Labor sources: Steelworkers to endorse Gephardt

[Freddie Stubbs]

Union would be 10th major labor group to back his candidacy

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Missouri Democratic Rep. Dick Gephardt will receive his 10th major endorsement from organized labor Tuesday when the United Steelworkers of America announces its support for his presidential campaign, several labor sources said Monday.

USWA President Leo Gerard will hold a news conference at the Knickerbocker Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, to announce the results of a national survey among union members and an early decision by the union's executive board to endorse Gephardt, sources said.

The USWA is an industrial union representing 1.2 million active and retired workers in the United States and Canada employed in the steel, aluminum, rubber, mining, chemicals, glass, utilities and health care industries.

The endorsement will come as the nine Democratic presidential candidates meet in Chicago for the AFL-CIO's candidate forum, scheduled for Tuesday evening.

more: http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/08/04/gephardt.steelworkers/index.html

[flyingfish]

1. And steelworkers are POed in a big way at Bush

Bush has been favoring steel management over labor in a big time way.
Dems are missing out on labor's anger towards Bush.

[Upfront]

2. I'm A Steel Worker

I was told that Dean was a close 2nd choice. Dean would win out over Gebhart where I work. In fact, so would Kerry.

[BrewCrew]

3. Leo

Yeah. Thats interesting! Leo Gerard, the Union President was just on CNN and said they polled their members and Gephardt received 92%. I wonder how many people actually participated in that poll? He was also quick to point out that in Congress Gephardt has helped USWA combat the American Steel Crisis head on. He has co-sponsored legislation such as The Steel Industry Legacy Relief Act of 2002, The Steel Revitalization Act, and The Steel Import Limitation Bill.

Said it was a no brianer?

[JohnKleeb]

4. good for Gephardt

Even if Kucinich is just as equally pro labor, labor knows Gephardt better, so if we do nominate Kucinich, I would think that Dennis would find it in his heart to maybe make Dick or hell even a union head his labor secretary, need I say no more, I would love that.

[BrewCrew]

5. dennis

Dennis would be a great pro-labor President. Unions, especially industrial unions, have worked longer with Gephardt and thus more comfortable with him I think. But we'll have no problem getting fired up for Kuncinich if he wins. He's a great canidate in many unions eyes.