PITTSBURGH, May 15 (UPI) -- The United Steelworkers union Thursday endorsed U.S. Sen. Barack Obama for the Democratic presidential nod -- the second major endorsement in as many days.

The USW, which says it has about 1.2 million members, issued a statement saying it was following the lead of former U.S. Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., whom the union initially backed and who endorsed Obama Wednesday.

"The United Steelworkers enthusiastically endorses Senator Barack Obama to be the next President of the United States," the union said in its endorsement statement.

"Senator Obama's call for a significant change of direction amounts to far more than a compelling rallying cry. It is buttressed by his record of consistent support for workers, by his call for sweeping changes to our health care system, by his unflinching support for Employee Free Choice, and by his insistence that America's trade policies must, first and foremost, serve the interests of America's working families."