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Labor United Behind Kerry for President
Senator John Kerry is pledging to make workers' rights, job creation, fair trade and health care reform top priorities if elected president, and he's got a track record that says he'll keep those promises, said CWA President Morton Bahr in announcing the union's endorsement of the senator on Jan. 30.
"Senator Kerry has an outstanding voting record - 97 percent "right" - on the important worker and working family issues that CWA tracks in Congress," Bahr said. "We will do everything we can to help him reclaim the White House for the Democrats from an administration that listens solely to the corporate and wealthy elites at the expense of working families."
The full AFL-CIO followed suit with a Kerry endorsement on Feb. 19.
"The time has come to unite behind one man, one leader, one candidate," AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said, adding that Kerry's endorsement by the federation's General Board shows "the union movement is united in making sure that the next president of the United States is one who puts working families' priorities first - issues like health care, good jobs and a strong economy."
In a conference call with Kerry and reporters after CWA's endorsement President Bahr said the union is building a political network that will reach across the country to help Kerry oust President Bush and the most anti-worker administration in generations.
"I'm thrilled to have the endorsement of CWA, and I know that your grassroots effort and your energy will make a big difference," Kerry responded, saying he will fight for workers' rights, new jobs and "making the rules of international trade fairer to workers."
Bahr urged Kerry to keep health care reform on the front burner, noting that the threat of health care concessions is looming in upcoming talks with SBC and has been a central issue in many labor disputes. "This is the most contentious issue in collective bargaining today, and it's the biggest human problem in America," Bahr said.
A health care program "is the first bill that I will be presenting to the Congress when I'm president," Kerry said.
Bahr told reporters about Kerry's efforts on behalf of workers and specific help for CWA members. On the list: pressing for coverage of airline passenger agents under federal air rage legislation, supporting an organizing drive at Lucent Technologies in his home state and sponsoring a bill that would give customers the right to know where call center workers are located to try to discourage overseas outsourcing.
"You've been there for us many times over the years," Bahr told Kerry, "and we're proud to be at your side in this campaign."
"Senator Kerry has an outstanding voting record - 97 percent "right" - on the important worker and working family issues that CWA tracks in Congress," Bahr said. "We will do everything we can to help him reclaim the White House for the Democrats from an administration that listens solely to the corporate and wealthy elites at the expense of working families."
The full AFL-CIO followed suit with a Kerry endorsement on Feb. 19.
"The time has come to unite behind one man, one leader, one candidate," AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said, adding that Kerry's endorsement by the federation's General Board shows "the union movement is united in making sure that the next president of the United States is one who puts working families' priorities first - issues like health care, good jobs and a strong economy."
In a conference call with Kerry and reporters after CWA's endorsement President Bahr said the union is building a political network that will reach across the country to help Kerry oust President Bush and the most anti-worker administration in generations.
"I'm thrilled to have the endorsement of CWA, and I know that your grassroots effort and your energy will make a big difference," Kerry responded, saying he will fight for workers' rights, new jobs and "making the rules of international trade fairer to workers."
Bahr urged Kerry to keep health care reform on the front burner, noting that the threat of health care concessions is looming in upcoming talks with SBC and has been a central issue in many labor disputes. "This is the most contentious issue in collective bargaining today, and it's the biggest human problem in America," Bahr said.
A health care program "is the first bill that I will be presenting to the Congress when I'm president," Kerry said.
Bahr told reporters about Kerry's efforts on behalf of workers and specific help for CWA members. On the list: pressing for coverage of airline passenger agents under federal air rage legislation, supporting an organizing drive at Lucent Technologies in his home state and sponsoring a bill that would give customers the right to know where call center workers are located to try to discourage overseas outsourcing.
"You've been there for us many times over the years," Bahr told Kerry, "and we're proud to be at your side in this campaign."