Harris seeks to rally Democrats after Biden drops out of race

Union leaders have responded to President Joe Biden’s decision to step down as Democratic candidate in the 2024 election.

Here’s what some of them have to say:

National Education Association: President Becky Pringle described Biden as an “extraordinary president and public servant” in a statement. She said Biden “distinguished himself as the most pro-public education, pro-union president in history” and helped ensure “every student has access to the resources and learning opportunities needed to thrive.” In the statement, Pringle also took aim at GOP nominee Donald Trump, saying “rather than doing anything to keep students and educators safe from gun violence, Trump just tells us to ‘get over it.’”

United Auto Workers: In a statement, the UAW thanked Biden for his service and “the leadership he has shown in putting country before self.”

AFL-CIO: The president of the AFL-CIO also praised Vice President Kamala Harris, describing her as being “integral” to the Biden administration’s success, noting her track record of supporting unions. “She cast the tie-breaking votes to save the pensions of more than 1 million union members and retirees, expand the child tax credit to help millions of struggling families, and take on big pharmaceutical companies to lower the price of key prescriptions like insulin,” Liz Shuler wrote.

AFSCME President Lee Saunders said “history will judge the Biden-Harris administration as a resounding success.”

“Patriotism, sacrifice and service — these are the values that AFSCME members live by. And they are the values that have defined President Biden’s leadership, that make our country and its democracy strong,” Saunders said.

The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA: President Sara Nelson also praised Biden’s track record, saying in a statement that he “always led with the conviction that working people know what’s best — we just need policymakers to give us a chance. Every time Flight Attendants sit down with Joe Biden, he treats us with dignity and respect as aviation’s first responders and the last line of defense.”

American Federation of Teachers: Randi Weingarten, president of the nation’s largest teachers union and a Democratic National Committee member on the Rules and Bylaws Committee, said that the federation’s executive council voted to endorse Harris, subject to ratification by delegates to the 2024 AFT convention. Weingarten noted that Harris is “fighting to restore Roe, fighting for families, for student debt relief and is a powerful advocate for workers.”

United Farm Workers: The union endorsed Harris, posting on X: “Kamala Harris stood with farm workers as CA’s Attorney General, as US Senator, and as Vice President. There is work to be done, and we’re ready. Sí, se puede!”

The Service Employees International Union: The union, more commonly known as SEIU, has endorsed Harris’s candidacy. “Vice President Harris is the best prepared candidate for president, bringing decades of public service fighting for working families, as well as a historic choice to lead the Democratic ticket as a woman of color and the daughter of immigrant parents,” the union said in a statement. SEIU is one of the largest labor organizations in the US, with more than 2 million members.