Eau Claire Area Political Activists Are Ready. Are You?

“We have to be proactive about the laws and issues that affect working people.  Building a political foundation is a year round process,” according to Kathy Brenden of CWA Local 4640.  “That’s why we train in May even though the election is in November.  The education process must never stop.” 

Over the weekend UA Local 434 hosted a political training for union volunteers at their offices in Eau Claire.  Participants acquired and brushed up on the skills necessary to elect working family candidates in the upcoming election cycle.   

“I am relatively new to political action, and I gained a lot by listening to the more experienced activists and volunteers from our region,” reports Michael Thompson of IBEW Local 14.  “I look forward to putting what I learned Saturday into practice.”

“Even though I have participated in labor walks before, this training provided valuable information that will help me feel more comfortable when approaching people in the future,” said Dean Scanlon of LIUNA Local 268.  “It is up to us to share the facts that our fellow union members need to cast an informed vote.  It won’t happen unless we get out there and make it happen.”

AFSCME Local 560, AFSCME Local 1914, AFT Local 4018, ATU Local 519, ATU Local 1310, CWA Local 4640, IBEW Local 14, LIUNA Local 268, OPEIU Local 277, and UA Local 434 all sent representatives to Saturday’s training.

The 16 training participants learned how local union mail, member to member phone banking, worksite leafleting and labor walks all fit together to create a successful political campaign.

“Our program is effective because we don’t just rely on one method of member education and voter turnout,” explains Sara Rogers, Executive Vice President and Political Director for the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO.  “It means so much more when a coworker or fellow union member reaches out personally with a political message.  That is the core of our success.”

If your affiliated union is interested in hosting a political action training session, contact your local service area organizer.  Click here for contact information.

(Top Photo:  All of the graduates from the Eau Claire Area Political Activist Training on May 15.  Middle Right Photo:  Robin Leary of AFSCME Local 1914.  Middle Left Photo: Jerry Jackson of UA Local 434 speaking during the training.  Bottom Photo: Michael Turner of  AFSCME Local 560 taking notes.  Credit for All Photos: Andy Thompson.  For more pictures from this training session, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/sets/72157623943591243/.)