AFL-CIO Pennsylvania Labor 2008 Blog

Labor Leader of the Week: Don Dunlevy, UTU

Don Dunlevy, Pennsylvania State Legislative Director and Chairman of the United Transportation Union (UTU) started out as a brakeman for the railroad in 1968.  He became General Chairman of his local in the mid-seventies.  But politics are what he is truly interested in, especially because the railroad industry is heavily regulated, both by the federal and state government.  In 1988 he moved to Harrisburg to work full time as a member of the UTU State Legislative Board.  He was elected Chairman and State Legislative Director in 1992.

Members of the Pennsylvania UTU members are bus, train, and trolley operators and on-board crew members throughout the state, mostly in the southern tier.  The UTU represents just under 3,000 active members and the majority of them work with railroads. 

"There was a time when the Congressional District encompassing Altoona had the largest railroad employment in the country," said Dunlevy. "And we still have an exceptionally large number of retirees in that district.  That was because Altoona was a central location on the Pennsylvania Railroad where the vast majority of the railroad's fleet of cars and locomotives were built and maintained.  It was also a large switching yard where trains were made up and dispatched and there were more than one hundred helper crews shoving heavy trains both east and west up over the Allegheny Mountains.  Much of that work has been eliminated or gone elsewhere but there are still many railroaders – particularly retirees – in the district who will be affected by this presidential election." 

John McCain supports the privatization of Amtrak and has voted throughout his career for legislation that would break the Amtrak passenger network into pieces, ostensibly to be sold to private owners and operators across the country.  This would be devastating for all UTU members, including those working in freight service, for a number of reasons. 

"Right now Amtrak has around 19,000 employees," explained Dunlevy.  "If it were to be privatized as proposed by McCain, it would result in the loss of 19,000 union and management jobs.  And not only would those members be out of a job, they would also no longer be paying into the Railroad Retirement System.   Railroad workers have a very good defined benefit pension plan, one that actually predates social security and provides excellent benefits.  But if 19,000 members are suddenly no longer paying into that pension plan, then our current and future retirees' pensions would be in serious trouble."

"I heard over the weekend a great quote about this election that succinctly puts it in proper perspective," said Dunlevy.  "This election is absolutely and unquestionably about color.  But the significant color related to this election isn't black or white.  This election is about green.  It's about money and the earning power of the middle and lower class workers.  It's about the economy and the financial future of working families all around the country.  John McCain's policies hurt members of UTU and workers everywhere.  And they are all pocket book issues"

"It's in the best interest for all of our members and for all of America to elect Barack Obama as our next President of the United States. We have to make sure that all of our members understand that his policies support unions and working families.  The Labor 2008 program is the best way to do that."

Dunlevy will make sure his members know that Barack Obama is the best candidate for their economic future with local union mail, phone banks, and walks.  "The member-to-member contact is what is most important.  I worked for the railroad for twenty years and my members know that I understand our issues.  Union members trust their union and so it is up to the local to make sure that members are educated on the issues that most affect them." 

“When you look at all the major issues and put them together, it is clear that Barack Obama is the complete package.  Let’s make sure our members understand that and elect him for working families and all Americans in November.”

 

Union Activists Distributing 1 Million Issues Leaflets

Following the kickoff of the AFL-CIO Labor 2008 political mobilization program in March, the Pennsylvania labor movement has ordered nearly 1 million worksite leaflets for educating members about the issues that affect working families this election. As Labor Day nears, local union leaders, political coordinators and union activists are making member-to-member contact a priority.

As he distributed leaflets at the West Mifflin Port Authority garage in Pittsburgh, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 85 shop steward Ted Kielur pointed out:  "When members see the union out talking about an issue, our members will then take the time to understand why. Our members trust the union and they trust other union members and that is why it is our job to get out and talk to them about important issues this election."

Over in Erie, Machinists (IAM) Local 1968 President Harry Ross was handing out issues leaflets outside the Lord Co. plant. He puts it this way: "Worksite leafleting allows me to bring the important issues right to the workers. This way they get information that they know they can trust without much hassle."

At the Wilbur Chocolate Co. in Lititz, Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) Local 464 political coordinator Jake Long said union members trust other union members because they know they have the same interests: "The union protects the members’ job and improves their standard of living so they know that the union cares about them. That is why member-to-member contact at the worksite is so important."

In addition to getting across important information about candidates and critical issues like the Employee Free Choice Act, health care, the economy, pensions and job security, worksite leaflets provide an opportunity for members to check in with each other and catch up. 

Worksite leafleting can be an event, says Ron Ennis. He’s a release staff from the Lehigh Valley Area Postal Workers (APWU).   "When members see their shop stewards, local presidents and other union members out passing out fliers, there is an interest and an air of excitement. And maybe they get the chance to not only receive some important information but to have a good conversation and to catch up with their peers and leadership."

With only 75 days until the election, union mobilization activity is picking up across the state of Pennsylvania. Union leaders and activists are taking the opportunity to talk with their members about the important issues and getting leaflets out to the workplace in huge numbers. The Pennsylvania labor movement is 1.8 million strong and will truly make the difference in their state on Nov. 4. It is clear that if this hard work continues, that difference will be one that will help working families turn America around.

SEIU Trains Release Staff in Harrisburg

Last week, like other unions in Pennsylvania have done recently, SEIU held another in a series of release staff training sessions in Harrisburg to prepare for their member mobilization and election work.  The training covered not only the important issues affecting working families this year like health care reform and the Employee Free Choice Act, but also the importance of member to member contact in creating a volunteer and union activist base to continue political work in the fall and after the election.

“We are really focusing on building a program inside our locals and in our worksites,” said SEIU Pennsylvania State Council Executive Director Eileen Connelly.  “The reason we want our release staff and volunteers spending so much time in the worksite and with the members is to continue to build our volunteer base and member activist base.” 

“We believe very strongly that unions are nothing without the members,” said Connelly.  “I think that a strong, effective, energetic, progressive union can only exist if its members make it that way. And we will only be successful in the fall if we have member engagement.”

With the leadership SEIU is building in the locals and at the worksites they hope to continue to put the pressure on candidates to continue to focus on the issues after the election.  “We want these folks to really take on a leadership role at their worksites in terms of all kinds of work.  SEIU is putting together an accountability program so that our issues remain a priority when we get a new congress and a new president.”

SEIU remains focused on all working people as it continues to bolster its political program.  “This is about the labor vote in Pennsylvania,” said Connelly.  “SEIU is as engaged with the AFL-CIO’s Labor 2008 program as we have always been in terms of participating in labor walks, phone banking, and worksite leafleting, and engaging our members as staff and as volunteers.” 

“That is a very critical part of what I see as SEIU’s role in this state. When the labor movement comes out in full force we are more than 30% of the vote.  We’ve got to do our part, with our program and with the rest of the labor movement, to make sure that on November 4th that happens.”

Meet Your Release Staff: Allen Nuccio, ATU

Allen Nuccio is a Labor 2008 release staff from ATU’s International Offices in Washington D.C. where he works as a member organizer and a research associate. Nuccio is serving as the statewide worksites coordinator on the Labor 2008 team.  His responsibilities include creating a comprehensive plan for ensuring that as many members from as many locals as possible are receiving information about their candidates.

“I’ve always been involved politically,” said Nuccio.  “From an early age my parents took me to lots of rallies and now, living in Washington D.C. I find myself in the center of a lot of political activity.  But it is important to remember that all politics are local. It’s not all happening in Washington D.C. only.  All legislation, even the legislation made at a national level, trickles down and affects lives on a local level.”

One important piece of legislation this year that will have a significant impact on the lives of working families in Pennsylvania and around the country is the Employee Free Choice Act.  “I can say as an organizer how hard it is to help workers form unions even when workers really want to be in a union,” said Nuccio. 

“The Employee Free Choice Act will make people’s lives so much better.  It will allow workers who want to form a union to do so without fear of intimidation and without fear of losing their job. It’s hugely important that we continue to press the house and the senate to pass the Employee Free Choice Act and that we have a president in office that will sign off on it.  That is why, for all working families, it is extremely important that we elect Barack Obama.”

“The Million Member Mobilization petition is another important aspect of the Labor 2008 program,” said Nuccio.  “The members that get that out to their locals and to their families the better. Not only is it important that members are talking to each other about these important issues, it’s also important that we send a strong message to Congress and to the next president of the United States that we want the Employee Free Choice Act passed.”

“Numbers are in our favor in Pennsylvania and we can create a worker friendly Congress. But only if we get all of the locals involved all around the state.  It will be a close election, locally and nationally, but if the labor movement comes together we can put a president in office who cares about our issues.”

Labor Leader of the Week: Dave Fillman, Executive Director of AFSCME Council 13

Dave Fillman is Executive Director of AFSCME Council 13. Over 65,000 public employees and private non-profit employees around the commonwealth have their union with AFSCME Council 13.  Members are employed at the state, county, township, borough, and city level, and in health care and social service facilities.

Fillman started his career with the labor movement in 1972 as a mechanics helper with the Department of Transportation in Montgomery County.  He got more involved with his local, AFSCME Local 2159, after a friend asked him to run for secretary treasurer and he won.  Soon after he became the president.  He was hired on as staff with AFSCME District Council 88 in 1978, became Director of AFSCME District Council 88 in 1993, and became Executive Director in Harrisburg in 2002.

For members of AFSCME Council 13, as for all union members and working families, this year’s election is very important.  “The labor movement has suffered the last eight years under the Bush Administration.  John McCain is just going to continue the George W. Bush policies that have not helped the middle class at all.  We really look forward to working hard to make sure that Barack Obama is the next president of the United States.”

A major concern for AFSCME members, as the majority of them are public employees, is privatization of their jobs.  “There are multiple problems when you privatize,” said Fillman.  “The wages of the employees go down, and health care and pensions are cut back.  The private employer usually starts eroding the benefits that the workers enjoyed as public employees. And whiles sometimes jobs remain union when they go private, more often then not they don’t ”

“We have to keep in mind that the private sector employers are there to make money.  The best way to make money is to start cutting back on things.  And that is not only hard on the employees but also for the people receiving those services.  If you look at public transportation, for example, one way to cut back on costs is to cut back on service and maintenance.”

As mostly public employees, AFSCME members are very engaged in politics.  “We are some of the few union members or working class people who get to vote for our bosses.  If  they  are members of the school board or the Governor of Pennsylvania, our members work for them.  We want to be involved in the election process as much as possible in order to have a voice and to elect people who will help us pass legislation that will help us and protect our jobs.”

“Ultimately, this year, the goal is to elect a union friendly president and that will be Barack Obama.  AFSCME has a program that we can utilize where we release VMO’s (Volunteer Member Organizers) that can go and work for campaigns.  We also work with the Labor 2008 program.  The member to member contact through the labor walk and the phone banks is very effective and union members really appreciate it as well..”

“The most important thing is to get our members out this year.  Though the labor movement does not make up the majority, we still play a crucial role in the election.  Our organizing skills play nicely into the political process.  We are able to educate and mobilize our members more than any other organization.  Candidates recognize the power of the labor movement’s endorsement and they appreciate it.”

“It is very important that we continue to participate in the labor 2008 program and continue to push for member involvement.  Because when we do that we can deliver an election.  We’ve done it in past years and I know we can do it this year and elect Barack Obama.”

Pennsylvania Labor Leaders Voice Support For Barack Obama: Dave Fillman

AFSCME Council 13 Executive Director Dave Fillman discusses why Barack Obama is the best candidate for the labor movement: "We have endorsed Barack Obama for President of the United States.  We feel that his issues are right on target with working men and women, especially union men and women.  He does support the Employee Free Choice Act.  His position on health care will not only help union members but also non-union members to have basic health care coverage.  We are working hard to get Barack Obama elected this year."

Union Activists Use National AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Trumka's Speech on Race at Political Coordinators Meetings

On August 7th the Allegheny Central Labor Council held a political coordinators meeting with upwards of 100 members in attendance to discuss the importance of electing a worker-friendly president this year, Barack Obama.  Allegheny County Central Labor Council President Jack Shea ended the meeting by showing National AFL-CIO Secretary difficult issue of race in this election.  "Richard Trumka's speech is one of the best I’ve heard yet on these issues," said President Shea. "That video needs to be seen by as many members as possible.  We need our members to see this video and to be thinking about these issues as we move towards successfully electing our endorsed candidate Barack Obama in November."  Northeast Area Labor Federation Chair and AFSCME District Council 87 Director Dave Antle ordered copies of the video to distribute to his members because he thinks that its message is one that all his members should hear.  "Trumka's speech reminds us that this election our livelyhoods are at stake and that the middle class built by unions in this country is quickly disappearing," said Antle.  "Important pocketbook issues are on the table like the Employee Free Choice Act, health care, fair trade, and job security.  On all of these issues Barack Obama is on the side of working families and we can not allow wedge issues, missinformation, or fear of the color of a man’s skin to distract from the fact that his policies are good for America, good for the labor movement, and good for all working people.”

Members Get Ready to Walk on September 4th

On the evening of September 4th John McCain will accept the Republican nomination for president and union activists around the state will be out walking and talking to their fellow union members about his record of anti-worker policies.  McCain does not support the Employee Free Choice Act, wants to tax your health care, and voted in favor of the free trade agreements that sent so many good, middle-class Pennsylvania jobs overseas.  "On September 4th I am going to be out talking to my union brothers and sisters to make sure they understand that John McCain's policies are bad for working people," said ATU Local 85 member Clay Davis.  "I will be out talking about Barack Obama and his record of support for working families."  Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Bill George encourages members to participate on September 4th.  "We've got to be out there on September 4th really explaining to our fellow members the kind of anti-worker policies that John McCain stands for," said President George. "Lets, as the Pennsylvania labor movement, lead the nation on September 4th in reaching out to our members, talking to them about John McCain's anti-worker policies, and turning around America in November by electing Barack Obama."

Local Union Spotlight: SEIU Local 3 Worksite Leaflets to let Members Know Barack Obama is for Working Families

On Tuesday, August 12th, SEIU release staff Bill Beu from Local 3, Brenda Judge from Local 1199NY, and Brendan Thornton from Local 3 leafleted at the Frick Building and the Oxford Building in downtown Pittsburgh.  SEIU Local 3 is a property services local union made up of janitors, maintenance workers, window cleaners, school district workers, stadium workers, and groundskeepers from Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus and Detroit. 

On Tuesday evening, as they got ready to head in to work, SEIU Local 3 members were eager to discuss Barack Obama and his support of the issues that matter most to them.  “Barack Obama believes in the labor movement and he believes in unions,” said SEIU Local 3 member Brendan Thornton as he handed a worksite leaflet to SEIU Local 3 member Karen Doyle.  “I appreciate that the union is out here talking with us. I think it means more when other union members talk to you about the issues because they know where you are coming from.  They understand our issues and what is important to us.”

“Worksite leafleting is important because it is best to have that one-on-one contact,” said SEIU Local 3 member Bill Beu. “This way we can find out what issues are most important to that member and really have a conversation.  Politics intertwine with every aspect of our lives so it is important to find out what the member cares about and connect it back to politics.  You can only do that by worksite leafleting and having a conversation.”

And the conversation remained optimistic and enthusiastic as members agreed that their union’s endorsed candidate, Barack Obama’s policies are good for working families.  “Barack Obama is on the right track with our issues like health care, job security, and workers rights,” said SEIU Local 3 member George Hicks.  “That is why I support him and that is why our union supports him.”

“We are all rocking in the same boat,” agreed SEIU Local 3 member Rose Prince.  “Health care issues and the economy affect all of us.  And I am with Barack Obama one hundred percent.”

The SEIU release staff will be leafleting at worksites as often as possible from now until the election in the hopes of reaching as many members as they can at the workplace before the election.  “This is a great chance to have some important conversations with our fellow union members,” said Bill Beu.  “And to get out there as union activists and really have an impact this year.”

Pennsylvania Labor Leaders Voice Support For Barack Obama: PA AFL-CIO President Bill George

PA AFL-CIO President Bill George voices support for Barack Obama: "Senator Obama is labor's candidate. That's because labor has been left behind on all our issues.  Working families are suffering more now than they have since the depression.  If you want have freedom in this country, the right to organize and have the middle class grow then you need to vote for Obama.  He supports the Employee Free Choice Act.  We've got to get out there and do something about it."