politics.
The federation's endorsement further underscores efforts to unite behind Clinton and clear the path to what is sure to be a bruising general election battle. The endorsement was followed by the announcement that the full Democratic Senate and House Leadership will soon be hosting a fundraising event for Clinton (details to come).
The AFL-CIO is the national umbrella for 56 labor unions and their collective 12.5 million active and retired members in every state of the union.Clinton had already secured a majority of the AFL's major affiliated unions, including the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), LIUNA, Steelworkers, UFCW and (See full list).
The AFL-CIO's general board voted to endorse Secretary Clinton following her win of the requisite 2,383 delegates to become the presumptive Democratic nominee.
Support from a small, but significant, national contingent of unions was a factor in delaying the official nod to Clinton. Those in the Sanders Camp include APWU, ATU, ILWU, National Nurses United and the National Union of Healthcare Workers, as well a number of local union affiliates. The Communications Workers of America (CWA), which was a powerful ally, has since united behind Hillary for the general.
The Service Employees International Union, the Teamsters, the Carpenters, the United Farm Workers and UE are among the non-AFL unions who have also endorsed Clinton.
Despite his attacks on core labor issues, GOP nominee Donald Trump made inrodes with blue-collar voters in the Republican primaries, and national labor leaders are waisting no time in going on the attack. Out of the gate --
"This election offers a stark choice between an unstoppable champion for working families and an unstable charlatan who made his fortune scamming them." -- Lee Saunders, President, AFSCME & Chair AFL-CIO political committee.
More to come on labor and it's role in the presidential!
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