What a Day! Volunteers Sound-Off About The Labor Walk Kick-Off.

“Going on a labor walk is one of the best ways to connect with union members on the issues that matter most.  This year, it all comes down to jobs and the economy,” according to Denny Lauer, President of USW Local 2-1279. 

Last week, volunteers in Eau Claire, Kenosha, Green Bay, Madison, Milwaukee, Superior, and Wausau went door to door to talk to union members about politics as part of the 2010 Labor Walk Kick-Off. 

Lauer, who participated in the Green Bay Labor Walk Kick-Off, has some strong feelings about the Labor 2010 endorsed candidates.  “Russ Feingold is one of the best senators we have ever had.  He stands up for his beliefs, and Wisconsin working people should be proud that he represents us.  And Tom Barrett is the best candidate for governor, because he will stay focused on the needs of workers.  Both of his opponents would put those needs on the chopping block.”

“Through my job with Dunn County Human Services, I see the consequences of funding cuts in human terms,” commented Christine Kistner of AFSCME Local 1240.  Kistner participated in the Eau Claire Labor Walk Kick-Off and also serves on the AFSCME Council 40 Executive Board.   “In this time of extreme budget crunches, we have to elect worker-friendly candidates who will protect public services.  Downsizing without accountability hurts entire communities and costs more in the long run.”

“This was my first labor walk.  I enjoyed talking to members from other unions and was happy to see that working people are supporting our endorsed candidates,” said Michael Klade of IBEW Local 159.  Klade, who volunteered at the Madison Labor Walk Kick-Off, was one of many first-time participants who said that they intend to stay active through the November elections.

“Even when people disagreed with us, we were able to have a polite conversation.  I plan to participate in future labor walks, and next time I’ll bring my wife,” reported Jeff Weber of the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, AFT Local 5001.   Weber participated in the Milwaukee Area Kick-Off, and it was the first time he had ever reached out to fellow union members in their homes.   “State Senator Jim Sullivan thanked the volunteers in person before we hit the doors.  This was a fun way to show support for him, as well as for Russ Feingold and Tom Barrett.”

“The political information that people receive from their union is more personal and more trusted,” according to Cynthia Chambliss of CWA Local 4630.  Chambliss has long been active during member-to-member phonebanks and union organizing campaigns, but the Madison Kick-Off was the first time that she went door to door as part of labor’s political program.

“Retirees have a lot at stake in this election.  Barrett is head and shoulders over his opponents on pension issues,” says Curt Wilson of UAW Local 72.  As part of the Kenosha member-to-member walk on Saturday, Wilson was one of dozens of union retirees statewide who took to the streets to make a difference.  “Working people have supported Senator Feingold since day one, and Feingold continues to support working people.”

“In the last couple of years working families have made important gains in state government, and we need to build on that,” according to Judy Hack, an AFT retiree out of Local 202.  “I participated in the Superior labor walk because we can’t afford to drop the ball on federal issues such as the implementation of health care reform, the protection of social security and enhancement of public education.  There is too much at stake for the middle class to sit on the sidelines during this election.” 

“It is extremely important to have a conversation with union members who are undecided voters.  Otherwise, they pick up on anti-worker media messages,” said James Leppi of AFT-Wisconsin Local 4893, which represents physicians and dentists.  As a form local union president and recent retiree, Leppi participated in the Wausau Labor Walk Kick-Off.  “Political action is necessary in order to maintain our standard of living.” 

AFT retiree Bonnie Greasby worked as a release staffer for the Labor 2008 campaign in Kenosha and Racine, and she intends to put just as much effort into Labor 2010.  “This year, there are decisions being made that will directly affect our worksites and our pensions.  It’s July, so people are just starting to pay attention to politics.  We have set labor walk dates from now through November, and it’s critical that union members plan ahead and volunteer.”

VOLUNTEER BREAKDOWN BY LOCATION

On Wednesday, July 21, members from AFT and the Ironworkers set a strong example for other areas of the state with a successful Labor Walk Kick-Off in Superior.  In addition to distributing information about Barrett and Feingold, the Superior labor walk also featured a flyer in support of endorsed 7th Congressional District candidate Julie Lassa.

All of the other Labor Walk Kick-Off events took place on Saturday, July 24. 

In Eau Claire, volunteers from AFSCME Local 284, AFSCME Local 1240, AFT Local 2398, AFT Local 3535, AFT Local 4018, ATU Local 1310, CWA Local 4640, DALU Local 24111, IBEW Local 14, LIUNA Local 268, and SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin carried a strong economic message to fellow union members, with a reminder that Rep. Ron Kind is the endorsed candidate for the 3rd Congressional District.

Volunteers at the Green Bay Labor Walk Kick-Off hailed from AFSCME Local 514, the Greater Green Bay Area Labor Council, IBEW Local 158, NWA, OPEIU Local 9, USW District 2, USW Local 1096, USW Local 2-1279, and SEIU.  Rep. Steve Kagen is the endorsed Labor 2010 candidate for the 8th Congressional District. 

The Kenosha Labor Walk Kick-Off featured participants from AFSCME Local 67, AFSCME Local 2748, AFT Retirees, ATU Local 998, CWA Local 4611, UAW Local 72, SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin, UFCW Local 1473, and Working America spread the word about Labor 2010 endorsed candidates.

In Madison, volunteers from AFSCME Retirees Local 52, AFSCME Local 60, AFSCME Local 705, AFSCME Local 720, AFSCME Local 1942, AFT Local 243, AFT Local 3220, AFT Local 3732, CWA Local 4630, DALU Local 24111, IBEW Local 159, SEIU Local 1199, SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin, SEIU State Council, UA Local 75, UFCW Local 1473, and USW District 2 talked to fellow union members about Tom Barrett and Russ Feingold.

The Milwaukee Labor Walk Kick-Off drew volunteers from AFGE Local 3, AFSCME District Council 48, AFSCME Local 80, AFSCME Local 104, AFSCME Local 882, AFSCME Local 1654, AFSCME Local 1954, AFT Local 212, AFT Local 2169, AFT-WFNHP Local 5001, CWA Local 4603, IAMAW Lodge 66, NALC Local 397, OPEIU Local 9, SEIU Local 1, SEIU Local 150, SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin, SEIU State Council, UA Local 75, UAW Local 438, UFCW Local 1473, USW Local 2-209, and Workers United Local 122.

And alphabetically last, but certainly not least, Wausau Labor Walk Kick-Off volunteers from AFT Local 4893, DALU Local 24111, IBEW Local 388, SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin, SEIU State Council, and UA Local 434 distributed information in support of Russ Feingold, Tom Barrett, and Julie Lassa to area union households.

Now that labor walks have begun, working people will continue to make their voices heard with sustained activism through Election Day.  Stay tuned to the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO blog for frequent reports and information about volunteer opportunities.

(Top Center Photo: Bonnie and Rebecca Greasby of AFT with Ethel Gates of SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin at the Kenosha Labor Walk Kick-Off.  Photo Credit: Justin Geiger.  Top Left Photo: Pam Campbell of AFT Local 4018 and Matt Staudenmaier of AFSCME Local 284 discuss a walk packet at the Eau Claire Labor Walk Kick-Off.  Photo Credit Andy Thompson.  Top Right Photo: Service Area Organizer Scott Wright goes over a walk packet with SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin volunteers Ana Zacher and Kou Xiong in Wausau.  Photo Credit: Sara Wallenfang.  Second Left Photo:  CWA volunteers Cynthia Chambliss and Mark Frey at the Madison Labor Walk Kick-Off.  Photo Credit: Greg Neil.  Second Right Photo:  AFT retiree Judy Hack displays a Julie Lassa flier as part of the Superior Labor Walk Kick-Off. Photo Credit: Chad McKenna.  Bottom Center Photo: Crowd of volunteers at the Milwaukee Labor Walk Kick-Off.  Photo Credit: MALC Secretary Treasurer Shelia Cochran.  Third Left Photo: Hazel Feld of USW Local 2-1279 prepares her walk packet in Green Bay.  Photo Credit: Greg Hinds.  Third Left Photo: AFT Local 212 volunteers Pyhllis Holder and Melba Redmond in Milwaukee.  Photo Credit: MALC Secretary Treasurer Shelia Cochran.  For more pictures of the 2010 Labor Walk Kick-Off, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/sets/72157624587367810/.)