The Illinois region of the United Auto Workers endorsed Gov. Pat Quinn for reelection this afternoon, praising his work on economic development and passage of the state's capital program.
"Gov. Quinn has stayed focused on keeping and adding to manufacturing jobs in Illinois," said Dennis Williams, the UAW's regional director. "Manufacturing is the basis of the middle class, and we in the UAW appreciate his efforts.
Support from the union, which represents 55,000 active and 78,000 retired members in nine states, could boost Quinn's standing among workers who have suffered financially as jobs in the auto industry and other manufacturing sectors have vanished under economic pressure.
Quinn has said he supports the creation of more jobs for the development of fuel-efficient and clean technology, a major part of President Barack Obama's economic agenda.
The UAW is one of several area unions that have recently endorsed Quinn.
Unite Here, which represents about 15,000 Chicago-area workers in hotels and other service industries, endorsed him in September. Local 150 of the International Union of Operating Engineers, which represents about 22,000 workers, also supports his campaign.
Other backers include the Teamsters Joint Council 25 and the Service Employees International Union's Illinois Council.
Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes, Quinn's main Democratic rival, has his share of support from labor as well. He's picked up endorsements from the pipe trades, the Operating Engineers Local 399, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
Some of Hynes' supporters quarrel with Quinn's claims of job creation.
In endorsing Hynes, IBEW State Conference Chairman Ken Lambert recalled how Quinn tried to tie his support of a public-works bill to an income-tax hike.
"When Gov. Quinn had the opportunity to create jobs, he showed he'd rather play politics, and people's livelihoods suffered for it," Lambert said in October.