Well over 100 volunteers from the United Steelworkers (USW) and other labor unions gathered at the Green Bay Labor Temple to participate in member-to-member political outreach yesterday morning. Rally participants were on a mission to ensure that union members vote for candidates who will serve working families rather than corporate special interests.
AFL-CIO endorsed candidates including gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett, Rep. Steve Kagen, State Senator Dave Hansen, State Senate candidate Monk Elmer, State Rep. Jim Soletski and State Assembly candidate Lou Ann Weix spoke at the USW Rally in Green Bay and thanked union volunteers for their critical GOTV efforts. Sen. Herb Kohl is not running for reelection this year, but he also showed up to encourage Labor 2010 activists to keep up the good work. Immediately following the rally, participants hit the doors and the phones to engage union households around the economic concerns at the heart of this election.
“There is no enthusiasm gap here. Our members realize that our middle-class way of life is on the line on Tuesday,” said to USW District 2 Director Mike Bolton. “Creating jobs and helping those who have lost their jobs are defining issues for all Wisconsin working families, and we are turning out voters around those issues.”
“Long term, there is no way to restore America’s competitive position in the world unless we put in place trade and tax policies that encourage companies to make things in America again,” Bolton continued. “That is why working families should stand strongly on the side of advocates like Senator Russ Feingold. He has fought against bad trade deals like NAFTA and CAFTA, and he will continue to press for trade fairness if reelected.”
“Personal contact from a fellow union member ― whether it is at the worksite, at home or over the phone ― is more effective than any political advertisement,” said Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Phil Neuenfeldt, who also spoke at this morning’s Green Bay rally. “Working people trust their unions to make recommendations based on economic criteria. For example, gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett will protect workers’ rights and stop Wisconsin jobs from being outsourced. He has a plan which will create 180,000 new jobs during his first term and that is why working people should vote for him.”
Time is running out, but you can still make a difference by showing up for Labor 2010 GOTV. Click here for location information.
Throughout the day, USW hosted additional volunteer rallies in Kaukauna, Wausau, Stevens Point, and Mosinee in order to make sure that union members cast informed votes on November 2nd. Tom Nelson, the AFL-CIO endorsed candidate for Lieutenant Governor, thanked Labor 2010 activists at the Kaukauna rally.
Local press turned out in force to report on the USW GOTV Rally in Green Bay. Check out television clips listed below.
WFRV-TV CBS:
http://www.wfrv.com/news/local/Candidates-work-to-gain-voter-support-106390823.html
WBAY-TV ABC:
http://www.wbay.com/Global/story.asp?S=13416490
(Top Photo: AFL-CIO endorsed gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett at the USW GOTV Rally in Green Bay. Photo Credit: Mike Kolaske. Top Right Photo: USW GOTV Rally in Green Bay. Photo Credit Greg Hinds. For more pictures from USW in Green Bay, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/sets/72157625152297311/.
Top Left Photo: USW District 2 Director Mike Bolton at the USW GOTV Rally in Wausau. Bottom Right Photo: AFL-CIO 7th Congressional District candidate Julie Lassa thanks Labor 2010 volunteers at the USW GOTV Rally in Wausau. Credit for Both Wausau Photos: Scott Wright. For more pictures from USW in Wausau, visit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/sets/72157625149816309/.)
Collective Bargaining 101.
http://biggovernment.com/heritagevids/2011/03/05/video-collective-bargaining-101/
Posted by: TaterSalad | 03/06/2011 at 11:57 AM
The "wants & needs" of a Union.
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/27825
Posted by: TaterSalad | 03/06/2011 at 12:02 PM