Rep. Wayne Owens, D-Utah, who is running for the Senate this year, has been endorsed by the Utah Education Association, the major teacher union in the state, and the Utah AFL-CIO.
The two large unions - with tens of thousands of members - "are the kind of fundamental support Wayne will carry forward to a successful election," said Robin Wagge, Owens' campaign press secretary."These endorsements are never given lightly, and I'm very pleased. They are among the basic building blocks of my successful effort," said Owens.
Lily Eskelsen listed several congressional bills on education and job training that Owens favored, adding that Owens has fought for years to get the federal education funding formula - a formula which shortchanges Utah school children - changed. The UEA didn't back a Republican senatorial candidate.
Owens has traditionally won the support of labor in his elections - and has long received support from labor PACs. Owens said he has a "lifetime record of votes" in favor of working men and women, including increasing the minimum wage and voting in favor of family and medical leave.
Owens also claims that 79 percent of Salt Lake County delegates to the state Democratic Convention will vote for him.
He said his campaign called about 400 delegates elected in April 27 mass meetings. Those 400 represented at least one delegate in all of the county's voting districts. "The survey showed overwhelming support for Owens in the state's largest county," said Dave Jones, Owens' campaign manager. With 1,211 state delegates, Salt Lake County has nearly half the total 2,500 state delegates.