Biden Campaign Press Release - ICYMI: American Guild of Musical Artists Endorses Joe Biden for President

On Tuesday, September 29, 2020, the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) endorsed Joe Biden for President. The organization cited President Trump's anti-union and anti-worker approach to stacking the courts and his mission to undermine the protections American workers deserve. Additionally, the union lauded Biden's long career of standing "shoulder to shoulder" with unions and declared that it is time to restore "empathy and dignity to the White House."

The American Guild of Musical Artists released the following press release:

AGMA Endorses Joseph Biden For President

In its 84 years, the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) has never endorsed a presidential candidate — but that all changed today. The AGMA Board of Governors voted on Tuesday, September 29 to endorse Joseph Biden and Kamala Harris for President and Vice President of the United States.

"President Trump has nominated anti-union and anti-worker judges at every level of the federal judiciary, including to the Supreme Court, resulting in judicial opinions that have attacked and undermined the legal status and protections of unions in the United States," reads a part of the two-page resolution that was presented and approved by the AGMA Board of Governors in support of endorsing Joe Biden as President.

This endorsement comes after careful consideration to break AGMA's longstanding tradition of not endorsing political candidates, and after AGMA members across the country expressed their hope that the union endorses Joseph Biden for President and Kamala Harris for Vice President.

"Joseph Biden has always stood shoulder-to-shoulder with unions. It is time to restore empathy and dignity to the White House," said Ray Menard, AGMA President. "AGMA is proud to endorse Vice President Biden and Senator Harris."

Within the next calendar year, the AGMA Board of Governors will send a non-binding referendum to the membership, asking them to advise as to whether AGMA should make political endorsements in the future.

National unions representing a range of other workers and professions have also endorsed Biden, including:

• AFL-CIO
• Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA)
• American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
• American Federation of Musicians (AFM)
• International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT), National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC)
• National Nurses United (NNU)
• National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU)
• Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
• Pride at Work
• International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART)
• International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT)
• Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen (BRS)
• Communications Workers of America, (CWA)
• American Postal Workers Union (APWU)
• Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC)
• United Steelworkers Union (USW)
• Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers' International Union (BCTGM)
• Transportation Trades Department (TTD)
• International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (BAC)
• United Farm Workers (UFW)
• Transport Workers Union (TWU)
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE
• International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE),
• International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P)
• Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA)
• International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF)
• United Auto Workers (UAW)
• International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
• United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA)
• National Education Association (NEA)
• International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU)
• United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW)
• American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
• American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
• International Association of Bridge, Structural and Ornamental Iron Workers (IW)
• Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU)
• American Train Dispatchers Association (ATDA)
• Utility Workers of America (UWUA)
• National Weather Service Employees Organization (NWSEO)
• Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)
• Operative Plasterers' & Cement Masons' International Association (OPCMIA)
• International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM)
• International Longshoremen's Association (ILA)
• Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA)
• National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE)
• International Union of Elevator Constructors (IUEC)
• American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA)
• Communications Workers of America (CWA)
• National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU)
• International Union of Heat and Frost Insulators (HFIAW)
• Transportation Communication Union (TCU)
• American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
• Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU)
• Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU)
• Democratic National Committee (DNC)
• United Union of Roofer, Waterproofers & Allied Workers
• Actors' Equity Association
• International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE)
• United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC)