Reuters/Washington


US Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton, who has been vying with challenger Bernie Sanders for the support of organised labour, scored a win yesterday with an endorsement from the National Education Association, a huge teachers union.
The move makes the NEA, the largest US labour union with 3mn members, the latest in a string of unions to support Clinton, including the American Federation of Teachers and the machinists’ union.
Clinton’s lead in opinion polls has been narrowing against Sanders, a Vermont senator who has rallied progressives with his pledges to tackle income inequality and rein in Wall Street.
NEA President Lily Eskelsen Garcia praised Clinton as a strong leader who would work for students, teachers and families “because she understands the road to a stronger US economy starts in America’s public schools.”
Eskelsen Garcia said 75% of the 175-member board of directors voted to endorse Clinton.
Clinton issued a statement saying she was honored to get the NEA endorsement.
“I’ve stood with educators throughout my career ...,” she said. “As president, I will fight to defend workers’ right to organise and unions’ right to bargain collectively, and I will ensure that teachers always have a voice and a seat at the table in making decisions that impact their work.”
Clinton is trying to win over labour - often a key source of volunteers and funds for Democrats - in the effort to build a broad coalition within her party and avoid a potentially damaging, drawn-out primary fight.
The winner of the primary contest will face the Republican nominee in the November 2016 election.
Clinton has struggled recently following a stream of news about her use of a private e-mail server while secretary of state.
A rolling five-day Reuters/Ipsos poll dated Sept. 29 found Clinton’s support within her party at 44%, compared to 28% for Sanders. As recently as August she had 56% support for the nomination.
Labour leaders are pressing Clinton on issues ranging from the minimum wage to trade. One flashpoint is the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a proposed free-trade agreement backed by President Barack Obama but opposed by unions, which see it as bad for US jobs and wages.
Clinton has remained neutral on TPP, saying a final agreement must protect American workers.
She was secretary of state during Obama’s first term and was part of the administration’s push to strengthen ties with Asia.