Wage-fight union endorses Hillary Clinton

Thomson ReutersU.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks to supporters after the 2016 U.S. Democratic presidential candidates debate at Drake University in Des MoinesNEW YORK (Reuters) – USA presidential contender Hillary Clinton on Tuesday won the endorsement of the SEIU labor union, which has about 2 million members, in her quest to win the Democratic nomination for the November 2016 election.

Clinton came to Dallas for her community college event and a fundraiser hosted by Regina Montoya, senior vice president of Children’s Medical Center, and Paul Coggins, former United States attorney for the Northern District of Texas.

Clinton, speaking earlier in the day at a Democratic barbecue, suggested Sanders would raise middle-class taxes and “scrap” President Barack Obama’s health care law, the Associated Press said.

One of Hillary Clinton’s primary contest rivals, former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley, also spoke at the barbecue, calling her comment about 9/11 an attempt to “mask” her Wall Street ties. Union officials said Clinton received a strong majority in the vote of its leadership, and a recent poll of its membership found that about 70 percent back Clinton.

SEIU has been a chief organizer of the “Fight for $15” movement that advocates for increasing the minimum wage above the $7.25 an hour federal level.

Later in the debate, when the moderators took questions from Twitter, Clinton was asked to respond to a message that suggested it was inappropriate for her to invoke September 11th in connection with a Wall Street fundraising question.

Clinton, who served as Obama’s secretary of state from 2009-13, refused to blame the president for failing to recognize the threat of the Islamic State.

Clinton put considerable effort into getting the union’s support.

The Democratic front-runner said Sanders’ approach would “eliminate” major pieces of the health care system, including private insurance, Medicaid, the Tricare system for veterans and other coverage.

The American Federation of Teachers, a group that has long supported Clinton, also backed the former secretary of state in July. “If that wing of the party isn’t going to support Bernie, I don’t know who will”.

But the union says its support was about building a movement for higher wages. The deal is vehemently opposed by most labor groups.

“I represented NY, and I represented NY on 9/11 when we were attacked”, Clinton said during the debate.

“What we’re expecting is candidates up and down the ticket who are willing to get in the streets and champion this demand”, Henry told Al Jazeera.