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June 26, 2008 Scott Treibitz

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David Roscow

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Barack Obama: The Best Choice for Working Families

IBEW Endorses Democratic Candidate, Vows All-Out Push

Washington – The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers today joined in organized labor’s endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama for President of the United States.

"Our union deliberately did not endorse a candidate in the primaries because we wanted our members to listen to all the candidates and participate in the process. Now is the time to join with the labor movement to unite behind the candidate who offers the best choice to reverse the disastrous policies of the past eight years," said IBEW International President Edwin D. Hill. "The issues are clear. We as a people face difficult choices on health care, energy policy and building jobs and opportunity in a world increasingly bound by economic and environmental issues. Barack Obama offers positive leadership to navigate our way into the future instead of continuing the failures of the past."

The IBEW has been engaged in vigorous training at the local level in order to increase voter registration and participation by members and their families. The union is committed to its largest mobilization effort ever for pro-worker candidates up and down the ballot.

"We want to engage our members and all working people on the need for action on the issues that make a difference in our daily lives," added Hill. It is time to move beyond name calling and division so that our country can take positive action on the challenges we face."

The IBEW is an international labor organization that represents approximately 725,000 workers in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Republic of Panama. The IBEW has members in construction, utilities, manufacturing, telecommunications, broadcasting, railroads and government.