ATU Action Weekly Update - 8/14/06

ATU Florida Locals Campaign for State and Local Candidates

ATU Locals throughout Florida are hard at work doing what they can to ensure that transit and labor-friendly candidates are elected at the federal, state and local level this November 7th. 

Members of ATU Local 1593 in Tampa, Florida, participated in Labor-to-Labor walks this past weekend in support of Florida House of Representatives candidate Liz McCallum (D). McCallum faces a tough primary on September 8th. The local is also helping to set up phone banks to urge ATU and other union members to support McCallum and fellow Florida House candidate Kevin Fitzgerald (D).

In addition to educating and mobilizing his own local, Local 1593 President/Business Agent Mike McCoy is serving as an AFL-CIO Zone Coordinator in Florida and is assisting other unions in his area in implementing the AFL-CIO's Labor 2006 program.

Meanwhile, officers and members of ATU Local 1577 in West Palm Beach, Florida are working closely with the Central Labor Council and union-endorsed candidates.  Recognizing the crucial role that locally-elected officials play in making decisions concerning ATU members' jobs, the local has been participating in phone banks, door-to-door leafleting, and labor rallies in support of a candidate for the County Commission.  In addition, the local is actively campaigning for U.S. House candidates Tim Mahoney (D) and Ron Klein (D) - both of whom are running to unseat Republican incumbents who have not supported the ATU agenda.  In an effort to raise awareness about the incumbents' poor records, local members have participated in informational pickets outside the incumbent's offices, primarily focusing on issues like prescription drug coverage and health care reform.

ATU Local 1596 in Orlando, Florida is encouraging members to register and vote in the upcoming gubernatorial primary.  In a letter to the membership of the local, a local leader emphasized how decisions made by the Governor can impact ATU members.  "Just recently, Governor Bush chose to veto a bill that could have helped us with attaining new buses and bus shelters," the letter said.  "When we help those that aspire to represent us in office we help ourselves."  The gubernatorial primary in Florida is September 5th, but early voting starts on August 21st. 

 

U.S. Senate Races are High Priority for Many ATU Locals

With 33 Senate seats up for election on November 7th, ATU Locals and other unions across the U.S. are focusing much of their attention on winning a worker-friendly majority in the U.S. Senate.

Members of ATU Local 1015 in Spokane, Washington are already volunteering for the Washington State AFL-CIO's Labor-to-Neighbor program to help re-elect Senator Maria Cantwell (D), as well as to support State Senate candidate Chris Marr.  Members of the local hit the streets on August 5th to urge other unions members and their families to support Cantwell and Marr. 

Several ATU Locals in New Jersey, including Locals 819, 821, 823, 825, 1317 and 1626, are also actively supporting the incumbent Democrat for the U.S. Senate.  In letters to their members, many ATU locals are encouraging their members to vote for Senator Bob Menedez.  The letters seek to educate ATU members about Menendez's record on health care issues.  "Throughout his entire career Bob Menendez has been a strong voice for health care reform.  Senator Menendez has co-sponsored legislation to help small employers provide health insurance to their employees; introduced a bill to help workers maintain coverage between jobs; and supported efforts to expand insurance programs to include coverage for uninsured children," state the letters. 

 

Voter Registration is the Primary Focus in Some States

Voter registration deadlines for upcoming primaries and even the general election are fast approaching.  That is why ATU locals across the U.S. are working to make sure that their members are registered to vote now!

ATU Local 1547 is Brockton, Massachusetts is rushing to register its members to vote before the August 30th primary registration deadline.  The primary on September 19th will determine which two candidates will compete for the Governor's seat on November 7th.  This race has huge ramification for ATU members in the state who are trying to obtain dedicated funding for the state's regional transit authorities.

Similarly, ATU Local 1733 in Vernon Hills, Illinois is planning a voter registration and get-out-the-vote drive to encourage members to re-elect Rod Blagojevich as Governor of the state.

 

Candidates Attend ATU Meetings, Rallies

Candidates seeking to enlist the support of ATU members are appearing at ATU meetings and union member rallies across the country. 

ATU Local 689, in the Washington, D.C. area, hosted the Metro Washington AFL-CIO Labor 2006 "Get Out the Vote" kick-off rally at their headquarters last Wednesday, August 9th. The rally was attended by labor-endorsed candidates for national, state and local office, as well as hundreds of union members from the D.C. area. A few days before, members from ATU Local 689 participated in canvasses across the area - helping Labor 2006 volunteers to knock on nearly 500 union doors in two Maryland State Assembly districts.

Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA) appeared before a local meeting of ATU Local 256 in Sacramento, California, last week to express her ongoing support for the ATU agenda and to thank the local for their support of her re-election efforts.  The Congresswoman also urged the ATU and its members to work together with others in the state to help defeat Arnold Schwartzenegger in the Governor's race. 

Several state and local candidates also attended the annual picnic for ATU Local 757 in Portland, Oregon this past weekend.  Along with their efforts to encourage ATU members to support labor-endorsed candidates in the state, the local raised funds for the ATU-COPE program during the picnic.