Perot Seen as Clinton’s Rival for Union Vote

At a time when United Auto Workers leaders are counting heavily on a Democratic political victory to rescue the battered American labor movement, they are seeing a groundswell of support among their own rank and file for undeclared presidential candidate Ross Perot.

Bill Clinton, the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, has already received the UAW’s endorsement. Although Clinton got a warm welcome Monday as he spoke to UAW delegates gathered here for their national convention, several union officials conceded that he has failed to capture the members’ enthusiastic support.

Even for the UAW leadership, Clinton represents something of a compromise. A sticking point is the Arkansas governor’s support for the pending free-trade agreement with Mexico, which the union vehemently opposes.

Perot opposes the trade deal. To Robert Durbin, a union delegate employed by weapons maker Martin Marietta in San Luis Obispo, that means Perot has his priorities straight.

“I’m for Perot because he’s going to protect my job, not worry about other special interest groups,” Durbin said. “The UAW leadership is out of touch with the membership when it comes to political candidates.”

Most of the delegates here to elect union officers this week--many of whom work full-time for the UAW at the local level--voiced strong support for Clinton. But some said they are disturbed over what they see as uninformed support for Perot among their home locals.

John Goss, who builds air conditioners at the General Motors Corp. parts plant in Lockport, N.Y., said that about a third of his local’s 6,000 members support Perot.

“They relate to his maverick-type success,” Goss said, “but they don’t know anything about his positions.”