USW Praises Sen. Biden on Joining Barack Obama’s Presidential Campaign

‘He’ll make a great U.S. Vice President with unwavering support of workers’

Contact:          Wayne Ranick  412-562-2442; 412-901-8442
                      Gary Hubbard  202-778-4384; 202-256-8125

Pittsburgh (Aug. 23) – Leo W. Gerard, International President, United Steelworkers (USW), today praised the announcement by the USW-endorsed Democratic Presidential Candidate Barack Obama in naming U.S. Sen. Joe Biden as his vice presidential running mate.

“Today’s announcement by Presidential Candidate Barack Obama naming Senator Joseph Biden of Delaware gets our voice and full support as the best choice to assure working families the Democratic ticket provides hope for national economic change and an experienced team for American leadership in a troubled world.

Our union’s long relationship with Sen. Biden goes back to the USW being the first to endorse his bid in 1972 that first got him elected as a U.S. Senator, extends to his appearance last year at the USW’s presidential candidates’ forum in Cleveland before 1,200 Steelworkers, and remains a constant on this day.

Sen. Biden’s roots are in Scranton, PA and among the industrial plants of Delaware. His unwavering support and commitment to family will resonate for Steelworkers who know he is not just another Washington insider.

We know Joe Biden and his convictions on issues critical to Americans like his stand on stronger labor laws that assure the right of workers to join unions, universal health care and a new approach to trade policies that require enforceable labor and environmental standards.

Sen. Biden’s foreign policy experience will be a welcome breath to the debate on how our country deals with both international affairs and how we can best address the immediate challenges confronting us at home. Sen. Biden will make a great U.S. Vice President.

USW active and retired members will work every moment for the Obama-Biden Democratic ticket from this day forward to Election Day that secures change for American working families on security, peace and prosperity.”

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