UAW member Vickie Collins joins gubernatorial candidate Steve Beshear at a recent Kentucky get-out-the-vote walk.

AFL-CIO representative Joseph Holland has been working in Kentucky with union members to help get out the vote for the state’s critical gubernatorial elections and sends us a roundup of Bluegrass’ efforts to elect a working family governor. 

This past weekend, 121 union volunteers from more than a dozen unions across Kentucky participated in our latest get-out-the-vote, door-to-door campaign. They are among more than 1,200 union members who so far have volunteered over the past few weekends. We are working hard to ensure the state’s next governor puts working family issues center stage and to support Steve Beshear, who is challenging Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R). Fletcher has canceled bargaining rights for state employees, privatized Kentucky’s Medicaid program, pushed to repeal the prevailing wage law and sought to implement anti-union “right to work” for less legislation. Beshear opposes so-called “right to work” legislation and has affirmed his support of safeguards for the prevailing wage, employee bargaining, the need for affordable health care and good jobs. 

Congrats to all the local unions who sent folks out! 

Today, we launch our 10-day Bluegrass Express—It’s Our Time tour, led by Kentucky State AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan. On Oct. 30, Mine Workers (UMWA) President Cecil Roberts will join with Bluegrass Express participants for a rally at the Machinists (IAM) union hall in Calvert City, Ky., before taking part in leafleting at plants employing members of the United Steelworkers (USW), IAM and UAW. USW Zone 1 coordinator Jeff Wiggins and Communications Workers of America (CWA) staff release Karen Murphy and IAM staff releases Scott Ferguson and James Rodehorst are working hard on helping to put these events together. We have scheduled more than 50 worksite leaflets with 20 unions in 25 different counties. 

Last week, Lexington was center stage for the statewide CWA conference in which members from across Kentucky converged to discuss our Labor 2007-2008 program. Barbara Pierce, CWA member and president of the Bluegrass Central Labor Council, told us:  

CWA President Larry Cohen explained the importance of local union mail, worksite leafleting, phone banking and our member to member walks in order to elect our endorsed candidates. He emphasized the CWA’s commitment to the program and his expectations of each of us. 

Pierce expressed her excitement and that of her fellow CWA members: 

We’re prepared to hit the streets and the phone banks in all areas of Kentucky. Our members are energized and excited about electing a new governor in Kentucky and we’re ready to do whatever it takes to make it happen. Kentucky is the focus of the labor movement in this nation right now. We intend to help convey our message all across this country….It’s OUR time! 

AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stewart Acuff joined 153 union members and allies in a labor leader luncheon with workers at Ohio Valley Aluminum Co. (OVACO) seeking to form a union with USW and with striking nurses with Kentucky Nurses Association in eastern Kentucky at the UAW Hall in Louisville. Londrigan, UAW Local 862 President Rocky Comito, UAW District 3 Director Mo Davison and UAW District 3 Cap Director Connie Thurman were among those taking part. Acuff is highlighted in the Courier-Journal, where he’s quoted on “linking politics to organizing.” The article also mentions the USW organizing campaign at OVACO in Shelbyville, Ky. 

Also last week, Boyd County commissioners unanimously passed an Employee Free Choice Act resolution. The city of Ashland, population 80,000, is located in Boyd County. Two county commissioners are union members, one from the Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the other from the Carpenters. Mike Donta, Labor 2007 release staff from USW, drove this effort on the ground.   

Sixteen more days to victory!

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Paid for by AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education Treasury Fund.

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