UA Endorses Obama

[OldDawg]

Well, It looks like the UA has spoken. Anyone else?

OldDawg

The United Association Endorses Obama
1/10/2008

Courtesy of The United Association

United Association (UA) Becomes First International Union to Endorse Barack Obama for President

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 The United Association (UA)
of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the
United States and Canada today became the first International Union to
announce its endorsement of U.S. Senator Barack Obama for President of the
United States.

"Barack Obama is the UA's choice because he has always fought for working
people throughout his career and will do the best job of bringing badly-needed
change to Washington," said UA International President William P. Hite.
"Senator Obama will help us keep existing jobs and work to develop new higher-
paying jobs here in America, reform our health care system, fix our ailing
schools and make sure that the pensions of our retirees are safe."

"Throughout my career as a community organizer, Illinois State Senator and
U.S. Senator, I've fought to help working Americans get better health care,
higher wages and a more secure retirement," Obama said. "I'm honored to
receive the endorsement of the United Association, and look forward to working
with them to bring big changes to Washington that will help working people
meet the challenges we face in this changing economy."

The UA is a multi-craft union whose members are engaged in the
fabrication, installation and servicing of piping systems. There are
approximately 340,000 highly-skilled United Association members who belong to
over 300 individual local unions across North America.

Founded in 1889, the United Association is one of the most respected and
influential building trades unions in the U.S. and Canada today. It serves as
a collective voice for workers through negotiation and collective bargaining
with employing contractor groups, such as the Mechanical Contractors
Association of America and the National Association of Plumbing-Heating-
Cooling Contractors. The UA is also a key member of the Building and
Construction Trades Department, the AFL-CIO, and the Canadian Federation of
Labour.
SOURCE United Association Luckie McClintock, UA Director of Political and Legislative Affairs,
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[OldDawg]

In all fairness to the political views of all our Brothers and Sisters I can appreciate that the UA has put their views on the table. Now it's YOUR turn MEMBERS!
I suppose this would be the official statement by the UA....

OldDawg :Oh Dear!: :Laugh:

Dear Brothers and Sisters:
On January 9, 2008, the United Association became the first International Union to endorse Senator Barack Obama as its candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.

This endorsement was discussed with the General Executive Board and they concurred.

Barack Obama is the choice of the UA because he has always fought for working people throughout his career and will do the best job of bringing badly-needed change to Washington.

Obama will help us keep existing jobs and work to develop new, higher paying jobs here in America, reform our health care system, fix our ailing schools and make sure that the pensions of our retirees are safe.

I have had a long-standing, working relationship with Barack.
The UA was one of the first unions in Illinois to endorse him as a candidate for the U.S. Senate.

Barack Obama has personally reached out to the UA to request our support for his presidential candidacy, and he has solicited our views on the issues that are important to our union and its members.

No other candidate, of either party, has requested our support or solicited our views!

One of the keys to our endorsement was that Senator Obama backs a strong energy and industrial construction policy, which is very important to the future of our union.
He is in favor of nuclear power, the construction of new refineries, fossil fuel power plants and chemical plants.

He has also endorsed innovative energy initiatives, including ethanol plants, coal gasification and biodiesel production.

He also clearly recognizes the need to upgrade all of our current industrial plants to comply with clean air and water standards.

Barack realizes we have to become less reliant on foreign oil and gas and develop an energy program that we self-sustain here in the United States.

To meet the challenges of clean water, he recognizes the need to replace and/or upgrade our water treatment and wastewater systems.

His support of our position on all of these issues more than justifies our endorsement.

We need to support Barack Obama because he provides more than lip service to our concerns.
We remain a bi-partisan organization. However, our best hope for clear direction and responsible change in our national government calls for our support of Barack Obama.
The economic indicators show a weakening national economy and we need someone to both invigorate our economy and provide hope for our country.

Fraternally yours,
William P. Hite
General President
http://www.ua.org/ua_endorses.asp (http://www.ua.org/ua_endorses.asp)

[WonderRod]

First off, I haven't felt the effects of any so called support for union interests by ANY politicians in decades.

We are not likely to even hear any politician in the presidential race ever mention union workers.

WE are simply of no consequence for ANY politician, but MAYBE our own local boys.

I like Obama, but he is just not ready to be the most powerful man in the world. This is not exactly a good time to be breaking in a Jr. President.
And President Hillery...:LOL: What a :snake:

What I DO KNOW is who has their freaking hand in my pocket, jacking up my EARNED pay check.
He who thinks part of "MY" paycheck belongs to them WILL NEVER GET MY VOTE. Period!
I don't give a didly about EITHER political party.
For the last three elections all WE have got is THEM fighting, and NOT actually working for us.
We owe neither political party didly! Because that is exactly what Union Families have got from BOTH political parties. DIDLY!

How about a political candidate endorsing Us.... Union Workers.
They wont even mention Us.
FOR us? my butt.

NOPE! I think this time I might just vote for whats important to ME.

Paycheck TAX..... Really, Really, Really pisses me off!
Estate TAX.... Morally WRONG! (And Double Taxation)
Our Borders.... Seal THEM!
Illegal Invaders.... Make them go better THEIR country. Start with the ones draining our AMERICAN privileges and health care, or in jail.
Want to mend Health Care?........ America - Less 15 million Illegal Invaders = BILLIONS AND BILLIONS instant savings.
Want to balance the budget?...... Outlaw ANY attatchments to ANY bill. PERIOD! Instant Trillions in savings.
Want a brige to nowhere, to suck up to your homeboys? Get off your lazy bickering asses and VOTE on the freeging bridge ON IT'S OWN MERRIT. Send it to the president and see if he will sign it.
Quit conducting "Lump" business on behalf of the Ameruican CITIZENS like a bunch of sneeky "Attatchment Snakes".

Democrats want to just GIVE everyone so called FREE health care.
THERE IS NO FREE HEALTH CARE.
Watch YOUR paycheck shrink as WE provide services not only for us, but also for 15-20 million illegal invaders.

I suppose we could let them stay if WE ALL got to choose one law we could break. If they are going to give people that aren't even Americans a FREEBIE, why can't WE have one also?

If he lasts until the Party dust settles, Mike Hucabee has FLAT said he wants to abolish the IRS. That alone makes me take a serious look at him.:Laugh:
In fact, he sounds more like the Democrats I grew up with, than ANY of the Democratic candidates. And, Especially the Republicans.
The republican party is NO better than the democrat party.
McCane has backed off to saying...... "I'll keep taxes low"...... In other words, He's not all that firm on not raising taxes.
I personally just love how the government is so much better at spending MY money than I am. :rolleyes:

"WE", Haven't been really invited to either one of THEIR "Parties" in decades!

And, Of course, this is just my :Two Cents: .
WR