Brent Snavely

Detroit Free Press

Will the UAW endorse Hillary Rodham Clinton or Bernie Sanders for president?

It's a difficult choice for the union and its president, Dennis Williams.

"We are going through our (endorsement) process ... we are right now surveying our members," Williams said Friday. "I think right now, people are conflicted. I think right now people are watching with interest what the candidates are saying."

But the longer the UAW waits, the less leverage and influence it will get out of an endorsement.

Clinton has already won support from the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

But Clinton's apparent support of the Trans Pacific Partnership before deciding to oppose it in the very late stages of its development troubles many union leaders.

During Thursday's debate, Clinton boasted that she helped to renegotiate a free trade agreement with Korea in an effort to improve an agreement put in place during the Bush administration.

"We got the UAW on board because of changes we made," Clinton said. "So there are changes that I believe would make a real difference if they could be achieved, but I do not currently support it as it is written."

But on Friday, Williams said the U.S. has lost about 75,000 jobs because of that agreement.

"I can tell you right now, from what we’ve seen, if we had to do it all over again we would not support the Korean agreement," Williams said. "That’s not a fair trade agreement."

Sanders, meanwhile, has won support from the Communications Workers of America, National Nurses United and the American Postal Workers Union.

While the UAW is still working its way through its endorsement process, Williams made it clear that he personally will not support a Republican candidate.

"Both of them, by the way, on the Democratic side, would be great candidates to be president of the U.S.," Williams said.

UAW Vice President Cindy Estrada has made it clear through a number of tweets that she supports Sanders.

Auto union endorses Obama - USATODAY.com

Contact Brent Snavely: 313-222-6512 or bsnavely@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrentSnavely.