AFL-CIO Pennsylvania Labor 2008 Blog

YOU DID IT!!!! IT'S OUR TIME!!!

Election Day at UMWA District 2

Election Day at the Washington/Greene Central Labor Council

Election Day Action Around the State: IBEW Local 712 Hosts Labor Walks and Phones Banks for GOTV

Pennsylvania Labor 2008: It's Our Time!!!

Spotlight on The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO

"I am so proud of what every one did with the Labor 2008 program," said Bill George, PA AFL-CIO President. "You need to know that you are the number one state when it comes to local volunteers and activities. As we get down to the final stretch here we still have a little bit more work to do."

"You made over 300,000 door knocks through out the state. Our phone banks contacted 620,000 union members across the state. Out of 40 international unions and 3,100 affiliated local unions, you did over 125,000 local union mailings. So you can see how great you are. And we are getting down to last bit right now and we just have a little more to do."

"Now we got to get out the vote. We got to get every member, every child that is eligible to vote, and every grandparent out to vote. I want you all to join me on November 4th to vote for our endorsed candidates and encourage every one you know to do the same."

"The Labor 2008 program is outstanding and this year it is above and beyond our wildest expectations, said Richard Bloomingdale, PA AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer. "The polls look good but the only poll that counts is the one on election day. We need every union member to get out and vote for their family and their jobs and obama and the labor endorsed candidates."

For video of PA AFL-CIO President Bill George on a labor walk in Johnstown with Greater Johnstown Central Labor Council President Ernie Esposito CLICK HERE. To see photos of President Bill George at a worksite leafleting event with UMWA members CLICK HERE. To view video and photos of President Bill George and PA AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Richard Bloomingdale and Allegheny County Central Labor Council President Jack Shea leafleting with ATU Local 85 members CLICK HERE. To view photos of President Bill George and Secretary Treasurer Richard Bloomingdale worksite leafleting with AFSCME Local 1199c members CLICK HERE. To view video and photos of President Bill George, Secretary Treasurer Richard Bloomingdale and AFL-CIO President John Sweeney leafleting with IBEW Local 1637 CLICK HERE.

Union Activists Mobilize for Congressman Murtha

"We are calling fellow union members and talking to them about Congressman Murtha," said President Ernie Esposito, Greater Johnstown Central Labor Council. "We are participating in labor walks to make sure union members know his worker-friendly record and leafleting at worksites."

"Congressman Murtha stands with the labor movement and has done so through out his career. We have to remind our fellow union members that we can't let this get away from us this year. He supports the Employee Free Choice Act and his presence as a congressman has a dramatic impact on our lives as working people."

"We are participating in labor walks and phone banks to make sure union members are aware of Congressman Murtha's support for working families in six counties," said Ed Yankovich, UMWA District 2 International Vice President.

"We are also leafleting the three biggest mines in the state," said Marlon Whoolery, UMWA release staff. "We'll focus specifically on Congressman Murtha and State Representative Bill DeWeese in addition to Barack Obama to make sure our members know who to vote for tomorrow."

"I think our efforts are crucial for all of our endorsed candidates," continued Yankovich. "By talking to our members directly we are able to give them some good reasons why it is crucial for these candidates to get elected. Those one-on-one conversations make the choice very clear for working families."

"The Labor 2008 program is crucial to my campaign," said Congressman Murtha. "The union vote makes the difference on November 4th and no one is better at communicating that fact to union members. I know you are leafleting for me, phone banking for me, and that the member-to-member contact inherent in all of these activities in the most effective tool we have for getting out the vote for the right candidates for working families."

"Union members trust each other and their leadership and I would like to thank you for your hard work and ask that you keep it up through election day in order to ensure that we elect worker friendly candidates at all levels of the ticket."

For video from a rally that includes the following speakers: State Representative Bill DeWeese, Governor Ed Rendell, and Congressman Jack Murtha CLICK HERE.

Daily Spotlight on The Building and Construction Trades

"We are leafleting and talking to our members every day," said Pat Gillespie, Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council Business Manager. "Our members know that Barack Obama is the right candidate for union members and all working people because we've been talking to them about it regularly."

"It is so important that we are out here talking to the workers and trying to let them know that Barack Obama supports working people," said Fred Chamberlain, IBB Local 19 Vice President and Philadelphia Metal Trades Council Recording Secretary. "Our members elected us and they trust us to get this important information to them."

"We always talk about the power of the union vote in Pennsylvania but this year we will make the difference," said Pat Eiding, Philadelpia Building and Construction Trades Secretary Treasurer and Philadelphia Central Labor Council President. "We are reaching not only union members but their families as well. If folks are able to see clearly what we have then we are going to win this."

"I've been on the labor walks and I've seen that when you talk to our members in person they get the message. They understand what we are dealing with and know that we need to come together to support Barack Obama."

"This election is about our livelihood," said Jim Kunz, IUOE Local 66 Business Manager. "We are reaching out to our members through mailings, our magazine, worksite leafleting, the phone banks, and the labor walks. We are going to make a big push for GOTV as well to make sure that our members are getting out to vote."

"As the election nears we are getting ready for the final push," said Kunz. "Barack Obama supports the Employee Free Choice Act, he opposes the Right to Work for less legislation, he supports a health care system and he wants to invest in this country and its working families. We are doing every thing we can to make sure our members know that and make the right choice on November 4th."

For video of Scott Malley, IRON Local 3 Business Manager discussing the labor 2008 program CLICK HERE.  For video of Jim Kunz, IUOE Local 66 Business Manager CLICK HERE. For video of IUOE national release staff CLICK HERE. For video of Pat Eiding, Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Secretary Treasurer CLICK HERE. For video of Don Siegel, IBEW Third District International Vice
President on a labor walk CLICK HERE. For video of Bill Teitz, IUOE Local 66 release staff CLICK HERE.
For video of John Wurtenberg, BAC release staff CLICK HERE. To view video of UA Local 27 members phone banking CLICK HERE. To see video of Joe Sellers, SMWIA Local 19 discussing the Labor
2008 program CLICK HERE . To view members of the Philadelphia Metal Trades and IBB members
worksite leafleting CLICK HERE. Mike Fera, OPCMIA Local 592 Business Manager discussing
member-to-member contact CLICK HERE.  For video of UA Local 690 members worksite leafleting CLICK HERE. For video of Terry Lightle, IUPAT DC 57 release staff phone banking CLICK HERE. For video of Tom Flook, IUPAT DC 57 release staff phone banking CLICK HERE.For video of IUPAT President Williams and Vice President Candelori on a labor walk CLICK HERE. For video of Jack Lee, ROOFER Local 210 Business Manager CLICK HERE.  For video of Walt Friedrich, SMWIA Local 19 discussing the labor 2008 program CLICK HERE.  For video of Pat Gillespie, Philadelphia Building and
Construction Trades Council Business Manager discussing the upcoming election CLICK HERE. For a profile of IUPAT DC 57 CLICK HERE. For a profile of Marie Peluso, IBEW release staff CLICK HERE.

AFT President Randi Weingarten and AFT Secretary Treasurer Antonia Cortese on Labor 2008

"We are at the tail end of the Labor 2008 program, in the midst of GOTV and looking at the election, said AFT President Randi Weingarten at yesterday's labor walk in Pittsburgh.  "If we win on Tuesday it is going to be because of the Labor 2008 program."

"It will be because of the member-to-member contact we've been making.  It will be because of labor walks like the one we participated in today.  The worksite leafleting, the local union mailings, and the phone banks will be the difference in this election and in creating the change in direction for America we so badly need."

"We talk about the importance of member-to-member contact and that is what we've been trying to do as we travel on this tour," said AFT Secretary Treasurer Toni Cortese.  "We want to make sure we are all united and that every one is working hard across America to make sure Obama is elected. And we know it takes work site leafleting, we know it takes labor walks, phone banking and local union mail."

"Union members know their local union the best.  As a national union we are very well aware that what our local leaders do and say is going to hold a lot more weight with their union members.  Union members trust them and know them and know that their local leaders look out for them in many ways."

“The Labor 2008 program is about union members talking to other union members,” continued President Weingarten.  “And when we do that we cut through all the fear and the nonsense that is out there.  We get down to the real issues and can vote together as working families and union members for the candidate, Barack Obama, who stands for us and with us."

AFT President Randi Weingarten:

AFT Secretary Treasurer Antonia Cortese:

Spotlight on IAFF

"When you look at the last eight years and consider what they meant for working families it is clear that it is time for a change," said Art Martynuska, Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Assn. President.  "Where do you want to start?  There is the price of gas and groceries, the price of health care and it's really damaging to working families everywhere."

"It is clear that working people are ready for a president who will work for them.  I think that all we need to do is make sure our union members have the information that they need before they head to the polls to know that when they do get to the polls they are making the right decision.  I feel that as a union officer it is my responsibility to make sure they have that information."

"We did a statewide mailing from my office and asked all the local leaders to send a mail piece to their members as well.  We are talking to our members through phone banks and really encouraging them to get out and vote.  I think it means more coming from a fellow union member and even more when it comes from a fellow firefighter."

"Barack Obama is truly the labor movement's candidate and as we head into the final days I really encourage all union members to get out and talk to each other.  We need to come together and make sure each and every one of us gets out to vote on November 4th and elect Barack Obama."

To view video of Art Martynuska, Pennsylvania Professional Firefighters Association President discussing the Labor 2008 program CLICK HERE.  To view Joe King, IAFF Local 1 President discussing the importance of the upcoming election CLICK HERE.