December 19, 2007

Washington, DC – The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) announced today that it will be throwing its full support behind Hillary Rodham Clinton as the next president of the United States. The endorsement is the result of an unprecedented special ballot that was sent to 160,000 IUPAT members and retirees across the United States.

“Our members have spoken and they have overwhelmingly chosen Senator Clinton as the IUPAT candidate for president,” said IUPAT General President James Williams.  “They told us that they want retirement security, health care reform and a leader in the White House who can deliver the change this country needs.  Senator Clinton, the members of the Painters and Allied Trades believe in you, and we’re ready to help you win in 2008.”

The ballot included letters written by the candidates – Republican and Democrat – specifically to IUPAT members as to why he or she is the best candidate for the top job in the United States.  The ballot also included comprehensive fact sheets on the candidates’ voting records on the issues that are important to America’s working families.

This vote by IUPAT members is the first of its kind for the 2008 presidential race.  “We thought the only way to be completely open and fair about our endorsement was to poll our members to understand which candidate they thought would do the best job,” said IUPAT General President Williams. “We also know that not all union members vote strictly Democrat, especially on the local level. Providing our members with all of the options was the only way to do this.”

Of the votes received, 83% were for Democratic candidates with the remaining votes all Republican.  The Republican winner of the IUPAT votes will be announced in January.

The International Union of Painters and Allied Trades represents over 160,000 working and retired men and women of the finishing trades in the United States (www.IUPAT.org). The IUPAT is renowned for its political activism within the organized labor movement and has been dubbed the Army of Black and Gold because of its members’ signature black and gold  t-shirts and large numbers at rallies.