USW Endorses Peters In Michigan Senate Race

Contact: Michael Bolton, 920-722-7630, mbolton@usw.org

MENASHA, Wis. (May 30) – The United Steelworkers (USW) union has announced its support for Michigan Congressman Gary Peters in his campaign to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Carl Levin next year.

Peters, a Democrat who currently represents Michigan’s 14th congressional district, has served in Congress since 2009. The union announced its endorsement in a letter to Peters from USW District 2 Director Michael Bolton. USW District 2 includes Michigan and Wisconsin.

“Michigan deserves a leader that will stand up for working families and put their needs above the needs of corporations and the wealthy,” Bolton wrote.

The USW decided to announce its endorsement earlier than usual because of Rep. Peters’ lifelong commitment to working families.

“Time and again you have proven your commitment to working families in Michigan,” the letter said. “Your tireless work to save the auto industry, as well as your encouragement to make manufacturing a priority in Michigan, has helped to get the state back on the long road to recovery,” Bolton wrote. “Your continued dedication to improving and expanding programs that will allow manufacturers to gain new skills and access new markets in the future are vital to getting Michigan’s economy up and running once again.

“You have proven your commitment to the middle class, and are clearly the candidate that will support us in the future.”

The USW represents 850,000 members in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, including more than 40,000 in Michigan. It is the largest private-sector union in North America, representing workers in a range of industries including metals, mining, rubber, paper and forestry, oil refining, health care, security, hotels and municipal governments and agencies.

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