Bernie Sanders just earned his biggest labor union endorsement yet

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published 12 November 2015

Bernie Sanders picked up the biggest labor endorsement of his presidential campaign on Tuesday when the 200,000-member American Postal Workers Union made its support official.

Said union President Mark Dimondstein in an announcement:

He is a fierce advocate of postal reform to address the cause of the USPS financial crisis, an outspoken opponent of USPS policy that degrades mail service. He fought the close of post offices and spearheaded the effort to pass a 'sense of the Senate' resolution to restore service standards, which was approved by a vote of 85-11. Bernie Sanders doesn't just talk the talk. He walks the walk. [Dimondstein]

The union also championed Sanders' support of a $15 minimum wage, free public college tuition, and veterans' benefits, Politico reports.

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But even with APWU's support, the socialist senator still lags behind Hillary Clinton in labor endorsements. Just last month, the nation's largest trade union, the 1.6-million-member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, endorsed the Democratic frontrunner. Clinton has also picked up eight other union endorsements, representing seven million members.

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Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.