|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
                  Get to know your Business Agent today!  Find out how the union makes a difference on the job. |
Newsline: March 2004 Kerry All But Clinches Democratic Nomination Hoffa Cites Kerry’s 90 Percent Voting Record on Teamster Issues
“We look forward to working with our next president — John Kerry — to create jobs, fix the health care system, negotiate fair trade and protect workers’ agreements and protect workers’ pension security,” Hoffa added. “Working families will play a pivotal role in the fall election and we look forward to the campaign to put a pro-worker president in the White House.” The leaders of the AFL-CIO, with 13 million union members, also united behind Kerry as their candidate of choice to take on President George W. Bush in November. “We’ve had four years to see who George Bush fights for in this country,” Kerry said in front of the AFL-CIO headquarters, two blocks from the White House. “And we’re here to say to working people across this country: ‘In November, it’s going to be your turn.’” Kerry Takes 9 Out of 10 States in March 2 Primaries Minutes after the polls closed in New York following the Democratic primaries on Mar. 2, a delighted Sen. John Kerry thanked his supporters — among them “the ranks of labor” — who effectively gave him the Democratic Party’s nomination for president. Kerry’s huge lead in 19 of the 21 primaries so far has garnered him more than half the required 2,162 delegates he needs for the party’s formal nomination at the Boston convention in July. “Get ready! A new day is on the way,” Kerry said in his nationally televised victory speech. The very next day, Mar. 3, Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina dropped out of the race after being defeated by his rival, Kerry, in all 10 states which held primaries, which included delegate-rich California, New York and Ohio. Edwards’ concession clears the campaign trail for 60-year-old Kerry of Massachusetts, whom Democrats selected as most likely to defeat President Bush. “We never doubted that Kerry would be the Democratic candidate,” said Local 237 President Carl Haynes. “We need someone with a heart in the White House working for all Americans, including working people. Organized labor is squarely behind him. Now all we have to do is put the strength of our unions behind him and get out the vote.” The only state where Kerry lost was, ironically, Vermont, where Howard Dean led the vote in his home state, despite having dropped out of the race. The next batch of primaries, where only voters enrolled in the Democratic party may vote, takes place this month in Southern states, including Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. |
|
 John Kerry and James P. Hoffa  After the AFL-CIO endorsement. |
||
|
|
|
|||
 |
|||||
| |||||
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters joined with 18 other member unions in the Alliance for Economic Justice (AEJ), Feb. 17, to endorse Senator John Kerry as the best candidate to defeat President Bush. Two days later the AFL-CIO announced their endorsement of the Democratic frontrunner.