United Association (UA) Becomes First International Union to Endorse Barack Obama for President
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — 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.
United Association
CONTACT: Luckie McClintock, UA Director of Political and LegislativeAffairs, +1-202-628-5823