Food workers union backs Obama's re-election bid

[October 21, 2011]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- The United Food and Commercial Workers Union is officially endorsing President Barack Obama's re-election bid.

The 1.3 million-member group of grocery and food industry workers is the first private union to formally back Obama's campaign, though most others are expected to follow next year.

Union President Joe Hansen says Obama has stood up for the jobless, the uninsured and middle-class taxpayers. He says the union's members are energized and ready to mobilize for the president.

Unions played a major role in supporting Obama in 2008, but some labor leaders complain that Obama isn't doing enough to help create jobs or pursue organized labor's agenda.

The nation's largest public employee union, the National Education Association, endorsed Obama earlier this year.

[Associated Press; By SAM HANANEL]

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