UWUA Endorses Senator Barack Obama for President

February 25, 2008

To: All UWUA Local Union Leaders

From: National President D. Michael Langford

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

After serious consideration, our National Executive Board voted to endorse Senator Barack Obama for President.

With 70,000 active and retired members, including nearly 10,000 in Ohio and another 8,000 in Pennsylvania - critical primary states - we can truly make a difference in the Democratic primary and in the general election this fall.

Senator Obama understands our issues, supports our goals and will do what is right for utility workers, our families, our communities and our country. That is why we are joining him in his fight for change in America that will put working people first. I urge every local union to help organize our members to get involved in his campaign to lead this country forward.

We have been fortunate to have an exceptional field of Democratic candidates this election cycle who are committed to fixing the problems facing workers. There is a Democratic consensus that we must raise wages, create fair trade, protect pensions, create affordable health care and restore workers' rights. However, we believe that Senator Obama shows exceptional leadership in the area of energy independence - he's the only candidate that has not shut the door on the use of nuclear energy. Nuclear energy is the only economical domestic source of emission-free energy. As such, an energy policy that seeks to drastically reduce our dependence on foreign oil and help clean our environment must include nuclear power.

As you may recall, at our convention this past summer, Senator Obama pledged to us that when deregulation discussions take place, what happens to utility workers will be key for him. In addition to Senator Obama's longstanding support of issues important to workers such as the Employee Free Choice Act, Senator Obama has pledged to rebuild our nation's crumbling infrastructure, one of the most critical issues facing utility workers and consumers.

Now that we have endorsed Senator Obama, we must deliver for Senator Obama. We need to build grassroots support for Obama for President. We'll start by informing members of Senator Obama's positions on the issues that count for UWUA members. And we will help lead local and state get-out-the-vote programs for UWUA members and working families. The UWUA is going to do everything possible to be a difference maker in this Presidential election.