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Around Country, Union Members Keep Up the Pressure on McCain |
As John McCain tours the country, wherever he goes, he’s met by his biggest fear: a contingent of educated, mobilized union members who know his record. Over the past week, he’s been greeted again and again by union members demanding real answers to the issues facing the country.
In New Mexico last week, more than 150 members turned out to protest McCain’s visit to Hotel Albuquerque, reports Don Manning, Labor 2008 director for New Mexico. The protesters took turns on the bullhorn voicing their disgust with Bush-McCain failed policies on the war, health care and the economy, among other issues.
Manning reports that members of AFT, UBC, IATSE, IBEW, IUPAT, LIUNA, NALC, NATCA, NUHHCC, OPCM and OPEIU came out for the protest.
Members carried signs proclaiming “Like Bush’s Economy? Hire McCain,” “It’s Time to Turn Around America” and “John, How Do We Get Your Health Insurance?” And the voices of the protesters often were drowned out by the supportive honking of cars and trucks driving by.
Robert Aubert of IUPAT Local 823 says the stakes are high in this fall’s election.
People need to realize that McCain is just another Bush. McCain wants to cut veteran benefits, tax health care, and eliminate social security. We can’t let that happen.
Robert Vigil, of OPCM Local 254, says New Mexico union members will be crucial in the race between McCain and Obama.
I’m out here to support Sen. Obama, because I know that he stands with working families and with unions. What will John McCain do for working families? Take away our benefits and undermine our rights to represent ourselves.
On Monday, McCain arrived in Maine for a campaign stop, and once again, union members turned out to greet him, reports Matt Schoblum, Labor 2008 state director. McCain arrived in Kennebunkport in the morning and attended a private function not open to the public. In the afternoon, he gave a speech at a local museum. He left after the speech without taking any questions.
Here’s what union members and allies in Maine had to say about his visit.
Steve Quinlan, APWU 458:
Working citizens should know that if they cast their vote for John McCain, they’re voting against their own best interests.
Sarah Bigney, Maine Fair Trade Campaign:
McCain doesn’t value working families, the environment, or our democracy. He only cares about the corporate agenda.
Schoblum reports that members of UAW Local 1981, AFT, APWU 458, USW 4-00261 and the MFTC came out to protest McCain’s visit.
Yesterday McCain raked in $1 million from wealthy donors in Baltimore, and union members from the Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO once again turned out to show they’re ready to fight hard against anti-working family policies. They demanded that McCain support working families instead of opposing the Employee Free Choice Act and proposing a new tax on workers’ health care.
Everywhere McCain goes, union members will be there to confront him and demand that the next president support working families, not corporate interests.
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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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