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May 25, 2016                                        

UAW Endorses Hillary Clinton for President

DETROIT, MICH. – The UAW today endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, citing her support for UAW members, her lifelong commitment to the job security of American families, and her ability to unify and win in November.

“Hillary Clinton understands our issues on trade, understands the complexities of multinational economies and supports American workers, their families and communities,” said UAW President Dennis Williams.

Now is a time for unity, a time to focus on what lies ahead in November. Bernie Sanders has brought to this campaign a dialogue that has been needed for far too long. He has been, and remains, a great friend of the UAW, and of working men and women in this country. But, the fact is, Hillary Clinton has shown under pressure her ability to lead and get elected in November.

The UAW’s directors went through the process of surveying and listening to members for input into the campaign season. “We are a family of over 1 million active and retiree members with strong opinions. Now, we have to choose between two very good UAW friends and move forward as a united membership,” said Williams.

Williams also noted that all candidates regardless of political party were sent questionnaires and none of the Republicans responded, including Donald Trump. Trump also had made public comments about wanting UAW member jobs to move to nonunion, low-paying states to compete with Mexican wages. “Mr. Trump clearly does not support the economic security of UAW families,” said Williams.

Hillary Clinton has a strong track record on issues of importance to UAW members. In 2009 she fought for preserving collective bargaining rights and stood up against attacks on collective bargaining when we needed her. She’s an advocate for expanding overtime rules to include more working families, she believes in equal pay, paid family leave, and quality, affordable child care.

Hillary Clinton believes we need to protect workers against employer misclassification, wage theft, workplace exploitation and efforts to undermine retirement benefits. She also works to support good-paying manufacturing jobs here in the U.S. by opposing the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and recognizes the need to address unfair, existing trade agreements that weaken American manufacturing jobs.

As president, Hillary Clinton will empower a new chief trade prosecutor who will report directly to her and aggressively combat trade violations. She also will triple the number of trade enforcement officers and crack down on currency manipulation that hurts American workers.

A Hillary Clinton presidency will focus on collective bargaining rights and fair treatment of workers, including creating high standards for domestic sourcing and “buy American” laws. She also will create tax incentives for our hardest-hit manufacturing communities and support skills training for America’s workforce.

“For many reasons, the UAW supports Hillary Clinton as the best choice for our members and our nation in the November election,” said President Williams.


Hillary for America
May 25, 2016

Hillary Clinton Statement on Endorsement by the UAW

Hillary Clinton released the following statement after earning the endorsement of the United Auto Workers. Clinton now has the endorsement of 26 national labor unions or labor alliances representing more than 13 million employees​:

​”​I am honored to have received the endorsement of the United Auto Workers and their over one million active and retired members​.​Every day, the UAW shows us that we can and we will ‘Make it in America.’
​ ​
The U.S. auto industry has come roaring back from the great recession and just posted its best year ever—because the U.S. auto industry has the world’s best, hardest-working, most innovative and most creative workforce.

We need to keep going—and we need a President who will always stand with working families. Today, about one in five cars built in North America come from Mexico—double the share in 2004. That’s why autoworkers need more than tough talk on trade. They need a President who knows how to compete and win for American workers. I have said for years that I want to see NAFTA renegotiated to give American workers a level playing field. And we need to take on new challenges, like weak auto ‘rules of origin’ standards that provide a backdoor for Chinese steel and other products into the U.S. We’re going to throw the book at China and stop them from cheating American workers.

As President, I will stand with the United Auto Workers in protecting workers’ fundamental right to organize and bargain collectively, including in their fight to organize the VW plant in Chattanooga. And we need to make sure that the jobs of the future, including in clean energy and clean transportation, are good union jobs that can’t be outsourced. If I am fortunate enough to be elected President, organized labor will always have a champion in the White House and a seat at the table—because when unions are strong, families are strong, and when families are strong, America is strong.​”​


May 27, 2016

The UAW Endorsement Process

This week, we’ve heard a lot from UAW members about the presidential election. The engagement – even when we disagree – is healthy and an important part of the democracy of our union. One theme that comes through from all points of view is the importance of electing a president who UAW members have an important choice to make in this fall’s general election when they choose who they want to be our next U.S. president. The UAW has waited patiently for the presidential primary process to run its course and, at this stage of the process, it is time to unify behind one candidate as the November election draws closer. The best candidate for UAW members and their needs is Secretary Clinton.

“Senator Sanders helped frame the issues and has a great record. But at some point the reality of the numbers in this process, and the need to unite behind what is best for our members, matters,” said UAW President Dennis Williams. “That time is now,” he said.

“The primary process is at a point where it is time to unify and choose between two good UAW friends. Our UAW regions have gone through an extensive process of surveying our members. Each regional director took the time to listen to their membership and give input into the campaign season,” said President Williams. Now, it’s time to unify behind one candidate.

The choice is clear on which candidate is best. UAW members benefit when our president wants to raise incomes for hardworking Americans, and make equal pay, paid family leave, earned sick days, fair schedules and quality, affordable child care a reality for all workers. We need a president who protects retirement security and good-paying manufacturing jobs, opposes the TPP, and wants to aggressively combat trade violations. Our members need a president who is focused on creating tax incentives for our hardest-hit manufacturing communities and supports training for America’s workforce.

Last year, the UAW sent Donald Trump and all presidential candidates a questionnaire to give them the opportunity to seek our support based on their policy positions. Donald Trump never responded to us. In fact, he has said publicly that our members should compete with Mexico by taking lower-paying, nonunion jobs. Is that a candidate who is looking out for your interests? It’s not. That is why it’s time to unify behind a candidate who fights for hardworking Americans. That candidate is Secretary Clinton.