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Knock, Knock: Union Members at Your Door |
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Over the past week, union members in key states around the country have gone door to door to talk with their fellow union members about the economy and the election.
These volunteers are getting the word out about the Employee Free Choice Act, an essential bill that would protect workers’ freedom to form unions and bargain. Good union jobs are a necessary part of an economy that works for everyone.
Unfortunately, Sen. John McCain was one of a minority of senators who blocked a vote on the bill last year, and he hasn’t proposed solutions that address the economic crisis facing working families.
The door-to-door walks are a key part of the AFL-CIO Labor 2008 political program, an unprecedented grassroots effort to educate, energize and mobilize millions of union members to elect a working family-friendly Congress and president. AFGE Secretary-Treasurer J. David Cox explains the importance of member-to-member walks in this video.
Susie Ledbetter, Labor 2008 state director for Wisconsin, says 46 participants joined in the Milwaukee labor walk June 21. These volunteers represented more than 20 local unions that are part of the Milwaukee County Labor Council: AFSCME 170, AFSCME 1954, AFT 212, AFT 2169, AFT 4822, AFT 5001, ARA, CWA 35, CWA 4603, IAM District 10, IAM 66, IBEW 494, OPEIU 9, SEIU 150, UA 75, UAW 438, UAW 469, UAW 1866, UFCW 1473, USW 2-209, USW 364, USW 2-1324 and USW District 2.
Walkers knocked on a grand total of 779 doors.
Jim Draeger, a member of AFT Local 2169, says member-to-member interaction is the most effective way to mobilize working families in this crucial year.
If we don’t take the time to educate our members, who will? It’s our responsibility to let members know the value of the Employee Free Choice Act, and that John McCain is offering the wrong answers on the issues—like healthcare and trade agreements—that matter to union members.
The union members who came out to the walk included Spencer Coggs, an AFSCME member who is also a Wisconsin state senator.
In New Mexico, union members went door to door on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to get their fellow workers energized behind a strong economy and the Employee Free Choice Act.
Don Manning, Labor 2008 state director for New Mexico, says union members from a dozen different locals turned out for the June labor walks this week, including walkers from AFGE, AFSCME, AFT, CWA, IBEW, NALC, NATCA, OPEIU, SMWIA and UA.
Volunteers visited hundreds of houses to speak with fellow union members about the Employee Free Choice Act and how McCain opposed this important pro-worker legislation. Manning says union members were receptive to the message and many promised to volunteer their time for Labor 2008.
Here’s what some of those union volunteers had to say.
Judy Pratt, AFT member:
I find going door to door very energizing. Facing someone, talking to them, is very effective.
Daniel Rivera, UA member:
Talking to working families about the issues that effect their lives means so much both on a personal level and in a political campaign.
Josh Anderson, political coordinator at AFSCME:
As long as we get people out there to participate, I see no reason why we can’t win every election in the state.
New Mexico’s final June walk tomorrow follows the state’s Committee on Political Education (COPE) Convention. Manning says the New Mexico Federation of Labor is asking for 100 volunteers to help reach thousands of households.
Education is really the key to this race. If we can educate people on the real issues and define the candidates for how they stand with working families, we can spur the effort to elect someone who will push for worker’s rights to affordable health care and improve our flagging economy.
In states like New Mexico and Wisconsin, active and mobilized union members will make the difference in the presidential and congressional elections—starting with member-to-member contact like this week’s walks.
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Paid for by the AFL-CIO Committee on Political Education Political Contributions Committee, www.aflcio.org, and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.
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