The United Steelworkers in Des Moines received the Democratic candidate with enthusiasm, as unions on the national level largely support Hillary Clinton

Not long ago, the best Bernie Sanders could hope for from US trade unions was to slow the inevitable tide of their endorsements for Hillary Clinton.



At a crunch meeting last July with labor leaders at the AFL-CIO summer conference in Maryland, the Vermont senator impressed many with his opposition to trade liberalisation, but was seen as too risky a bet by most of Washington’s union power-brokers.

Flash forward six months to the surprisingly tight race against Clinton in Iowa, and Sanders still only has formal backing from a handful of national unions – but increasingly it does not matter.

In a stark illustration of his argument that revolutionary political change can only come from below, a growing number of local union chapters are choosing to ignore their national leadership and back Sanders on the ground instead.

“We have had quite a few visits here from all the different candidates and staffers,” says Steve Vonk, local president of the United Steelworkers, as he introduces Sanders to an enthusiastic meeting opposite a Bridgestone tire factory in Des Moines.

“We’ve had a lot of visits from Bernie’s folks. They have been very persistent. We’ve asked them all [the presidential campaigns] to bring their candidates, but we’ve only had one taker and he’s right at home in the union hall.

“I am going to caucus for Bernie,” he adds to loud cheers. “I can’t remember in my lifetime a public servant who truly cares as much about the poor, the middle class, working men and women as Bernie Sanders.”

The USW is among those who have decided not to make any national endorsement yet, but senior Sanders campaign staff believe this to be natural territory for them now.

“The steel workers are one the great unions in our country,” Sanders tells the crowded hall. “You understand that change, real change, never comes from the top down; it always comes from the bottom on up. And the middle class does not grow unless the trade union movement grows.”

There is a tricky tightrope to walk when it comes to explaining why union leaders in Washington are slower to the feel the Bern.

Sanders caused controversy when he suggested that endorsement for Clinton from other progressive groups like Planned Parenthood was a sign they were part of “the establishment”. He prefers to focus on those, like National Nurses United, who have ignored the political calculations in Washington and are already an active part his campaign.

“I want to thank the nurses, our sisters and brothers,” he says, gesturing to a vocal group in the corner of the room who have joined him across the country with their own battle bus.

In theory, it ought to be an easy task to persuade other unions to join them. Sanders attacks Clinton’s late conversion to opposing Barack Obama’s Asian trade deal and points out that he has supported key union issues like social security for far longer too.

“Brothers and sisters, what a Sanders administration is about is a very radical idea. You ready for a radical idea?” asks the senator.

“Yeah,” they cry.

“The idea is we are going to create an economy that works for working families, not just billionaires.”

“Why are millions of people working longer hours for lower wages?” he prompts. “Greed,” comes the reply. “You’ve got a smart group here,” says an increasingly confident and relaxed Sanders.

Yet neutralising Clinton’s inbuilt advantage with labor is one thing, winning over all the members is another and the blue-collar vote remains incredibly finely balanced here in Iowa.

Two USW members at the back of the hall give a flavor of the remaining challenge.

“I think Bernie is a good man. His intentions are right, but how are we going to pay for all this stuff? Nothing is for free,” says Ray Russell, a 63-year-old retired Bridgestone worker from nearby Ankeny, who is planning to vote for Clinton.

“Bernie is talking about social security and I think that’s important,” responds his friend Carl Lamar, 62, from Des Moines. “I think it’s about even here between Bernie and Hillary and a lot haven’t made their mind up yet. I’m pretty sure my mind is made up and I’m voting for Bernie.”