Labor & Employment Law

Obama: Union Members the ?Back Bone? of Final Election Push

By Mike Hall

This election, President Obama told thousands of union activists and leaders on a teleconference call last night, “is as important as anything we did two years ago.” Obama praised the efforts of Labor 2010 activists across the country, and said:

The labor program you guys have put into place is the backbone of the ground program.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka who hosted the call, said union volunteers, from rank-and-file members to union presidents, ?will make the difference when everything  is counted up? and said our actions are a huge counterweight to the record-breaking spending by phony front groups fueled by secret corporate campaign contributions.

For every dollar spent by corporate CEOs, you?ve knocked on one door, dialed one number, handed out one leaflet. One voter at a time, you?ve been erasing those millions of dollars to let our opponents know that democracy isn?t for sale. We?re not for sale.

Trumka praised the work of the Union Veterans Council, the Alliance for Retired Americans and

our young members, young voters whose energy and ideas have given new strength to our movement.

Obama made a “special shout out to Working America that is reaching people door to door.” He also said it’s the face-to face, co-worker to co-worker contact, “that makes the difference.”

It?s the value of a co-worker hearing from somebody she trusts, ?Check out this information.” It?s the edge you have when you walk up to a door or make a phone call and say, “I?m from the union and it matters whether you vote.”

Over the past few days of the campaign, Obama urged the union activists to keep up the pace. 

Sign up for Friday to show up Sunday on the phone bank. Pick up a packet on Saturday morning to walk the precincts, volunteer to drive people to the polls on Tuesday?.Let?s do everything we can in these last seven days.

Trumka noted that ?we?re not scrawling out six-figure checks. We?re putting boots on the ground.”

So let?s remember what these elections are about. It?s not about political parties. This isn’t about glory for Democrats or spite against Republicans. We’re in this for our future. This is about creating jobs, about rebuilding our middle class, about building a strong future for our children?and I can tell you this: we’re going to keep fighting after the election?just as hard as we?re fighting right up to it.   

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on October 27, 2010 (boomark / email).