Feel free to check out my blog posting for the AFL-CIO from the ground in Louisville, Kentucky, which can be viewed at http://blog.aflcio.org/2007/08/30/in-kentucky-early-birds-plan-to-get-the-worms-out-of-office/ or read the article below. In solidarity, Bernie.
The sun wasn’t near being up at 4:15 a.m. Tuesday, but more than 50 local union coordinator trainees were. Packed on a bus and armed with fliers outlining Steve Beshear’s stance on economic issues, they were on their way to leaflet Louisville’s Rubbertown industrial park, where 5,500 union members are employed at several locations. Their goal at the shift change action: get the information into the hands of as many of those union members as possible.
United Steelworkers (USW) member Mike Donta, Labor 2007 Zone 4 coordinator, says:
I’m just amazed at the turnout, everyone woke up and were really energized.
The 50 early morning risers are all local union coordinators and the pre-dawn action was part of their three-day intensive training session conducted by the AFL-CIO. These rank-and-file activists joined us from every part of the state and represent a great diversity of unions, including AFGE, Communications Workers of America, Electrical Workers, Iron Workers, IUE-CWA, Operating Engineers, Plumbers and Pipe Fitters, UAW, USW and more.
On Monday, the local union activists got an overview of the Labor 2007 program and a broad sense of the political landscape and the current economic condition. The next day they learned about worksite mobilization techniques and tools, tips on talking to union members about politics and guidelines on recruiting volunteers.
A trio of volunteers from IUE-CWA Local 83766 in Elizabethtown—John McCrady, Tommy Clemons and Houston Logston—took part in the training and say they are energized and ready to roll. Says McCrady.
We are excited to participate in worksite leafleting for the first time, We’re heading home tomorrow to leaflet our workplace and others around E-Town.
Clemons says political activism is something all union members can get involved in.
You don’t have to be a union officer to be a union leader. The message we have is very important. Working families need to stand behind our endorsed candidates.
Several Iron Workers took part in the training, including Dave Kolbe, the union’s national political director. In a video on YouTube, he explains how the three-day training has equipped union members for the race. Click here to watch.
Kentucky working families are seeking to elect Beshear and unseat Gov. Ernie Fletcher, who has time and again acted against the interests of working people. He actively tries to attack and reduce bargaining every way he can—from supporting the so-called “right to work” for less to attacking union security clauses. He supports policies that encourage low-wage strategies to ensure that only low-paying jobs are created.
As the training wrapped up, the union activists got some firsthand evidence that union political action and the techniques and tools they learned to use do indeed work. Rep. John Yarmuth (D) told the group that without the labor movement’s mobilization, he wouldn’t have been able to win last fall and send five-term incumbent and Bush administration favorite Anne Northrup packing.
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