Union Members Mobilize for 2004 Election in Record Numbers

Union Members Mobilize for 2004 Election in Record Numbers
Unions Positioned to Help Swing
Election in Key States on November 2

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 21, 2004 
CONTACT:  American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial
Organization
Lane Windham, Suzanne Fflokes, Sarah Massey (202) 637-5018

WASHINGTON -- October 21 -- With the largest member mobilization and
political program in its history, the union movement has more than
tripled its mobilization efforts over 2000, and is positioned to be one
of the most important voices among voters in key states, including
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin and Florida.

“Everywhere I visit, I find that union members are motivated as never
before to bring about a change in the direction of our nation’s
leadership,” said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. “They want good jobs,
affordable health care and a real future for their families, and
they’re willing to walk in the cold and spend their evenings phone
calling in order to secure that better future. I’ve never seen anything
like it.”

Union household members are one out of four voters. There were 27
million union household voters in 2000.Union members voted for the
working family ticket by at 63 to 32 percent margin in 2000, according
to election night polling by Peter D. Hart Research Associates. Union
household members were 36 percent of the electorate in Ohio and 30
percent in Pennsylvania in 2000.

The union movement has escalated its Labor 2004 program on every front,
with more full-time staff in the field, more volunteers, and more
member contacts than in years past. There are 4500 paid staff working
full-time on the program now and that number will increase to 5000 by
election day – up from 1500 in 2000. The numbers of staff in only three
states in 2004 - - Ohio (539), Pennsylvania (662) and Florida (414) - -
exceeds the total number nationwide in 2000.

Over 113,000 volunteers have participated in the Labor 2004 program so
far, and that number will double by election day.

The volunteers are knocking on doors seven days a week, phone calling
hundreds of thousands of their co-workers and passing out millions of
leaflets at their workplaces. Union members are reaching out at 257
phone banks with 2322 lines running in 16 states. Union members have
passed out more than 32 million leaflets at workplaces – including
885,000 in Wisconsin alone.

Research shows the union program is effective. In 2004, more than 90
percent of union members will receive information through multiple
contacts. In 2000, 62 percent of union members decided their vote based
on the issues, compared to 12 percent who vote by party.

Working America, the AFL-CIO’s new national organization for working
people, is making a significant impact on voters. Working America has
750,000 members, and is in touch with a total of 1.1 million members of
working family households, offering information on where the candidates
stand on such key issues as jobs, health care and overtime pay. In
Ohio, for example, Working America is reaching out to 340,000 members.
That is in addition to 892,000 “traditional” union members in Ohio.

The AFL-CIO is the umbrella organization for America’s union and
represents 13 million working men and women nationwide.

A sampling of the hundreds of upcoming labor walks and events include:

Date City Time Event

October 21 Orlando, FL 5 p.m. Walk (Event will include national labor
leader)

October 23 Jacksonville, FL 12 noon Walk (Event will include national
labor leader)

October 23 Las Cruces, NM 3 p.m. Walk (Event will include national
labor leader)

October 23 Cleveland, OH 10 a.m. Walk

October 23 Philadelphia, PA 9 a.m. Walk

October 23 Milwaukee, WI 10 a.m. Walk

October 23 Las Vegas, NV 10 a.m. Walk

October 30 York, PA 9 a.m. Rally and walk (Event will include national
labor leaders and mayor)

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http://www.aflcio.org/

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