Labor Unions Abandon Bernie Sanders to Support Bankers

In yesterday's newsletter from Politico:

Hillary Clinton notched another union endorsement Monday, this time from the 130,000-member Ironworkers union. The union said that "several other candidates align with Ironworker values" but none compared to Clinton when it came "to putting those beliefs into practice." With the Ironworkers nod, Hillary can claim multiple endorsements from the influential building trades, including UA and the Bricklayers. That said, Clinton has some fences to mend with other building trades unions — especially the Teamsters and LiUNA (Laborers International Union of North America) — that are still peeved over her opposition to the Keystone pipeline.

From LiUNA:

"Environmental extremists and their billionaire backers are becoming the Democrat's 'Green' Tea Party, a party that kills blue collar jobs and puts their own fringe beliefs before the good of the nation and working people." The union said this attitude would create, among working people, "pause and consternation at the ballot box."

Meanwhile, IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) has promised its rank-and-file that it will take its time on a primary endorsement, responding to significant member support for Bernie Sanders. These dissenting unions will probably come around to Clinton eventually, but they'll need coaxing.

In this morning's newsletter, Politico now says:

"We were wrong to think this rhetoric meant that LiUNA would play hard-to-get with Hillary. The union came out for Clinton Tuesday [the very same day], citing her support for infrastructure spending and repeal of the Cadillac Tax."

From LiUNA:

"The strong, proud and united members of LIUNA will be on the frontlines of the 2016 elections; on the streets, knocking on doors, making calls, and encouraging family, friends, and neighbors to elect Hillary Clinton as the 45th President of the United States."

Pause and consternation, begone! Clinton will have the chance to schmooze them Nov 29 at a Boston organizing event called "Hard Hats for Hillary" — alongside Mayor Marty Walsh, a LiUNA Local 223 member:

"Hard Hats for Hillary is the coalition to organize the millions of working families in construction, building, transportation and other labor industries and professions to support Clinton's agenda" — according to a Clinton press release.

This is total crap! Hillary Clinton has "evolved" on many issues that Bernie Sanders has stood firm on all along. This is a total betrayal by labor to a man who has worked tirelessly for his whole life. There is no pandering that Clinton won't do just to get votes. As a life long union member, who has always supported the unionization of America's workforce, I am deeply ashamed of union leadership in America today, who I suspect is voting against the preference of the union's rank-and-file membership. And if I'm wrong about that, then I can only say that I am deeply disappointed with them and (IMHO) think they are fools for backing Hillary.