"This is an historic election for working men and women" says Wesley Thompson, USW Staff District 9 and Zone 1 Coordinator for Labor 2008. "For the first time in my career we have an opportunity to make meaningful change in America and in the labor movement."
Wesley Thompson, USW Staff District 9 and Zone 1 Coordinator
"If we can attain a 60 seat margin in the Senate we can do a lot of good for the working families of this country. We can make sure our pensions are secure and we keep jobs in this country."
"That's why we're out here leafleting in Rome, Georgia at the Kellogg's plant – trying to make sure union members across the state show up to vote."
"In addition to leafleting, USW members are getting active by sending out local union mail, participating in phone banks, and going door to door. Union members are volunteering because they know that in this election we can really make a difference."
Joining USW at the Kellogg's plant to pass out leaflets was BCTGM.
"Jim Martin is on our side" says David Woods, BCTGM Local 25 Business Manager. "Saxby is not. He's out for the big businesses and he's cutting jobs – we're losing jobs in this country and it's time for a change. It's time to put Jim Martin in office so we have that change."
David Woods, BCTGM Local 25 Business Manager
"It's very important we elect Jim Martin so that we can get the Employee Free Choice Act passed and also so that we can turn this country around for working men and women."
"We know that if Martin is elected he will support us when it comes to trade. It isn't free trade, it should be fair trade. This is essential to keeping good high paying jobs in this country and not shipping them overseas."
"As union members we can make a difference by leafleting, phone banking, sending out local union mail, and going on labor walks. The country is going in the wrong direction and we are ready to help turn it around."
Rick De La Fuente, IAM Assistant Political and Legislative Director
"IAM is down here in Georgia to help get out the vote for Jim Martin by worksite leafleting, knocking on doors, phone banking, and sending out local union mail" says Rick De La Fuente, Assistant Political and Legislative Director for IAM.
"It's not often that pro-worker candidates get to play very strong in the state of Georgia and I think in this election we are showing people that the labor movement can win in any part of the country if we all mobilize, work together, and stay together as a union."
"I want to thank all of our members for everything they are doing. Hundreds of our members are volunteering right now to make sure this election goes in the favor of working families in Georgia."
"The pendulum swung in the direction of corporate America for way too long, and we need to swing it back towards workers in this country."
"We are ready to fight on our feet and die fighting on our feet before we ever live on our knees begging."
"We feel good about our ability to get Jim Martin elected to the U.S. Senate, but the key is getting people back out to the polls to vote again" says Ben Morgan, President of TWU Local 527.
"We have an opportunity to get 60 seats in the Senate and a chance to make sure Obama is able to have the working majority he needs to bring about change. We will help Obama to pass legislation that will help working people like the Employee Free Choice Act."
"The Employee Free Choice Act allows workers to form a union without the intimidation tactics from the employer. In addition, the Employee Free Choice Act does not take away a worker's right to a secret ballot. The legislation simply gives workers a choice between a secret ballot election and an election through majority sign-up."
"Local 527 is sending out local union mail and contacting other unions in Augusta to make sure we get as many volunteers as possible to participate in the campaign. We are also phone banking, worksite leafleting, and going on labor walks."
"I am confident that we are getting the message out because of the feedback we get from fellow union members. People are excited about this election and are making that clear by volunteering and responding well to the contacts we are making."
Karen Bellamy Lewis, IFPTE International Representative
Karen Bellamy Lewis, IFPTE International Representative says: "We are working tirelessly to get out the vote. We are knocking on doors, sending out local union mail, worksite leafleting, and phone banking."
"This election is extremely close so it is crucial that we contact our members through the Labor 2008 program and make sure everyone votes."
"The goal is to motivate our members and get them out there to help in the campaign effort. We must forge ahead to get the job done. It is imperative that we get out the vote."
"We are all working very hard and we share a common interest. We need to support working families in this country. This election is not just about union members, it's about working families and all of us coming together to make a difference."
"It's so important for our union members to get out and vote" says Karen Head, Political Director for the ATU. "ATU members are working really hard in Georgia. They are doing the worksite leaflets, local union mail, phone banks, and labor walks. They are putting in the time and now it comes down to getting out the vote."
"The AFL-CIO's Labor 2008 program and its emphasis on member to member contact is important in this election because union members talking to each other gets the message across much better than when union members hear from a partisan candidate or a campaign."
"For example, ATU members can talk to each other about issues like transit funding, health care, and the other subjects that that really resonate with our members."
"Finally I'd like to encourage all ATU members and our other union brothers and sisters to go out and vote today and to vote for Jim Martin because he will work with us to improve the lives of working families in Georgia and restore the middle class in America."
Sherilyn Wright, IBEW International Representative
Sherilyn Wright, IBEW International Representative says: "Union members are real excited about the run-off election here in Georgia. We have the opportunity to do something we never did before – to get 60 in the Senate."
Wright explains: "Grabbing this 60th seat with Jim Martin will allow us to address a lot of the issues important to working families: the Employee Free Choice Act, getting better health care, protecting our pensions, and creating new jobs."
Wright says: "Everyone is completely engaged and the labor program is clearly the best in the country. Union members are taking this election very seriously because they are experiencing first-hand, just like all Americans across the country, the devastating effects of anti-worker legislation."
Wright believes: "With all of us coming together we will win this race in Georgia and get the 60 votes we need to pass the legislation that helps us as working families."
"We are backing Jim Martin because we need a friend of labor" says Brett Hulme, President of the Savannah Regional Central Labor Council and member of OPEIU.
"Saxby Chambliss did nothing but take from working families and side with management and we can't afford that type of leadership. We are losing too many jobs in this state – good paying union jobs."
"We are pulling out all the stops. We're phone banking, worksite leafleting, going on labor walks, and sending out local union mail. We are doing whatever it takes to get Jim Martin elected."
"Once this election is over we hope that Jim Martin will be the 60th Senator and will help Barack Obama to push his agenda forward to fix this economy and to restore the middle class in this country."
Terry Lynch, Political Director for the Insulators and Allied Workers
Terry Lynch, Political Director for the Heat and Asbestos Insulators and Allied Workers says: "The insulators are really excited to be down here working on the election these last few days. Insulators are coming down from all over the country because they know we are right on the verge of winning this seat here in Georgia."
"I know that if we work hard we can get this job done, but it's going to take a nationwide effort of union members coming together and stressing the importance of this election."
"The insulators are very proud to be working with their brothers and sisters from the Building Trades and the AFL-CIO. We are making phone calls, handing out worksite leaflets, going on labor walks, and we sent out the local union mail to make sure people remember to vote on December 2nd."
"In the time we have left, we are letting everybody know how important it is that we get a tremendous turnout this Tuesday."
"We can be a big part of making sure that Jim Martin wins this election and that will be so very important to working families in this state and in the nation."
Only 1 more day until the election brothers and sisters, and Jim Martin decided that he would go out and spend the remainder of his time campaigning alongside union members. At a MARTA worksite, Martin stood with union volunteers and helped pass out worksite leaflets. Martin spoke to the volunteers who rallied behind him saying: "I am just honored to be here with my friends in the labor movement, and the truth is, I'm not going to be able to win this election without the support of the labor movement here in Georgia."
"What's happening now is that workers are saying enough is enough – we've had it with the economy, we want somebody that's going to work for the rights of workers in our economy, and we want someone that's going to work to turn this economy around."
Martin says: "To help me, union members are phone banking, going door to door, doing worksite leafleting, and sending out local union mail. They are doing all the things to get our voters out to the polls."
"This is going to be a very close election, and it depends on, as President Clinton said when he was here last week: who wants it the most."
Charlie Key, Secretary Treasurer of the Georgia AFL-CIO says: "Folks are going to get out and vote. They're looking forward to this election and they're looking forward to the change Jim will help us make in Washington."
