Why Does Labor Endorse Candidates?

1. Unions must have unified labor support to elect candidates who will work to secure effective labor legislation and other beneficial social programs for our members and their families.

2. In order to evaluate a candidate, his or her voting record on labor and related issues is considered, if they are an incumbent. For non-incumbents, support for labor and related issues, such as social legislation, education, etc., is considered.

3. The union should always endorse particular candidates for public office because of their stand on labor issues. Labor endorsements are the result of an intensive examination of the candidate with a resulting recommendation on which individual will best serve the working persons’ interests. They are not an attempt to tell you how to vote.

4. The power of appointed officials concerning your livelihood is much greater than most realize. All federal judges, Supreme Court judges, National Labor Relations Board members and Cabinet members are appointed by the president. All of these appointees can change laws concerning your job and life just by the stroke of the pen without consulting Congress or being accountable to you – the voter.

5. Senators and congressional representatives can pass laws and confirm many of the above appointments of people who can directly affect your job and everyday life.

6. Local and state elected officials can appoint commissions on zoning, planning and building, all of which directly affect the amount of construction work available and many other aspects of your neighborhood and community.

7. School boards directly impact our children’s lives on a daily basis as they have control over teachers, school support staff, buildings, equipment and curriculum.

8. Workers’ compensation benefits and unemployment benefits are set by the various elected state legislatures and/or appointed commissions.

9. Elected officials or the boards and commissions that they appoint have a direct impact on our highways, cable TV, property taxes, playgrounds, insurance, telephone, gas and electric rates, just to name a few.