AFL-CIO Pennsylvania Labor 2008 Blog

Pennsylvania Release Staff Prepare for GOTV

 "Making sure that union members are getting out to vote on November 4th is important every election year but it is especially important this year," said Lisa Powell, APWU Local 89 released to zone 1 in Philadelphia.  "We know that if we get every registered person to the polls we can win this and so we have to do all we can to make sure we do."

"Union members listen to other union members," continued Powell.  "So we need to be out knocking on doors and calling up our fellow brothers and sisters to remind them that their vote matters.  They need to exercise the power that we have so we can walk away from November 4th with a victory for working families and for the rest of the country."

"We have worked hard to identify the voters that say they support Barack Obama and other labor endorsed candidates," said Valerie Butterworth, NATCA, working in zone 2 as a release staff. "Now it is time to return to those union members and remind them to vote on Tuesday.  Right now we are working hard to organize walk packets and phone lists so that we are ready for all the volunteers that come out to labor walk and participate in phone banks."

"It is easy to think that if Barack Obama is doing well in the polls that it doesn't matter as much whether or not we vote," said Warren Frentwell, AFGE Local 3342 release staff in zone 4.  "That is very dangerous.  We have to work like we are losing right to the end and it is our responsibility as union members to remind our brothers and sisters how important their vote is to our future.  The union vote makes the difference in Pennsylvania but only if we actually get out and vote."

"We are working hard to make sure that we have everything ready for the big GOTV weekend," said President Deborah Burger, CNA release staff in zone 9.  "Once we get a walk packet or a phone list into the hand of every volunteer we are going to get out and walk or make phone calls ourselves."

"We've been talking about how important this election is for a long time," said Linda Shipley, CNA release staff in zone 9.  "Now it's time to make sure the most important part of the process occurs and as union members we are going to do this together.  By reminding each other to vote we will elect Barack Obama on November 4th and really start to turn this country around for working Americans in all states."

Working America Gets Out The Vote

On Saturday Working America will begin its Final Four program, doubling its staff the last four days before the election and hitting a projected 10,000 doors a day in a massive effort to get out the vote. Complimenting the Labor 2008 labor walks and phone banks that continue to reach out to union households and members, Working America's cavassers are hitting union households and Working America households, sometimes twice, in critical areas around the state.

With a membership that includes non-union members who wish they could join a union and who are concerned about working family issues, Working America doubles the AFL-CIO universe, allowing the labor movement's political program to reach a maximum number of working families.

"We were out knocking on doors in Arnold on a second pass and I spoke to a woman who was previously undecided," said John Sharwarko, Working America Canvasser. "When I asked who she is
voting for she very quickly told me Obama. And then, before I even had a chance to ask her why she told me that she was voting for him because of the conversation she had with the last Working America canvasser who had knocked on her door."

Quadirah Taylor, another canvasser with Working America, had a similar story to tell. "We were in Ellwood City and it was the second time we had knocked on doors in that area in two weeks. I spoke to a woman who said that she had been undecided until she talked to one of our canvassers the week before. After discussing education and healthcare, the woman decided she was going to vote for Obama."

Between Labor Day and October 31st Working America canvassers will knock on 200,000 doors. In the four days before the election they will knock on 40,000 doors. These conversations, and the conversations between union members on the member-to-member labor walks, will help determine the outcome of the election on November 4th.

AFSCME International President Gerald McEntee on Labor 2008

 "I most recently saw some polls that described the voting for this, what we consider to be the most important election we have ever lived through for working families, and it shows that labor movement members are voting in larger percentages than any other folks," said President Gerald McEntee, AFSCME.

"I believe it is because of the Labor 2008 program. I believe it is because of the shop stewards talking to their members and union leaders talking to their shop stewards and members. That is the most significant contact and way to educate union members what this election is going to be all about: it's going to be about them."

"So I couldn't express it any more urgently that it is so important for members to get out and worksite leaflet, participate in labor walks, participate in phone banks, do the local union mailings. Only with that kind of effort, and it has to be a great effort, are we going to win this election and turn America around for working people."

Union Members Discuss the Economy at Roundtable with Jared Bernstein of the Economic Policy Institute

Pittsburgh -- Proclaiming, "a growing economy that leaves anyone behind is a broken economy," Jared Bernstein of the Economic Policy Institute joined a dozen union workers and leaders on Thursday afternoon, just 12 days before election day for a roundtable discussion about our ailing economy and why Sen. Barack Obama has the right the right prescription to make it better.

Jack Shea, Allegheny Central Labor Council President moderated the roundtable. "For a widely published and internationally renowned economist of the stature of Jared Bernstein to come to Pittsburgh in the home stretch of this election underscores the importance of Western Pennsylvania in this contest," Shea said. Shea was joined by members from AFT, APWU, ATU, USW and SEIU at the IBEW Local 5 Hall for a lively discussion about how the economic meltdown is affecting them, their families and co-workers.

"The economy is broken," said Jared Bernstein. "And we know it is broken because over the last eight years productivity has actually improved but working families and the middle class are left behind. When all the economic growth flows to the top then the middle class loses."

"At the end of the day the most critical thing we can do for the economy is dedicate resources to education," said Dewitt Walton, USW and A. Philip Randolph Institute.

Janice Markowitz, a member of Working America expressed her concern about the deplorable lack of access millions of Americans have to health care. Bernstein pointed out that health care is a classic example of a public sector model that works better than its private sector competitors. "The administrative costs of private insurers generally range from 15% to 30% while Medicare and Medicaid operate with 3% administrative overhead," Bernstein said.

Bernstein, a senior economic advisor to Sen. Obama told the roundtable participants that their concerns will be conveyed to the Obama team and to Obama himself. "Barack Obama continues to impress me with his eagerness to hear what everyday working Americans are thinking and feeling," Bernstein said.

The IUOE Fourteen Take on Pennsylvania

IUOE international release staff Rich Bonzani, Jerry Creeks, Matt Darnell, Hugh Delaney, Ryan Dunn, Joe  Gaicin,  Tim James, Brendan McGowan, Bill McSpedon, Emmett Russell, Gary Scadden, Jim Sype and Mike Wall joined the Pennsylvania team one week ago.  Previously they were working with the Labor 2008 program in Michigan for two and a half weeks before the McCain campaign pulled out of the state.

Eight of the IUOE international release staff are stationed in Western Pennsylvania and six are working in Eastern Pennsylvania.

"We were in Michigan for just over two weeks knocking on doors and talking to members at the worksites," said Jim Sype.  "We are part of a group of 42 members in four states and are working closely with the AFL-CIO's Labor 2008 program and other union members working with the program to make sure our members know Barack Obama is for working families."

"Our team of fourteen is here because of the policy initiatives of IUOE International President Vincent Giblin to work with the local unions here in the state who already have a long history of activism," said Tim James.  "We are working with IUOE Local 66, IUOE Local 95, IUOE Local 542 and IUOE Local 835 and their leadership to make sure our members are educated and getting out to vote on November 4th."

"Getting out and talking to fellow union members is really the most important part of the work we are doing," said Joe Giacin. "The members trust us.  One conversation I had recently was with a IUOE member of 48 years.  He was very concerned about Barack Obama and whether or not he was the right candidate.  He just wanted to hear from some one that he trusts. Of course when I gave him the facts about Barack Obama he was very appreciative and told us that we can count on his vote for Obama."

Congressman Joe Sestak on Labor 2008

USW Uses Predictive Dialer to Mobilize for Barack Obama

Lilly Ledbetter on Barack Obama, Equal Pay, and the Economy

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AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Trumka Speaks to Pennsylvania Workers About Race

AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Trumka Urges Pennsylvania Union Members to Get Involved with Labor 2008

"When our members talk to eachother they get the information that they need," said AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Richard Trumka during his visit to Pittsburgh on Friday.  "There is nothing more important than member-to-member contact because they trust you, they know you, and they know that the day after the election you are still going to be there.  We need you out there handing out leaflets at the worksite, making phone calls at the phone bank, sending out that local union mail, and participating in the labor walks.  Together, with your participation, we can make the change we, as hard-working people, need in this country."