Political Action: Labor Walks Begin in Milwaukee

The Milwaukee Area Labor Council (MALC) is serious about electing candidates to political office who will fight for and serve the needs of working families.  Over the weekend MALC volunteers reached out to fellow union members in an effort to educate and turnout voters for endorsed Milwaukee County Supervisor candidate Nikiya Harris.

The MALC’s Labor Walk on Saturday was the first of many expected over the course of the spring, summer and fall as union members show their support for working family candidates on the local, state and federal levels.  This type of outreach can be the deciding factor in an election and is an essential part of making sure that politicians are accountable to their constituents.

“I would strongly encourage people to get involved in member to member walks as a way to connect with our community,” says Renita Hoover, a retiree from AFSCME Local 1654.  “We drive so many places without ever slowing down to talk to each other.  When we actually take the time to have a conversation about county government, it turns out that we have a lot more in common with our neighbors that we realized.  Together we have the power to make a difference.”

42 volunteers from AFSCME Subchapter 36, AFSCME Council 48, AFSCME Local 82, AFSCME Local 170, AFSCME Local 426, AFSCME Local 567, AFSCME Local 882, AFSCME Local 1448, AFSCME Local 1486, AFSCME Local 1654, AFSCME Local 1954, DALU Local 24111, LIUNA Local 113, OPEIU Local 9, SEIU Local 1, SEIU Local 150, SEIU State Council, SEIU Health Care Wisconsin, UA Local 75, UAW Local 9, and UAW Local 438 went door to door on Saturday morning to talk to fellow union members about the Milwaukee County Supervisor race.

“As a bilingual person, I think it is especially important to get out and encourage others to exercise their rights.  We want to elect the best candidates for all working people, not just union members,” says Maria Sada of SEIU Local 1.  “In this particular race for Milwaukee County Supervisor, busing is an issue that really matters to me.  I am hoping that Nikiya Harris will be able to improve public transportation.”

Harris is running in a special election for the District 2 Milwaukee County Supervisor’s seat.  For more information about that race and the endorsement, click here.

(Top Photo: MALC endorsed candidate for Milwaukee County Supervisor District 2, Nikiya Harris.  Also pictured are Rich and Debbra Abelson of AFSCME Council 48 and Annie Wacker of AFSCME Local 1954.  Bottom Photos: Group shots of the volunteers at Saturday's Labor Walk.  Credit for All Photos: Jenissee Volpintesta.)