Labor for Bernie
Template:TOCnestleft Labor for Bernie
About the campaign
Labor for Bernie "is a volunteer effort neither funded nor directed by the Sanders for President campaign"[1] powered by Movement Builders, "A creative agency for nonprofits, unions & progressive causes."[2]
A letter pledging support for Bernie Sanders was signed by over 1100 labor union activists.
Text of the letter
"We are union leaders, organizers and labor activists committed to building a broad, effective movement for democratic change. While we come from different unions and backgrounds, our goal is a government that carries out the will of the people, not prop up the profits of the 1% at the expense of the rest of us.
To that end, we support Bernie Sanders to be the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party. Senator Sanders has a long-standing commitment to union principles and labor’s values and we stand firmly behind him as the strongest candidate who will articulate our issues. Sanders is the bold, pro-worker alternative.
As a truly progressive candidate for the Democratic Party nomination, Senator Sanders has the chance to inspire millions of Americans with policy proposals that put the interests of the 99%, front and center. His campaign will draw attention to what unions and collective bargaining have accomplished for workers and energize our movement.
Franklin D. Roosevelt called out the “economic royalists” of his day; Senator Sanders is picking up the banner. He is the only candidate who clearly challenges the billionaires at the very top who not only stole our pensions, our jobs, our homes, but now are dismantling our democracy. He answers to “We the People” and not to the corporate and financial sectors or members of the privileged elite. Bernie brings the kind of leadership that is necessary to build a real, living democracy and a prosperous sustainable economy.
Labor must step up to change the direction of American politics. We need politics to focus on the issues of our time: growing inequality and pervasive racism, the power of concentrated wealth and its corruption of our democracy, an escalating pension and retirement security crisis, runaway military spending and a militarized foreign policy, Medicare for All, and the need for new, bold solutions to our shared problems.
Labor for Bernie 2016 won’t be a corporate-style, staff-driven, top-down campaign. It will reflect our commitment to creating fundamental change and the urgency of stronger grassroots organizing and political activity.
We call on labor leaders, union members and working people to unite behind Bernie Sanders for a voice in the presidential political process and to elect the President working families need – a President who will answer to the 99 percent!
We are Labor for Bernie 2016. Join the political revolution today!"[3]
Labor Union supporters
The following labor union activists signed the above pledge:
- Sara Steffens CWA Local 39521
- Randi Gill AFSCME Local 52 Anchorage AK Member
- Rick Holcomb CEA CEA Palmer AK janitor
- Robert Santee Laborers Local 942 Fairbanks AK Laborer
- Justin Byram IBEW Local 558 Tuscumbia AL
- Ed Jackson Operating Engineers Local 653 Daphne AL Operating Engineers
- David Livengood UAW Local112 Cottondale AL Volunteer
- David Story IAM Local Lodge 44 Hartselle AL Recording Secretary
- Lynn Talbott SEIU Workers United Chicago and Midwest Regional Joint Board Silverhill AL Retired Int'l VP
- Everett Vital IWW Local 640 Huntsville AL Member
- Robert Teitel Carpenters Local 978 Omaha AR
- Stephen Engelby Ironworkers Local 75 Phoenix, Az chandler AZ journeyman Ironworker
- Laura Horton-Charles UFCW Local 99 Tucson AZ Business agent
- Dorothy Minnesota NEA Dysart Education Association Surprise AZ campus rep
- Kurt Rogers IBEW Local 134 El Mirage AZ
- Ifeoma Adams National Nurses United California Nurses Association Oakland CA
- Joe Ayala CWA-NABET Local 53 Simi Valley CA Vice President
- Merrill Barton IBEW Local 11 riverside CA
- Jill Bolduc NEA Fairfield-Suisun Unified Teachers Association Napa CA Member
- Mike Bowden Theatrical Stage Employees Local 134 Modesto CA
- Brian Boyce NEA California Teachers Association(CTA) Soquel Education Association(SEA) Santa Cruz CA Public school teacher
- Gina Bradley Theatrical Stage Employees MPSC 839 Westlake Village CA
- Steve Braudo AFT United Teachers Los Angeles Manhattan Bch CA Chapter Chair
- Robert Broadfoot Theatrical Stage Employees United Scenic Artists Local 829 Oakland CA
- Amelia Bunch SEIU Local 1021 Oakland CA Organizer
- Lynda Buskey-Berg National Nurses United California Nurses Association Glendale CA Organizer
- Duane Campbell NEA- SEIU California Faculty Association Sacramento CA
- Monica Collins SEIU Local 1021 san francisco CA
- Craig Collins NEA sea Chula vista CA member
- Kim Cosmas NEA CTA/Mtn View-Whisman school district San Jose CA secretary of local teachers union
- Don Crosatto IAM District 190 Oakland CA Assistant Directing Business Rep IAM DIstrict 190
- Michael Diddams MEBA D1-PCD Oakland CA
- John Digby Ironworkers Local 377 Capitola CA
- Jordan Drevdahl NEA Moreno Valley Educations Associaion Corona CA
- John Dugan CWA CWA Berkeley CA Organizer
- Brian Dumont USW Local 625 Long Beach CA
- James Eggleston National Nurses United california nurses association la selva beach CA legal counsel (retired)
- Michael Eisenscher AFT Local 1603, Peralta Federation of Teachers Oakland CA Labor Council Delegate
- George Fanopoulos Teamsters Local 948 visalia CA shop steward
- Helen Farias NEA Sweetwater Education Assn. San Diego CA Vice President, Organzing Chair
- Eriberto Fernandez UFW Stockton Region Stockton CA United Farm Workers of America
- Virginia Franco NEA SDEA/CTA San Diego CA Retired teacher
- Beth Gargsn SAG-AFTRA Hollywood branch San Gabriel CA Member
- Nuray Gercek National Nurses United California Nurses Association San Francisco CA
- Natalie Gray NEA MBTA Pacific Grove CA CTA
- Joel Greenfield IBEW Local 11 Arcadia CA apprentice
- Joshua Harper Carpenters Local 721 Inglewood CA Carpenter
- Jaclyn Higgs National Nurses United California Nurses Association Oakland CA Graphics Lead
- Eric Hofmann UWUA Local 132 Beaumont CA Executive board member
- R. Johnson IBEW Local 11 granada hills CA member
- Constance Kazmer Motion Picture Editors Guild Local 700 Granada Hills CA
- Lisa Kermish CWA Local 9119 Oakland CA Executive Board member
- Patric Kim ILWU ILWU San Jose CA
- Christopher Law SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Van Nuys CA Member since 1970
- Joseph Logston Bricklayers Local 13, tile setting Bellflower CA retired tile setter
- John Luckett Painters and Allied Trades Local 3 el sobrante CA pictorial artist
- David Marroquin Teamsters Local 853 South San Francisco CA
- Molly Martin IBEW Tradeswomen inc. San francisco CA
- Larry Mckinney Teamsters Local 166 redlands CA Retired Teamster
- Jeremy Merrill NEA SDEA El Cajon CA
- Jerry Miller Operating Engineers Local 3 STOCKTON CA retired
- Matt Morgan Teamsters Local 150 Rocklin CA Teamster
- Eileen Moynihan National Nurses United California Nurses Association Santa Rosa CA Organizer
- Cristian Murguia NUHW NUHW Los Angeles CA Political Organizer
- Kevin Murphy AFT Local 1481 San Francisco CA
- Eric Murphy UNITE HERE Local 30 San Diego CA
- Marc Norton UNITE HERE Local 2, San Francisco San Francisco CA rank-and-file
- Michael Nye AFT DSA East Bay Richmond CA Retired
- Peter Olney ILWU ILWU Retired San Francisco CA Retired
- Peter Panagopoulos AFT Local 1481 San Francisco CA
- Susanne Paradis CWA Local 9119 (UPTE) La Selva Beach CA Director of Organizing
- Brian Parker IBEW Local 332 Boulder Creek CA journeyman wireman
- Mindy Pines CWA Pacific Media Workers Guild Richmond CA
- Vicente Quintana AFSCME Local 2190 Los Altos Hills CA President Local 2190
- Anabel Salcedo UFCW Local 135 Chula Vista CA Union Organizer
- Pam Salinas Independent union UPE1 Sacramento CA
- Christopher Sequeira IAM Local 620 Lakewood CA Member
- John Shaban SEIU Local 1021 Sacramento CA Field Representative
- Jedediah Smith National Nurses United California Nurses Association Huntington Beach CA Labor Representative/Organizer
- Mark Splain SEIU 350.org stinson beach CA former AFL-CIO Organizing Director
- Sean Swoboda IBEW Local 477 Lake Arrowhead CA
- Amanda Wade AFGE Local 3614 Los Angeles CA
- Elizabeth Wilks CWA Local 9119 UPTE Lompoc CA Treasurer
- Nicholas Wilson IBEW Local 332 san jose CA member
- Goetz Wolff AFT UC-AFT 1990 Los Angeles CA
- Lewis Wright ILWU ILWU Credit Union San Diego CA Director, education commity
- shane yazzie United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 114 santa maria CA
- Thomas Ziegler Carpenters Local 217 San Francisco CA Carpenter
- Peter Ziegler Ironworkers Local 377 Capitola CA Instructor
- Hector Alvarez Independant Union COWINS Denver CO
- David Anderson AFSCME (retired) Democratic Socialists of America Boulder CO
- Bruce Cratty UFCW Denver CO
- Chris Goodwin AFSCME Retiree Chapter 76 Boulder CO
- Barbara Hildebrand AFT Illinois Littleton CO
- Joe Lauro Teamsters Local 455 Westminster CO member
- Jesse Mathews NEA Poudre Education Association Fort Collins CO
- Jack Schumacher IBEW Local 111 Lakewood CO Groundman Driver
- Michael Ahimsa AFSCME Council 4 West Hartford CT Member
- Melissa Bellante UNITE HERE Local 34 Bristol CT
- James Bhandary-Alexander Independant union New Haven Association of Legal Services Attorneys New Haven CT President
- Charles Borchert CWA local 1298 Hamden CT CWA 1298 Business Agent
- Steven Botti II IBEW Local 457 andover CT linemsn
- Clifford Brammer III Operating Engineers Local 478 Thomaston CT Operating Engineer
- George Dalton, Sr. Teamsters Local 559 terryville CT Member
- Lucjan Danek Carpenters Local 210 bridgeport CT
- Albert DeLuca Boilermakers Lodge 237 Old Saybrook CT
- Fletcher Fischer IBEW Local 1228 Simsbury CT
- Paul Gagnon IBEW Local 457 South Windsor CT President
- Michael Ganino APW ABA Great CT Bridgeport CT National Director, Emeritus
- Louis Glanz IAFF Local 1241 Windsor CT president (retired)
- Brian Goetz Carpenters Local 43 Manchester CT journyman
- Christopher Henderson AAUP UConn AAUP Norwich CT Union Organizer
- Dennis Martin IBEW Local 457 Somers CT
- Justin Molito Writers Guild of America, East WGAE Sherman CT Director of Organizing
- Aurelio Muraca Independant Union UPSEU Bethel CT
- Jacob Remes AFT United University Professions (AFT 2190) New Haven CT Chapter executive board member
- Aimee Riley IBEW Local 457 Windsor CT
- RoQue Robles IBEW Local 420 Danbury CT lineman
- Joe Salerno IBEW Local 457 berlin CT union gas worker
- Pat Sorrentino IBEW Local 420 Shelton CT A.B.A.
- Peter Teslik IV IAM Local 1746 Southington CT Waste Treatment Operator
- John Woodruff, Jr. United Electrical Workers Danbury CT International Representative
- Todd Brogan ATU Washington DC
- Andrew Gena ATU Washington DC
- Stephanie Graf AFGE Local 12 washington DC 14th District NWAC
- Kevin McCarron AFGE Local 12 Washington DC Treasurer
- David Richardson AFGE Local 12 Washington DC former local secretary
- Caleb Weaver OPEIU Local 2 Washington DC
- Eric Boehm IBEW Local 313 Wilmington DE Inside wireman
- Joseph Brocato Carpenters Local 2012 Millsboro DE Union carpenter
- Glen Derabertis CWA Local 13101 Middletown DE
- Robert Fehre Ironworkers Local 401 PHILA. FRANKFORD DE
- James Moss Carpenters Local 626 dover DE retired
- Glen Rollo IBEW Local 313 New Castle DE Journeyman Inside Wireman
- Frank Smith Carpenters Local 2012 Dagsboro DE union carpenters
- Mark Arose SMART Local 25 Kissimmee FL Journeyman
- Paul Bicica VSEA Vermont State Empl Assoc Cape Canaveral FL
- Jason Bright Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 123 tavares FL
- Mike Deren, Jr. Teamsters Union activist Saint Augustine FL Rank-in-file
- Vince George AFSCME Tallahassee FL
- Bret Hardman IBEW Local 915 Tampa FL
- Colin Kohair IBEW Local 58 Detroit LaCrosse FL
- Rick Martini CWA Local 3108 Orlando FL Special Assistant
- Norwood Orrick IBEW Local 824 Tampa FL
- Kevin Porter IBEW Local 3 Pembroke Pines FL Journeyman Electrician
- Gary Rickman APWU SWFAL 1279 APWU Fort Myers FL
- Robb Rossio IBEW Local 134 st petersburg FL member
- Stacey Sharp AFT / SEIU NY Public Employees Federation Cape Canaveral FL Retired
- Mark Shipley Theatrical Stage Employees Jobs With Justice Orlando FL
- Michael Stovall OPEIU NFLCLC Jacksonville FL Field Rep. Florida AFL-CIO
- David Stover Teamsters Local 173 Port Saint Lucie FL Steward
- Toby Thompson Boilermakers Local 502 lady lake FL Retired
- Barry Tillis Theatrical Stage Employees Local 631 Orlando FL Vice President /Steward
- Paul White Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 152 morgantown, w.v. crestview FL pipefitter/ welder
- Bryan Wisdom IBEW Local 676 cantonment FL journeyman wireman
- William Cozzens CWA Snellville GA retired Ch.Steward
- Roslyn Crider OPEIU Union City GA
- Daniel Hanley CWA Local 1701 (Alliance@IBM) Sandy Springs GA Member
- Roy Hegenbart CWA Local 3250 Norcross GA President
- Jim Nichols Teamsters Local 728 (Also Democratic Socialist of America metro Atlanta Chapter) Stockbridge GA Shop Steward
- Robert Regan ILA Local 2046 Springfield GA Steward
- Eric Robertson Teamsters Local 728 Fairburn GA Political Director
- Jeffrey Sokolow AFGE CDC Atlanta GA member
- Ben Speight Teamsters Local 728 Atlanta GA Organizing Director
- Milton Tambor AFSCME Michigan Atlanta DSA atlanta GA Retired staffer
- Robert Thiele IAM Local Lodge 732 Savannah GA Retired
- Peter Toggerson NEA GAE-RETIRED LAWRENCEVILLE GA RETIRED
- Aaron Wazlavek IBEW Local 676 Smyrna GA
- Savid Westbrook AFT Savannah Federation of TEachers Savannah GA high school teacher
- Clayton Yates Teamsters Local 728 mcdonough GA member
- Philly Meyers Alliance for Retired Americans Retirees Unite For the Future (R.U.F.F.) Savannah GA. President
- Julie Pasquale AFSCME HGEA Naalehu HI
- Steve Abbott CWA Local 7108 Waterloo IA President
- Kim Abbott UTU Local 577 Clinton IA
- Cory Bruggenwirth Carpenters Local 678 Clinton IA Journeyman carpenter
- Kevin Cook UAW Local 411 OELWEIN IA Guide
- Tim Flynn Ironwokers Local 512 Decorah IA ironworker
- Tracy Hatfield IBEW Local 55.10 Muscatine IA
- Mark Kane AFGE Local 15 Davenport IA Steward
- Jennifer Marsh United Electrical Workers UE Iowa City IA Field Organizer
- Dennis Myers UAW Local 05 Sperry IA RETIRED
- Timothy O'Brien NEA Des Moines Public Schools des Moines IA
- Gary Osland UFCW Laurel IA
- Austin Panozzo UAW Local 281 Davenport IA steward
- Jack Steele Teamsters Local 238 BONDURANT IA
- David Cummings SMART Local 103 Saint Anthony ID
- Matthew Shaw Operating Engineers Local 370 Meridian ID District 4 Executive Board member/ mechanic
- Chris Vonovich Ironworkers Local 433 star ID Journeyman
- Esther Allman NEA IEA Frankfort IL member
- David Arent SMART Local 73 Park Ridge IL
- Steven Ashby AFT Local 6546 Oak Park IL
- Terri Barnhisel Carpenters Local 250 Niles IL Carpenter
- David Beebe NALC Branch 2810 Arlington Heights, IL. Elgin IL Secretary
- Marcus Bennett SMART Local 268 Olney IL Journeyman
- Mike Bertner IAM local 701 new lenox IL journeyman diesel mechanic
- Brian Biggane Carpenters Local 13 Chicago IL
- Louis Bleier Teamsters Local 600 and 525 Glen Carbon IL Retired Teamster
- Tim Broadwater IAM Local Lodge 660 Collinsville IL Shop steward