Story highlights The AFL-CIO decided Wednesday not to endorse Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary

The decision amounts to a big boost for Sanders, who faced the possibility of Clinton wrangling the formal backing of organized labor

Washington (CNN) The AFL-CIO is declining, for now, to endorse either Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary.

The decision amounts to a big boost for Sanders, who faced the possibility of Clinton wrangling the formal backing of organized labor.

AFL-CIO leaders had been considering voting on an endorsement when they meet next week in San Diego, but AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka emailed members and alerted them it would not happen.

"Our Executive Council will discuss the 2016 election cycle during its Winter Meeting, but no presidential endorsement will be made," Trumka said in a statement Wednesday. "From the very start of the presidential contest, we have been clear that we have an endorsement process in place, and that we will continue to follow that process in accordance with our Constitution."

The Huffington Post first reported the union's decision.

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