AFL-CIO Endorses Obama for Re-Election

NALC Legislation and Political Action

Despite an often tense relationship with the president, the AFL-CIO executive committee voted unanimously to endorse Barack Obama in his 2012 re-election efforts.

Many of the executive committee members have expressed frustration with the Obama administration in the past, often citing his focus on the budget deficit rather than on job creation. However, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said that he believes Obama has “made a complete pivot” as his recent policies have been centered around job creation.

Aside from the endorsement, the AFL-CIO unveiled a plan to establish full-time political staff in six election battleground states, believing that these efforts will help mobilize the union’s 12 million members and provide a measure of independence from the Democratic Party.

“Those six states represent the first…states we are investing the funds that would’ve gone to politicians in long-term capacity for the labor movement,” Political Director Michael Podhorzer said.

The AFL-CIO hopes to engage 400,000 union members to work and volunteer on behalf of labor-friendly candidates for the 2012 election cycle.

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