Missouri AFL-CIO Labor 2008 Blog

Missouri Labor 2008 Program at a Glance

Election Day has finally come!  Everyone is excited to watch the outcome of our hard work and persistency.  With that I thought that everyone would enjoy a video of the great work we have done this election. 

 

Spotlight: Missouri AFL-CIO

“I would like to stress to everyone in the labor movement how important it is to turn out the union vote.  If all of our members would turn out tomorrow and vote for the AFL-CIO endorsed candidates we would not only elect a worker friendly governor but we would have a friend of the labor movement in the white house.  I urge every union member to get out early to vote tomorrow.” Hugh McVey, Missouri AFL-CIO President

“The AFL-CIO Labor Program is very effective, it is the number one program that I know of in the entire country.  How else can you explain a union density of 12% yet we represent 30% of all the votes?  I feel that the most effective means of reaching our members is a letter from the local President directly to the members, because they will always open and read that letter.  Local union newsletters, worksite leaflets, member-to-member phone banks and labor walks are all incredibly important.”  Herb Johnson, Missouri AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer

“If we were to be successful in getting worker friendly candidates elected we could pass landmark legislation that people would talk about for years to come like they do with social security and Medicare.  That legislation would hopefully include some type of universal healthcare, passing the Employee Free Choice Act and making sure that social security is a retirement plan for all.  I would close by saying that, we have the opportunity to show the rest of the world the sheer brilliance of this form of government where, anybody no matter who they are, where they come from or what color there skin is can be elected President of the United States.”  Said Secretary Treasurer Johnson.

 

Affiliate Spotlight: IBEW

IBEW is setting up phone banks to increase member participation in labor walks and to support labor friendly candidates.  IBEW also sent out local union mailings and is greeting their membership at worksites with flyers from the working families toolkit.

 

Tom George, President of IBEW Local 1 stated, “We have always participated in the growth of the program because it is something you have to be active in to help the labor movement.  It is important to educate your members on who is running and what they stand for. Are they pro-worker?  Will they fight for Prevailing Wage and the Employee Free Choice Act?  If you do not support worker friendly candidates, then you won’t get legislation that helps working families and their representatives do what they do best. Involvement equals survival for the labor movement.”

 

 

“Our membership has a good grasp of the issues concerning working families.  We educate them on individual voting records and legislative issues and they generally vote accordingly.  We brought on a political coordinator who will be responsible for getting worksite flyers to our members, framing the important issues during this election.”  Mike Pendergast IBEW Local 4

 

“I’m involved because healthcare is important to me. Working families are struggling with the high cost of healthcare and John McCain doesn’t have an answer or a plan.” Said Sam Lay, IBEW member at labor walk in St. Louis.

 

“I’m here to get out the labor vote this year.  It’s just great meeting with other union members and getting involved.” Said Joe Ferris, IBEW member at a member-to-member phone bank.

 

“Local union mailings work best for his local because the members are spread out at multiple job locations, making worksite flyers difficult.”  Although he feels the mailings are effective, his favorite tactic is the labor walks.  “Just the fact that you are taking the time to walk neighborhoods and knock on doors impresses people – makes members more apt to take the time to listen to you.”  Stated Terry Akins, IBEW Local 124 Business Representative. 

 

 

 

““I really like the working families toolkit, those flyers work because members read them, share them and think about the facts presented in the flyer.  I tell our members that we want to educate them about the issues so they can educate their friends, neighbors and families.  Workers deserve fair wages, pensions and health care.   John McCain wants to privatize social security and tax health care benefits.  These are the major points we drive home.  These policies impact the working person, not the affluent.”  Gale Jamison, LIUNA Local 110 Business Manager

“We are putting a lot of effort into the Labor 2008 program.  This election is probably the most important election we will see in our lifetime.  We must  turn things around for the middle class. I believe that educating our members on where the candidates stand on issues important to working families and the middle class is very important in this election.  If we turn out the union vote in Missouri, we can bring in a win for Barack Obama and Jay Nixon.”  Jeff Wilkinson, LIUNA Local 663 President and Business Manager.

Affiliate Spotlight: IOUE

 

“We have a political action committee that reaches out to all of our members through emails, bulletin board messages, local union mailings and one-on-one meetings between Business Reps and Stewards. We solicit support and volunteers from our membership to participate in labor walks, member-to-member phone banks and worksite flyers as well as identifying a political action rep in each work location to mobilize their members for volunteer activities.  Don Giljum, IUOE Local 148 Business Agent

“ Our union is very active in the Labor 2008 Program this year.  We believe strongly that by reaching out and educating not only our members but all union members in Missouri we can bring real change to this country and this state by electing Barack Obama and Jay Nixon. For the past eight years we have suffered and now we are out volunteering to let other members know that we are sick of it and it is time for change.  We will rise up this election and take back the White House and the Governors Mansion for working families.”  Rodger Kaminska, IOUE Local 101 Business Manager.

 

Affiliate Spotlight: UAW

UAW is distributing worksite leaflets including anti-McCain flyers and flyers comparing Barack Obama and John McCain’s voting records on healthcare, jobs, trade and worker’s rights.  UAW continues with local union mailings that are similar to their worksite flyers and participate in statewide member-to-member phone banks.

“The failed trade policies of the past eight years have taken a large toll on UAW members across the state as well as across the country.  The Chrysler plant in Fenton, MO will close on October 31^st and over 600 jobs will be eliminated this year.”

“John McCain supports failed trade policies that allow a company like Chrysler to create three shifts of production in Canada.  Ninety percent of those vehicles made I Canada will be sold in the United States.  Meanwhile, hundreds of American workers will be out of a job.”  Darin Gilley, UAW Local 1760 President

“When it comes to educating members about candidates and issues, worksite leaflets are a favorite tactic of mine.  Our members appreciate member-to-member contact.  They like the fact that we can answer questions about candidates on the spot.”  Glen Kage, President of the Greater St. Louis UAW CAP Council and UAW Local 136 Financial Secretary Treasurer

Affiliate Spotlight: IRON

The most import goal for the Iron Workers during this election is getting worker friendly political officials installed in both the White House and Missouri Governor’s Mansion.  “Our local has been fighting the good fight the past four years for fairness in workmen’s compensation and on the Right to Work issue.  Now, hopefully after the elections, we can go on the offense with worker -friendly elected officials partnering with us.  All you have to do is look at the last eight years and look at where the economy has gone and where it is going to know that we need to do something about it.  We need to put the single issues aside whether it is race, religion or guns and unite behind worker friendly candidates.” Tom McNeil, IRON Local 396 Business Manager

 

“Worksite Leaflets are important because they provide information to union members about what the current administration is doing and let them know which worker friendly candidates to vote for.”  -Mark Stecz Iron Workers Local 396-

“I think John McCain is the wrong choice because, it’s just politics as usual.  McCain has and will continue to vote the same way as the current administration.”  Scott Barnes Iron Workers Local 396

Iron Workers in Missouri have and will hold member-to-member phone banks, Monday thru Thursday for the next couple of weeks.  The topics discussed in calls are Barack Obama and Jay Nixon and why they are the right choice this election.

“I feel member to member phone banking is important because it displays leadership’s concern regarding the issues that affect our workers and their families. Our members know that we are recommending worker friendly candidates that will make their issues a priority.”  William Brennell, President and Business Agent, Local 396.

The Iron Workers leadership stated that this is the most important election in our lifetime and that member education is key.  Members can call the office with questions, get the facts and make sure their choice on November 4^th is the right one.   

 

 

Affiliate Spotlight: APWU

 

APWU participates in the Labor 2008 program by holding member-to-member phone banks, volunteering for labor walks, sending out local union mailings and worksite leafleting.  Labor walks and worksite leafleting are preferred tactics for member contact and education.  “Labor walks are important because when we contact our members on their doorstep they are more apt to talk with us and be truthful about their issues and how they are going to vote.  We also get the chance to educate them on where the candidates stand on issues important to their union.  I enjoy worksite leafleting the most because I get to have conversations with the members that I do not get to see that often.  Our members work on a 24 hour clock so when we leaflet we can catch all of the members that are going in and coming out.”  Yvette Gay, APWU Local 8 member and 2008 release staff.

 

“We feel it is important stress the obligation our members have to vote-that jobs depend on it.  As postal workers, we see the effects of this economy.  We see the small business closings and people losing their homes.  Our goal is to turn our membership out to vote and elect Barack Obama.  He will support working people over big business.”  Said Cliff Guffey.  APWU Executive Vice President.

 

Affiliate Spotlight: AFT

 

“We try to be very active in the political process because we think that it’s very important to get people elected in all levels of government that are supportive of our issues”, said Judy Morgan, President of Local 691. 

Our local likes to concentrate on member-to-member phone banks, worksite flyers and labor walks.  We are committed to getting the job done using all the necessary tools.  Mary Armstrong, AFT Local 420 President

“We have five schools we need to visit every week and when we visit those schools we take two or three flyers from the Working Families Toolkit on different issues to distribute and discuss with our members.  By taking this approach, we are not only giving them information, but stress the facts through discussion.”  Said Peggy Chambers, AFT Local 420 member.

Members of AFT feel that this election so important because of the issues on the table.  “We share the same issues as most others in the country, healthcare, the economy and social security. We can not have our healthcare treated as a taxable income and our social security privatized.”  Said Mary Franklin, President Emeritus of AFT Local 420.

 

Affiliate Spotlight: IUPAT

 

 

“Through IUPAT Labor 2008 political plan we have more members in Missouri doing jobsite distribution than ever before. We are proud to say that our members and their families will know John McCain’s true voting record and positions on key issues that will affect workers and working families.” Said Jack Hayn, Assistant to General President of IUPAT over Government Affairs and Political Work in Central Region

 

“ I believe that Senator Obama is the right choice for President to represent the needs of working men and women.  Jay Nixon, as Governor, will support the Employee Free Choice Act and veto any legislation that would allow Right to Work in Missouri.” Kevin Kenny, Business Representative for IUPAT District Council

 

“IUPAT is participating in the Labor 2008 program in every way that we can. We are trying to influence all of our brothers and sisters to support Barack Obama and Jay Nixon. Union members have taken a terrible hit with the past eight years of the Bush administration with everything from healthcare to the economy. We need a change and we are doing everything in our power to see that we get one.” Gene Kappler, IUPAT