WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton got a much-needed boost at the end of a troubled week when she won the endorsement of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), a news release said.
"I want to commit to you, right now, that I will do everything I can to see that incomes start growing again, that all the benefits of the recovery in our economy don’t go just to those at the top," Clinton told 800 delegates at the IAM Annual Staff Conference in New York City on Friday, the release said.
The endorsement followed a unanimous vote by union leaders and an internal survey of IAM members, who gave Clinton their majority support, the news release added.
Clinton reiterated her 2008 campaign theme, when she positioned herself as a champion of America’s industrial workers.
IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger explained that the IAM will not sit on the side-lines during a time in the contest for US president when Clinton is facing challenges.
"Hillary Clinton has been a strong supporter of this union for years… The time to help is when help is needed most, and we intend to do just that."
The release said the IAM had nearly 1,000 local lodges across the United States and cores of activists in the key primary states of Iowa and New Hampshire.
The endorsement came only a few days after Clinton, the proclaimed champion of women’s rights, was cold-shouldered by the National Nurses Union with185,000 members, who instead endorsed Senator Bernie Sanders for the Democratic presidential nomination.
The IAM represents 720,000 machinists across North America, according to its web site.
