The United Auto Workers Union (UAW) endorsed Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton on Wednesday, citing her friendship with the union and her ability to “unify and win in November.”
{mosads}“Hillary Clinton understands our issues on trade, understands the complexities of multinational economies and supports American workers, their families and communities,” UAW president Dennis Williams said in a statement.
The announcement also offered some praise for Clinton’s opponent, Bernie Sanders, who has been an outspoken supporter of unions and a critic of international trade agreements.
“Bernie Sanders has brought to this campaign a dialogue that has been needed for far too long,” the statement reads. “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.”
Williams said that all presidential candidates from both parties were sent questionnaires to help the union determine which White House hopeful most aligned with their beliefs. Presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump did not submit the questionnaire, and Williams used the announcement to blast him for some of his anti-union sentiments.
“Mr. Trump clearly does not support the economic security of UAW families,” he said.
The union also praised Clinton for her record supporting unions, citing her opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
“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,” the statement says.
“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.”
Clinton welcomed the endorsement on Wednesday and pledged to strive for international trade deals that will benefit domestic companies, saying that if elected she will “throw the book at China and stop them from cheating American workers.”