The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

UMW endorses Obama





WASHINGTON

The United Mine Workers of America has endorsed Barack Obama for president despite his recent defeats in primaries in coal-producing states where many of the union’s members vote.

The endorsement continues organized labor’s swing over to the Democratic front-runner as the primaries wrap up. Obama lost heavily to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton in last week’s Kentucky primary and last week’s West Virginia primary.

“Senator Obama shares the values of UMWA members and our families. He understands and will fight for the needs our members have today and the hopes our members have for a secure future for themselves and their families,” union president Cecil E. Roberts said.

The Mine Workers – along with the United Steelworkers union – had originally endorsed former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina.

“Senator Obama will fight to preserve American jobs, not ship them overseas in greater and greater numbers,” Roberts said. “Senator Obama will make sure that the nation’s mine safety and health enforcement agency actually enforces the law, instead of coddling mine operators who repeatedly and willfully violate the law.”


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