Union Boss: Bloomberg "Sure Sounded Like He Was Thinking About" Running
Those are the words of Joseph Hansen, the international president of the United Food & Commercial Workers International Union, who spoke with the Forward at a dinner put on by the Jewish Labor Committee in NYC last night.
According to Hansen, Bloomberg met with top union leaders, including the Teamsters’ general president, James P. Hoffa, in Miami, Florida in December 2006.
“He sure sounded like he was thinking about it,” Hansen told the Forward. But “he didn’t say he was going to run.” “He’s a credible candidate, but I think it is very unlikely that he gets a union endorsement at this point–he’s an interesting guy.”
(For more on Bloomberg’s long push to a possible run, see this.)
And what is Hansen’s view on Hillary Clinton, who has taken some flak lately over the supposed union-busting activities of her top adviser, Mark Penn?
Positive: “Hillary’s been out there working on all our issues.”
Hansen said that an endorsement from his union would not come at least until September, when the executive board has a meeting, but that he would not be surprised if there is a split endorsement, given deep divisions among both union members and leaders.
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