Kentucky AFL-CIO Labor 2008

Contruction Site Leaflets in Lexington, KY

Derryl Lawson and Jeff Rodgers from IBEW Local 369 took us to three construction sites in downtown Lexington where we passed out worksite leaflets and engaged in conversations with people as they took a lunch break. With our hard hats on and leaflets in hand, we went into these construction sites with information on Bruce Lunsford. Many were happy to engage in conversations about the U.S. Senate Race and how Bruce Lunsford will help the working families of Kentucky.

Rubber Town Leafleting

  

Photos: Cindy Loudin (CNA/NNOC) and Greg Holthouser (IBEW)

We had at least 20 volunteers leafleting yesterday and over 1500 leaflets were passed out to union members at Rubbertown.  It is so important that we continue to leaflet at our worksites until Election Day.  “We can’t miss any opportunity to get our members out to vote,” said Bill Londrigan, KY AFL-CIO President.  “I only had one negative response, I think that the response was excellent.  I think that one was just because she was in a hurry.  A lot of them wanted to stop and talk, even as cold as it was,” responded Anna Delk, release staff from NALC Branch 14.  The Police even came with lights flashing to get people to slow down for safety!  It seems everyone is supportive of the cause to make a change this election.

International Automotive Components Madisonville

 

Photo: Kirk Gillenwaters, Ricky Nichols and Bill Londrigan at IAC Plant in Madisonville

After out run to the locals in Paducah, we went to Madisonville for our last stop of the day.  It was in the late afternoon and everyone started to lose energy.  However, spirits rose when the Unite Auto Workers of Local 2386 gladly accepted the leaflets.  Quite a few stopped to discuss issues with Ricky Nichols and Kirk Gillenwaters, also a UAW member.  Our President Bill Londrigan and Cindy Loudin from CNA also had a few stop and ask questions at the second gate when workers left the plant.  This encouraged everyone, especially Ricky Nichols, “It is an important election year, Mitch McConnell has been there too long and it is time for a change.”

Louisville Assembly Plant with UAW Local 862

We leafleted at the Louisville Assembly Plant with UAW Local 862.  There were 40 volunteers leafleting to over 400 members.  Mary Briscoe, who helped, said “We always get a good response when we hand out the leaflets at the plant gate.  They know our faces and they are more willing to read the materials from people they know and trust.”  The leaflets listed all of the union endorsed candidates for Kentucky and Indiana, since many of the members live across the state border.  They also passed out leaflets on Bruce Lunsford with information on his support for the labor movement and his policies on better Health Care.  “We plan to do more worksite leaflets pretty soon as well as continuing our daily phone banks,” said Rocky Comito, UAW Local 862 President.

UA Local 184 Paducah

Photos: Kip Phillips (USW), Alisha Farmer UA Local 184, and Mandy Dixon

Alisha Farmer, secretary of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 184, came to greet us warmly.  The hall was decorated at every turn in union-endorsed posters, especially out side.  As a result, Alisha reports that people are constantly stopping in office off the street asking for materials on the union endorsed candidates like Bruce Lunsford.  What a great witness to the community!

Iron Workers Local 782 Paducah

 

Photos: (Left) Our Bluegrass Express stopped at Iron Workers Local 782 (Right)John Davis and David Jones holding up a stack of sealed envelopes for the lates Local Union Mail

At the Iron Workers office was John Davis, Business Manager, and David Jones, Business Agent.  Also sitting on their desks were stacks of mail ready to be sent out.  There were 370 envelopes with stamps and addresses ready to go.  They took a stack of Bruce Lunsford leaflets, anxious to couple the local union mailing effort with some worksite leaflets.  “We also are doing phone banks, reaching out to our members in every way we can,” mentioned John Davis with excitement.  “We really need to ditch Mitch!”

Teamsters Local 236 Paducah

Photo: Teamster's Local 236 Secretary Patty Grim accepting Bruce Lunsford leaflets for distribution.

Patty Grimm, the Teamsters Local 236’s secretary, took the stack of leaflets we had with a big smile and said the Teamsters are committed to getting them out.  Proudly pointing out the wall of stickers and posters for the union-endorsed candidates behind us she shared in our excitement over the upcoming election and the chance to bring change to help Kentucky workers.

Carpenters Local 357 Paducah

 

Photos: (Left) Carpenters Local 357 (Right) Laurel Copeland getting latest Local Union Mailing ready

Our next stop was with the Carpenter’s Local 357.  Where we met Laurel Copeland, the Local’s Secretary.  She had on her desk a huge stack of mail ready to be sent out to each of their 375 members.  “We just need to get the word out!” she said. 

Tom Buffenbarger visits Henderson, KY

About 100 workers gathered at IAM Local in Henderson, KY to hear IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger on his “They got the Gold Mine, We got the Shaft” bus tour.  Tom addressed the issues of the economy and the $700 billion bailout that people like McCain and McConnell are using to help the rich instead of helping the middle working class.  He also addressed the need to elect the union-endorsed candidates like Bruce Lunsford.  “I am proud to say that Bruce is the son of a Machinist,” he said, “His father and my father worked together.”  The crowd hung on Buffenbarger’s words and cheered when he spoke about Lunsford who Tom predicted will be the “son of a machinist that will kick the son of a blank, Mitch McConnell, out of office.”  As the Business Manager Gerald Stone of IAM Local 153 states, “we are glad to have President Buffenbarger here to help get the union members motivated to help get these candidates elected that will help the working families of Kentucky.”  We rejoined Buffenbarger later in Louisville.

Early morning leaflet at Reynolds Plant in Louisville with USW workers

Photo: Labor 2008 girls help leaflet with the USW

We started out our day at 5:30 am, meeting with leaflets on Bruce Lunsford and John Yarmuth.  The day was our coldest yet, so everyone was bundled up in their coats and clutching hot coffee.  Cars zoomed down the road in a hurry to get to work.  Yet, when we were spotted with leaflets, windows rolled down and people stopped with eager interest.