IBEW union in Las Vegas backs Bernie Sanders for president

The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 357 today endorsed Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders for president.

The union, which represents 4,000 workers and retirees, met with Sanders during his December trip to Nevada. It joined 26 other IBEW locals in endorsing Sanders.

“The local union will be working hard over the next few weeks to register our members to vote and encourage them to participate in the February 20th Nevada Democratic Caucus,” Al Davis, business manager and financial secretary for the union, said in a statement.

Nationally, Sanders also has received the endorsements of the Communication Workers of America, the American Postal Workers Union and National Nurses United, among others.

“Bernie Sanders has been a lifelong labor advocate, even before he was running for president,” Joan Kato, the campaign’s Nevada state director, said in a statement.

Labor is key constituency in Nevada that both former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sanders hope to win on Feb. 20, during the state’s Democratic caucuses.