AFL-CIO sets October meeting to decide on endorsement

[Nicholas_J]

CHICAGO -- An AFL-CIO endorsement of a presidential candidate won't come until October at the earliest, labor leaders decided Wednesday, giving hope to Democrat Dick Gephardt's rivals determined to deny him the labor prize.

The former House minority leader has courted labor leaders here, trying to build on the solid union support he already has garnered in his race against eight Democrats. The unions already in Gephardt's camp had hoped to persuade the federation's executive council to recommend their favorite to the larger AFL-CIO general board...


"You judge it by polls. You judge it by fund raising. You judge it by their campaign staff and how effective they are. You judge it by the campaign of the candidate themselves," McEntee said.

The International Association of Fire Fighters, with 215,000 members, is leaning toward Kerry because of electability, said Harold Schaitberger, general president of the union.

http://www.dailygate.com/articles/2003/08/07/news/news4.txt

[revcarol]

1. Just came from talking with AFSCME here,

(after the Kucinich meeting) and they all watched the AFL/CIO meeting and said DK "ROCKED." He took it hands down, in their opinion.

[JohnKleeb]

2. if he gets their endorsement

woohoo! AFSCME? what union is that?

[revcarol]

3. Association(?) of Federal,State, County,Municipal Employees.AFSCME

all government workers at all levels....We are supporting them in their contract negotiations in S. Fe.And they are going more and more for Dennis. They are holding a public meeting of all AFSCME employees in the area Monday, and we were "invited" to pass out literature for DK.

[JohnKleeb]

4. cool

I am a federal employee kind of, I work in Dulles Tower, not a controller of course, they have their own union NATCA. I am technically a government employee, I think DK could appeal to government workers who dont want to lose their jobs you know him and privatization. Thats one thing about the republicans I hate, lets privatize social security yeah :puke:, how about we publicize the truth about you wankers. :)

[revcarol]

5. Hey, JohnKleeb, didya notice that the ONLY ONE at the AFL/CIO

meet who said he would stop privatization of government jobs was DK??!!

In his closing statement. That brought down the house!!

[JohnKleeb]

6. noticed and that would appeal to my mom

being a government worker. seriously thats the republican attiude lets privatize, how about we publicize the truth about Bush.

[Nicholas_J]

7. Two other AFL-CIO locals have turned over to Kerry

Firefighters in Mass, and another group in Chicago.

[JohnKleeb]

8. it was the teamsters in Chicago

[leftist_rebel1569]

9. I still bet Gephardt

is gonna get their nomination, though. I keep hearing they've been hinting at giving it to him all along.

[JohnKleeb]

10. gotta agree with you there man

too bad my man DK doesnt have the name Gephardt does with the unions. :( it rather is unfortunate.

[LWolf]

11. Maybe.

Or, on the other hand, they could be delaying, hoping to see Dennis' campaign pick up speed.