This year the men and women who make up the affiliate unions of the Michigan Stare AFL-CIO provided an overwhelming level of support to the labor 2008 program. From labor walks and local union mail to phone banks and worksite leaflets the men and women who make up the Michigan labor movement did an incredible job of getting the word out about our endorsed candidates.
All of our unions from both the public and private sector representing everyone from the building trades to office professionals played a key role in building overwhelming union support for Barack Obama, Mark Schauer, Gary Peters and all of our labor endorsed candidates.
The video below is just a small sample of the work done on behalf of the labor 2008 program but make no mistake the Michigan AFL-CIO appreciates the efforts of all its affiliates
This year the Michigan State AFL-CIO
faced a difficult task in creating a strong labor 2008 program but like our
members we chose to role up our sleeves and get to work
Labor 2008 May-June
As Senators Barack Obama and Hillary
Clinton campaigned across America for the Democratic nomination the Michigan
State AFL-CIO was already in full force laying the ground work for what would
become one of the most successful Labor 2008 programs of all the battle ground
states. State Political Director, Brent Gillette, began the summer of 2008
traveling across the state of Michigan speaking to local unions about who the
real John McCain is and why he was wrong for labor.
While Brent traveled Michigan informing
our brothers and sisters about who the real john McCain was release staffers
from across the state and the nation were building our programs in their
respective zones and helping to organize labors support for our endorsed
congressional candidates. During these early months of the 2008 election cycles
the Michigan AFL-CIO conducted rapid action focused on raising awareness about
the rising cost of gas and why America desperately needed leadership that was in
tune to the need of the working class.
Labor 2008 June –
July’08
As the democratic nomination became
increasingly clear the Michigan AFL-CIO began to ramp up its labor 2008 program
by bringing in more release staff from the following unions: AFGE,
AFSCME, AFT, APWU, ATU, BAC, BCTGM, CWA, IBEW, IUOE, MNA, NALC, NATCA, SMWIA,
UAW, USW and many more. Our zone coordinators began ordering fliers
from the working families toolkits and our affiliates began increasing their
member to member program activities. While some unions continued to wait for a
formal endorsement before becoming fully engaged our CLCs were busy hosting
labor walks to talk to union members about John McCain’s long standing
opposition to labor and our issues.
In addition to our efforts to get the
word out about John McCain union members in Michigan were busy spreading the
word about the Employee Free Choice Act. Million Member Mobilization cards
became a staple at all union activities and the Justice for Workers Now
Coalition was busy planning a march on the Detroit offices of the National Labor
Relations Board.
n a warm summer morning in June hundreds
of men and women representing every union in the state descended upon downtown
Detroit in a massive solidarity march in support of the Employee Free Choice
Act. Ray Michaels of IBEW local 665 explained that “We are here today to bring
attention to the unjust rulings coming from the National Labor Relations Board
that have a detrimental effect on unions. We also want people to know that when
you limit the formation of unions you depress wages and limits purchasing power
that has a negative effect on the economy and on jobs”.
With Barack Obama having secured the
Democratic nomination, the Michigan AFL-CIO knew it would be hard to overcome
the fact that the Democratic primary skipped Michigan and that our members
weren’t familiar with Obama and his vision for America. The Michigan AFL-CIO
undertook a large and aggressive effort to dispel the myths about Obama and why
he was the best choice for union voters.
By mid-July the Michigan AFL-CIO’s labor
2008 program was moving in full force and support for Barack Obama was growing
by the numbers.
Labor 2008 August –
September
By the beginning of August there was a
robust and active labor 2008 program operating in Michigan. The continued
influx of release staff helped create a blanket of support that made sure every
aspect of the labor 2008 program was operating at optimal levels. Labor walks,
member to member phone banks, worksite leaflets and local union mail activities
were taking place daily and more and more members were hearing about the
importance of this year’s election.
rent Gillette stressed the importance of
the labor 2008 program telling members and staff “we have to make sure that we
touch as many of our members as possible. We know the candidates and the parties
are going to run commercials and do their program but we also know that are
members are most influenced by the endorsement of someone they trust like a
co-worker or fellow union member”.
Brent’s words proved prophetic as the
labor program grew and support for Obama increased. By Mid-August Barack Obama
had visited Michigan on several occasions including the annual Labor Day
celebration in Muskegon, Detroit and Monroe and his chances for victory in
Michigan continued to grow.
By early September the Michigan AFL-CIO’s
labor program had become so strong and so effective that Senator McCain
abandoned any chance of competing and left Michigan for good. The absence of an
aggressive McCain campaign didn’t slow the efforts of the AFT and other unions.
On a mid September morning over 150 members of the AFT joined AFT President,
Randy Weingarten for a labor walk in support of Obama and Gary
Peters.
President Weingarten spoke to her fellow
member saying “our members want to hear from you! They look at me and they
figure I’m paid to do and say these types of things but when you, the person
they eat lunch with, the person they fight for better wages with, says it to
them on their front door it carries a greater level of value and is more
effective”.
The end of September saw the Justice for
Workers Now Coalition hold a final EFCA rally that included the Presidents of
the IBEW, Building and Construction Trades, Ironworkers, Plasterers and Cement
Masons and was attended by well over 1,000 members.
Labor 2008 October
Even though the McCain campaign was no
longer competing in Michigan the labor ’08 program wasn’t about to rest on its
laurels. Our member to member activities continued in full force and we made
sure to continuing engaging our members at their front door, their worksite and
over the phone and through the mail.
NALC release staff member John Serwach
stated “we feel it’s important to reach out to our members through local union
mail because it’s a low pressure situation where a person can give the
candidates a comprehensive review before making a decision. We also use the
local union mail as an opportunity to socialize with our fellow members at our
union hall while still doing our part for the program”.
The NALC was also responsible for an
October labor walk that brought over 200 letter carriers from as far away as
Kentucky and Indiana to knock on doors in Oakland county.
Other unions would not be outdone when it
came to labor 2008. The APWU, ATU, UAW, USW and others were busy contacting
their members at the job site through the worksite leafleting program. APWU
member Dorothy Malone, said “we are doing a worksite leaflet to help encourage
those remaining undecided to vote for Obama while encouraging other to remember
to vote”.
As we close out November and prepare for
tomorrows big vote Barack Obama is leading Senator McCain by roughly 20 points
and our congressional candidates are also in good position to pick up two more
seats in congress for labor.
Michigan State AFL-CIO President,
Mark Gaffney talked about the success of the labor 2008 program saying “We
started this campaign at a disadvantage given our members familiarity with
McCain and his compelling story as a war hero but we weren’t going to let those
things stand in the way of electing the best candidate for labor. Barack Obama
is on the side of workers on all the major issues and he has a good plan to
rebuild the middle class and we had to make sure our members were aware of these
things. Fortunately, we had a great team of release staff and Brent Gillette put
together a great plan to win and we are seeing the results of those efforts in
the polling numbers and in McCain’s decision to stop contesting
Michigan”.
The Michigan AFL-CIO’s labor 2008 program
wasn’t easy but it was a success and we owe it all to our members who
volunteered their time and effort to help bring about a better American for
working men and women.
For all the success of this year Labor 2008 program it wouldn’t be as successful as it is without contribution of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council. (MBCTC). The 100,000 plus members of the Michigan Building Trades played key roles in nearly every aspect of the Labor 2008 program.
The leadership of the electrical workers on issues like the Employee Free Choice Act are essential to getting the word out about the importance of the legislation and making sure that every union member in Michigan signed an Million Member Mobilization card. From the June March on the NLRB to the October rally featuring international presidents and elected officials the men and women of the IBEW have led the way for the Employee Free Choice Act in Michigan.
When it comes to the labor 2008 program the men and women of the MBCTC are a force like no other. The BAC, IBEW, IBT, IUPAT, IUOE, SMWIA, UA and so many more were are constant and reliable source for volunteers and organizers for labor walks, phone banks, worksite leaflets and local union mail. IBEW, Statewide Political Director, Jim DeLuca stated, “we need a new level of leadership in Washington. America needs a president and congress that understands the difficulties facing working families and I think the people realize that and that’s why you have seen the level of participation that you have this year”.
MBCT President, Patrick Gleason says “our members have been hard hit by the problems of this economy and we know that its up to us to do what we have always done which is play a leadership role in making America great. We’ll continue our efforts through Election Day and hopefully come November 5th we can celebrate the beginning of a new direction for our country.”
Although the Hatch Act prevent federal employees from engaging in campaign activities while working but that hasn’t stopped the men and women of AFGE from playing a leading role in this years labor 2008 program. AFGE members all across Michigan are a steady presence at labor walks and phone banks and they sent multiple local union letters.
AFGE member, Joe Dolan is a leading force in getting his fellow AFGE members involved in the labor 2008 program activities. AFGE member, Rosendo Rocha, who participated in the labor veterans roundtable with Jim Wasser stated “as federal employees we are in essence voting for our own bosses so why wouldn’t we do what we could to help ensure that we have bosses in the White House and Congress who support labor”.
We look forward to a powerful GOTV movement from the men and women of AFGE so we can get a president who support labor and respects the ability of federal employees to freely form unions without harassment, fear, or intimidation.
A red army marched on the city of Detroit this summer. The men and women of UNITE HERE looked like an army in their red union shirts as the fanned out across Detroit for a recent labor to labor walk. Members knocked on doors and talked to voters working in their yard to talk about this year’s presidential election and why they were supporting Barack Obama.
The men and women of UNITE HERE have been very active in this years Labor 2008 program activities participating in labor walks, phone banks and worksite leaflets. UNITE HERE Political Director, Dia Pearce, stated “Our member are very excited about this year election, we have a lot of younger members and the energy of excitement of the Obama campaign has really motivated them in ways we don’t always see in labor”.
We look forward to seeing the members of UNITE HERE bring that same dedication and commitment to our GOTV efforts.
OPEIU members may not be known for callous hands or steel toe boots but when it comes to the labor 2008 political program the men and women of the OPEIU got their hands dirty in Michigan. Whether supporting the Employee Free Choice Act of doing member to member program activities for our endorsed candidates, OPEIU was there to help.
OPEIU members have regular volunteers for our labor walks and member to member phone banks and they regularly turn out in force for Blue Michigan solidarity rallies to support the Employee Free Choice Act. OPEIU Local 459 President, Kevin Nix says “we support the Employee Free Choice Act because it is key to growing union strength in America, if we lose out on the ability to organize then workers in America are in serious trouble”.
Office workers haven’t traditionally come to mind when thinking of labor but the men and women of the OPEIU are proving to be a powerful force in the Michigan labor movement
Few people have the respect of the community the way the men and women of the IAFF do. As the men and women who are often the first responders in times of tragedy they are seen as those rare individuals who put the well being of other above and beyond their own. So when the IAFF gets behind a candidate its an invaluable endorsement of that candidate and their vision for America.
This year the men and women of the Michigan Association of Fire Fighters have placed their support behind Barack Obama. Bryan Epling of IAFF 421 says “we supported Barack Obama and Joe Biden because they have a long history of supporting labor unlike John McCain who refused to even return to Washington to vote for collective bargaining legislation that was important to our union and its members”.
The men and women of IAFF 421 have been very active in their support of Barack Obama and the Employee Free Choice Act and with their continued help the labor movement will elect a president who will stand with them on the important issues of the day.
When it come to worksite leafleting this election cycle few unions are as active as the men and women of APWU. While not allowed to distribute materials on the grounds of postal facilities the men and women of APWU stood on corners across the street and at the entrance to nearby parking structures to distribute literature to their fellow members leaving work after their shift.
APWU Detroit District President, Dwight Boudreaux says “we simply can’t sit back and let another election go by without doing all we can to help make sure we elect candidates that understand the value and importance of the labor movement in America. As part of our efforts we have had volunteers participate in labor walks, phone banks and we even have some members working for release staff for the labor 2008 program”.
APWU Retiree and release staffer, Dorothy Malone is very motivated this election cycle and she says the reason for her involvement is because, “I am a big supporter of my union and the labor movement in general and in addition to Obama’s historic candidacy I want to make sure that the labor movement remains strong and the way to do that is to elect proworker candidates to public office”.
This election season the men and women of the Ironworkers are joining their fellow union brothers and sisters in show of solidarity focused on electing candidates who support working families and getting union supported legislation passed in congress.
The members of Iron in Michigan support the Labor 2008 program by sending out local union mail and conducting some member to member activities like worksite leaflets, labor walks and member to member phone banking. The men and women of Iron are also a constant presence at rallies in support of the Employee Free Choice Act.
Ironworker Joe Lyscus, says “we need to make sure that we support Barack Obama and that we make sure we get the Employee Free Choice Act because a lot of people want to form unions but the process can be difficult, the Employee Free Choice Act changes all that”.
With only 8 days left to go before Election Day working families will be counting on the men and women of Iron to help them elect candidates that will stand up for them.
This year the men and women of the AFT are showing the strength and unity of their union through their participation in the Labor 2008 program. Whether organizing labor walks with hundreds of members, making phone calls on behalf of union-endorsed candidates, conducting a worksite leaflet or mailing out a president letter, the AFT is working hard to elect Barack Obama!
During a recent labor walk, Michigan AFT President David Hecker stressed the importance of the member to member aspect of the Labor 2008 program saying “it’s nice for our people to hear from folks like me or President Weingarten but the voice that carries the most weight is the voice of the people they work with and share struggles with.” AFT Political Coordinators Julie Matuzak and Daryl Newman are done an exceptional job organizing their members to help with the Labor 2008 program and the program has benefitted greatly from their efforts
The AFT release staffing working in Michigan are essential to the success of the Michigan labor 2008 program and are a big part of the reason John McCain abandoned any attempts to compete for votes in the state. Members from as far away have Texas help with everything from coordinating zone activities to entering data on member contacts.
The men and women of the AFT can take pride in the fact that their efforts are directly responsible for Senator Obama impressive lead in Michigan poll numbers.
