Labor Walk with President Weingarten and President MacKenzie

Randi Weingarten, President of AFT on a Labor Walk

After speaking with union members about the upcoming election, President Weingarten joined in a labor walk which was launched from the IBEW Local 490 hall later that morning. President Weingarten walked with Mark MacKenzie, President of the New Hampshire AFL-CIO, and spoke to members of union households and members of Working America in Concord, New Hampshire.

President Weingarten and President MacKenzie spoke with one Concord resident, Karen Knowles. Knowles is part of union household and spoke with a very comprehensive knowledge of the issues in this election.

Knowles began the conversation by saying: "Where we are at as a family is that we are like many other Americans right now. We are in a position we didn't think we would be in ten years ago where the cost of everything is rising and fewer people are able to keep up with these costs."

Knowles adds: "One of the major differences between the two campaigns is that the McCain Campaign is really out of touch and removed from our everyday life. They need to walk into a school in Nashua, walk into a school in Concord and see what is happening with everyday working Americans."

President Weingarten responded: "It is amazing how when Clinton left office poverty was down, income was up, and we were safe in the world. What we are seeing now is like a total reverse."

One of the important things to keep in mind is that it's very easy to become overwhelmed or confused with all the issues that are coming up in this election. President Weingarten says: "That is why we're walking around today really trying to answer people's questions."