Senator Barack Obama addressed the delegates to the Grand Lodge Convention via satellite. Afterwards, the presidential candidate received a unanimous endorsement from the IAM.
Possessing 124 electoral votes, the 13 states of the Western Territory are positioned to play a major role in this year's presidential election - and in many other key races for Senate and House of Representative slots. With election day just around the corner, General Vice President Lee Pearson and his staff are banding together with the region's Directing Business Representatives, State Councils, lodge officers and stewards in a concerted membership education effort to ensure the 2008 election results in a Congress that will represent the people of Main Street, not just the corporations of Wall Street.
"This year's election is absolutely critical," declared GVP Pearson. "We must do everything in our power to elect a worker-friendly President, backed by a worker-friendly Congress, to get our great country back on the right track."
The next administration will face everything from a disastrous economic outlook, tens of millions without medical coverage, the war in Iraq, military purchases such as the long-awaited aerial refueling tankers and Employee Free Choice Act legislation. Get Out the Vote (GOTV) drives have already begun. To find out how you can help, call your local union hall or visit your state's AFL-CIO website.
