Here is the key paragraph from the press statement:

Local unions in each state will decide in a democratic process whether and/or whom to endorse. Endorsement decisions will not be announced before October 15. States that endorse will engage in positive campaign activities on behalf of their endorsed candidate in their state.

  I suspected this would be the route taken once it was clear that there was really too much disagreement within the national leadership of the union. Back in August, when the chatter about labor endorsements began, I wrote that:

Short of getting the endorsements of the national unions, his goal, and Clinton’s goal, is to get large unions to stay on the sidelines in the primary and allow individual locals of the national unions to endorse on their own; in that scenario, one could imagine Obama, Clinton and other candidates (particularly sitting Senators like Dodd and Biden who have long-term relationships with unions) being able to pick off locals in various states.

  In one sense, Sens. Clinton and Obama have achieved their goal with SEIU. It is quite likely that Obama will receive the endorsement of SEIU in Illinois and Sen. Clinton obviously has a strong base of support among SEIU in New York–whether that is because union leaders truly believe either of them is the best candidate or they simply believe they need to back their home-state senator for practical reasons is up to others to figure out. The national leadership has urged locals to do endorsements on a statewide basis to avoid internal state fights that can leave bad blood.

  But, Edwards supporters should not be too depressed. Edwards is doing quite well with SEIU locals in California, Nevada and other crucial states so he might pick up a fair number of locals–and, therefore, union activists–in big states. California, for example, with a huge delegate total, would offer the biggest boon–having thousands of SEIU activists hitting the streets for that big primary would offset Edwards’ financial disadvantage relative to Obama and Clinton. And, as I mentioned, some weeks ago, the SEIU stance could also help other candidates like Dodd, who have ties to SEIU locals in their home states.

  In other labor endorsement news (some of this is catch-up):

Sen. Clinton snagged the important endorsement of the American Federation of Teachers–again, not entirely a surprise. I thought that this might be a union that might stay neutral but, that if it did make an endorsement, Sen. Clinton would most likely be the beneficiary. And the Bricklayers endorsed Sen. Clinton recently, as well.

  Communication Workers of America: is undergoing an elaborate process that will, perhaps, result in an endorsement in November. From a CWA email to its members:

The goal is for every local to have at least 10 percent of its members vote online at www.CWAVotes.org. CWA headquarters will send updates to locals about how many of their members have voted as of Oct. 17 and Oct. 30, as well as a third tally on Nov. 13.  The voting deadline is Nov. 9.  Locals are urged to use websites and e-mail lists, to post flyers about the e-poll in workplaces and use their mobilization structure to get the word out.

  Two thoughts. First, at face value, it’s a way of getting members input. Second, it’s a way for the union to put off jumping on any horse in the hope that events might make the choice a bit easier as the year draws to a close. After all, at this point an endorsement from CWA might not comes until maybe a month or so before the Iowa caucuses, which now appear to be slated for January 3rd (I’m going to spend New Year’s Eve where???).

  Recap: Here’s where we stand to date (and feel free to go back and check out the past updates that I referenced above–I won’t bore people by recounting the same information that has not changed)–

SEIU–no national endorsement. Locals free to endorse candidates on their own.

Edwards:

Steelworkers (1.2 million)

Mine Workers (105,000)

Carpenters (520,000)

Transport Workers Union (200,000)

Clinton:

American Federation of Teachers (1.4 million)

United Transportation Union (125,000)

Letter Carriers (300,000)

Machinists (700,000)

Public Employees Federation (57,000)

International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (100,000)

Dodd:

Firefighters (281,000)