Why unions endorse political candidates

Labor in the 21^st century is powered by technology as well as an engaged rank and file, but effectively organizing for an election relies on members’ “boots on the ground” and union household turnout. That in turn demands a union international or local to look at political candidates’ records or their pledges to represent the interests of regulars working people, determine candidates’ positions and credibility, and endorse their candidacy.

It’s an approach akin to the tried-and-true maxim “Educate. Agitate. Organize.”

Political endorsements are educational in an informative way, because an endorsement isn’t requiring an individual’s action, but requesting their attention to connections between labor’s needs and government’s role in providing them.

“Like it or not, our duty at the United Association and all our local unions is to our membership,” said Mark McManus, General President of the United Association. “We advocate for our members’ jobs and way of life. And that means getting involved in politics to ensure we are not left behind.

“Because we get involved [with elected officials as well as manufacturers, contractors, inspectors and trade associations], our voice is louder than ever.”

The union of plumbers, pipefitters and allied trades must participate in a democracy, whether within a union or the system in which it operates.

“The sideline is no place for the UA to be when the stakes are this high,” he added.
Craig Chladny, president of central Illinois’ Local 193 of the International Alliance Theatrical Stage Employees, says endorsements are informative for the rank and file and also a notice to those who are endorsed that they’re expected to be accountable to supporters.

“Local union endorsements can not only help inform our members about which candidates are looking out for our collective best interests,” said Chladny, who’s also executive vice president of the West Central Illinois Labor Council, “but also remind the candidates who they're going to be representing in office.”

Unions can be key in elections, too, whether a municipal contest with a candidate against Prevailing Wages, or a national race where a candidate whose history shows opposition to labor.

Besides always-relevant issues at the core of organized labor – wages, hours and working conditions –

November’s midterm election is especially timely for working people facing an affordability crisis, a constitutional crisis and an economy and political system increasingly run by the wealthy.

“Workers are ready for an economy, a government and a country for us, not the billionaires,’ said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “We built this country – and by voting for pro-worker candidates in this election, we can take our country back.”

Of course, union members are no more uniform across-the-board in their beliefs than all women, all rural residents or all minority Americans agree on all things.

“That’s good,” McManus said. “Our job is to call balls and strikes and to do what is best for our membership. Our job is to sort through the noise and present the facts on the issues that directly impact United Association’s members’ jobs, wages and retirement security.

“Our membership has so much more in common than things we allow to keep us divided.”

Labor has been effective, too.

According to exit-poll data from Roper Center for Public Opinion Research, union households “punched above their weight” in recent national elections. U.S. union members total about 16 million, but that’s less than 12% of the work force. However, in 2024 Roper reported union households accounted for about 20% of all voters nationwide. That held steady from 2020’s 20% and up from 2016’s 18%.

Speaking with The Labor Paper, Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea has said, “Union members trust their unions to provide election information, including endorsements. People vote for many reasons, but we’ve seen across the board that union members and their families look for facts about the issues and candidates that affect their work and home life. Unions provide the information they can take when they weigh their choices on the ballot.”
Endorsements are part of engagement and voting is having a voice.

One of organized labor’s founders, Samuel Gompers, in 1906 he summarized labor’s response to politicians and other power-brokers: “Reward our friends and punish our enemies.”