CWA Union Won't Make Early Endorsement of Presidential Candidate

The Communications Workers of America will not make an early endorsement in the Presidential campaign but will allow its local councils and unions to make their own independent endorsements, the CWA announced.

The CWA issued its statement after conducting an online membership poll in which CWA members were against any early endorsements of a candidate. 

The six-week poll was conduced between Oct. 1 and Nov. 9. Members registered online their choice for president. They also voted as to whether the CWA should make an early endorsement in 5he campaign.

The CWA represents 700,000 workers across the country in communications, information technology, publishing, media, education, manufacturing, the airline industry and health care, the CWA said.

The poll revealed that CWA members wanted to participate in the upcoming election and was prepared to elect leaders that will focus on health care reform, restoring jobs and ensuring organizing and bargaining rights to workers, the CWA said in its statement.

"Voters made clear that they preferred no endorsement by the national union at this time," said Larry Cohen, CWA's president. "Therefore, our union's executive board is refraining from making an early endorsement but voted to release locals and CWA councils to make their own endorsements."

He said CWA is a "member-driven" organization and will take direction from its members on the endorsement and other issues.

The online poll revealed that more than 30,000 CWA members voted almost evenly among the three top Democratic contenders with about 20 percent of the votes cast for Republican candidates.

A slight majority of members asked that no endorsement be made

Top vote-getters among the Democrats were John Edwards, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. The margin between the two top candidates was only 206 votes, the CWA said.

Cohen said the union is a grassroots organization built on the foundation of member voices. The union wants to elect a president and other high office candidates who will implement policies that will restore the middle class.