UFCW International Endorses Barack Obama for President

On February 14 the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW International) formally endorsed Senator Barack Obama, Democrat from Illinois for President of the United States. In an official statement UFCW International President, Joseph Hansen, cited the need to restore the American Dream for America’s workers as the most important goal of the 2008 elections. “Our country requires a change – change that restores America to a place of opportunity and security, where hard work is respected and those who do it are protected… we believe that Senator Obama is the best candidate to build a movement to unite our country that will deliver the type of change that is needed – for good jobs, affordable health care, retirement security and worker safety.”

Echoing Joe Hansen’s statement, UFCW Local 464A President John T. Niccollai said, “For too long under the present administration, America’s workers have been denied a level playing field where they could expect earnings and benefits with the same advantages and privileges as the wealthy and powerful. Now, with the opportunity to elect a new leader, we can exert our influence to restore balance and equality to the rights of America’s workers – we can start to rebuild the middle class.”

Senator Obama, who has achieved a stunning string of victories in primaries across the nation, released details of his economic plan which, the Wall Street Journal indicates, “…would tilt the power of the federal government toward the middle and working classes and away from the wealthy and corporations.” The package, which Obama said he would advocate with the U. S. Congress, includes tax cuts and spending programs targeted at health care, mortgage interest costs, tuition costs, energy costs and payroll taxes. Details of the plan include a 10% mortgage interest credit for those who do not itemize their tax deductions, a $500 per person or $1,000 per working family tax credit to offset payroll taxes on the first $8,100 of earnings, up to $3,000 for child care for low-income families, and a tax credit to cover the first $4,000 in college costs as well as two-thirds of tuition at public universities.

Obama’s spending proposals include $150 billion over ten years for alternative and renewable energy initiatives along with a digital electricity grid, $60 billion for a national infrastructure Reinvestment Bank to aid repair and construction of roads, bridges and other public works, and $50 to $65 billion for a national health care program. His tax credit and spending proposals will be funded by ending the war in Iraq, closing corporate tax loopholes, and allowing many of the Bush administration’s tax cuts to expire in 2010.

At a rally at a General Motors plant in Wisconsin Obama said, “I realize that politicians come before you every election saying they’ll change all this, but how many times have you been disappointed when everyone goes back to Washington and nothing changes? Because the lobbyists just write another check or because politicians start worrying about how they’ll win the next election instead of why the should (win it)… I’ll change the tax code so that it’s simple, fair and advances opportunity, not the agenda of some lobbyist”

In his endorsement statement Joe Hansen further stated, “UFCW will be mobilizing, organizing and energizing our members, their friends and families to make Senator Obama not just the Democratic nominee, but the next President of the United States.