The National Treasury Employees Union last week threw its weight behind 2000 presidential Democratic contender Al Gore.
Colleen Kelley, NTEU's recently elected President, said Vice President Gore deserved the support of her union because he has displayed concern for federal workers.
In particular, Gore has supported programs that make it easier for federal employees to balance their home and work lives, including the Family and Medical Leave Act and subsidized child care for civil servants, Kelley said in a statement.
"His hard work to make the federal government a more family friendly employer has made a real difference to the working families we represent," she said.
Kelley also praised Gore for promoting labor-management partnerships in government and for endorsing collective bargaining rights for union members.
The Hatch Act reform legislation of 1993, which gave federal employees the authority to take part in a much wider range of political activities than they could in the past, also played a big role in NTEU's endorsement of Gore, Kelley said.
"Although it seems like a long time ago, we will never forget that Al Gore and Bill Clinton had enough faith in the integrity of federal workers to do what others had not for more than 50 years," she said of the Hatch Act legislation.
NTEU's endorsement came earlier than usual in the presidential campaign period, Kelley said, partly because of the tighter year 2000 primary schedule. Gore has been openly courting the support of organized labor to help fend off a stiff primary challenge from former New Jersey Senator Bill Bradley.
NTEU, the largest independent federal union, represents 155,000 employees in 24 departments and agencies.
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