The Sheet Metal Workers' International Association (SMWIA) today added their voices to those of their union brothers and sisters in the United Transportation Union (UTU) in making a SMART choice by announcing their joint support for Hillary Rodham Clinton as the next President of the United States.
"Hillary Clinton has the strength and experience to bring about the change SMART members and America's working families need," said Michael J. Sullivan, president of the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association and the future president of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers (SMART). "We want new leadership and new thinking both at home and abroad, and she will bring to this high office the intelligence and common sense necessary to guide our nation."
SMART is a newly formed labor powerhouse, merging the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association and the United Transportation Union, resulting in a combined membership of more than 230,000. SMART represents rail workers, bus operators and mechanics, transit workers, airline pilots and employees, and sheet metal workers that perform work in the building and construction trades, in production manufacturing, and in the railroad and shipyard industries. The official merger will take place in January 2008 and will give members stronger representation at the work place as well as on Capitol Hill.
"Those of us in the labor movement have endured great hardship over the past seven years in representing the interests of our respective members, as well as carrying the torch for all working persons and their families. Hillary Clinton understands our issues. She knows the importance of sound policies and programs and will deal fairly and intelligently in addressing the energy crisis, fair trade, quality and affordable health care, funding college and technical education and training, as well as protecting retirement security," continued Sullivan. "She is second to none in understanding the need for enlightened leadership in our relations with other countries around the world."
President Sullivan went on to pledge the union's human and financial resources behind "a proven, talented and articulate candidate who rouses the spirit of so many people. SMART's combined membership will work tirelessly to get the vote out in the primaries and then in the general election to make sure a Democrat is back in the White House. Every member will be asked to contribute voluntarily to our respective political action funds to help get our message across."
"I am honored to have the support of the Sheet Metal Workers' International Association," Clinton said. "We will stand together to rebuild the middle class and make sure that America's working families are no longer invisible to the President of the United States."
More than 500 SMART members and their families clad in golden 'Hillary 2008' t-shirts gathered at the Local 88 union hall to show their rousing support of the endorsement. "Senator Hillary Clinton, we proudly endorse your candidacy for election to the nation's highest office. Under your leadership, we will benefit as individuals, as communities of common interest and as one nation under God with liberty and justice for all," said Sullivan to the cheers of the crowd. Following the endorsement, union members hit the streets of Las Vegas to go door-to-door to muster support for the candidate. Clinton also took time to tour the SMWIA's Local 88 Apprenticeship and Training facility.
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