ATU Action Weekly Update - 10/1/07

West Coast ATU Activists Prepare for 2008

Seven ATU members from California, Oregon and Washington attended an intensive three-day political action training hosted by the AFL-CIO last week in Portland, Oregon.

The ATU members, all of whom had previous political action experience, learned how to talk to fellow members about politics and issues, how to recruit volunteers for union political activities and how organize worksite mobilizations, phone banks and door-to-door canvasses to educate members about candidates and issues. 

Over the course of the three days, participants worked in teams with activists from other AFL-CIO affiliates, to develop a union political campaign for a fictional Senate candidate.

The training also provided participants with an in-depth look at the state of the national economy, and how it affects union members, as well as an analysis of the health care crisis in this country.

 

Presidential Campaigns Address ATU Convention Delegates

The campaigns for all seven major Democratic candidates for President addressed the delegates and guests at the ATU International Convention in Las Vegas from Sept. 17 - 21. 

Due to hectic Congressional and campaign schedules, only one candidate was able to attend in person, but other campaigns sent surrogate speakers and video tapes, to ensure that ATU members were able to hear why they should be the next President of the United States.

Representative Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) gave a passionate speech on the opening day of the Convention.  He decried the notion of city governments that privatization is the answer to improving local services. As Cleveland’s mayor back in the late ’70s, he was pressured to sell the idea of privatizing utilities. "I said NO then and I say it again now: there will be no privatizing of Social Security, mass transit, the military, the post office, or any other program that helps the citizens of this country," he said. He also stood his ground to protect 13(c) provisions and preventing contracting out of union work.

Speaking on behalf of Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Tom Vilsack, former Governor of Iowa and Co-Chair of Clinton’s presidential campaign, thanked the ATU for "getting us where we need to be in America safely and on time." He explained his reasons for backing Hillary Clinton in one word: experience.  "We need a leader who respects ordinary people, working people," said Vilsack, who then asked the delegates to support Clinton for President.

Nevada State Senator Steven Horsford (D) addressed the delegates on behalf of Democratic presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama (D-IL). Horsford told the delegates that mass transit would be a priority in an Obama administration, and that he would work to eliminate the disparities in mass transit service provided to the rich and the poor.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) presented his views to the Convention delegates via video.  In his video, he stressed his role as Chair of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, which has jurisiction on transit issues.  In this role, the Senator was instrumental in the recent passage of comprehensive transit security legislation.

Jimmy Biden, brother of Senator Joe Biden (D-DE), joined the delegates in the audience as a video prepared by his brother was shown.  Delegates cheered as the Senator expressed his strong support for the labor movement and the ATU.  He credits the union movement with putting him in the Senate and pledged to sign the Employee Free Choice Act if elected President.

Brian Condit, a 30-year member of IBEW, spoke on behalf of New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (D).  Richardson’s platform includes ending the war in Iraq and honoring America’s veterans by improving veteran facilities across the nation, as well as devising a comprehensive health care program.  He also proposes giving tax credits for American jobs, not for companies who take their work overseas.  "Union-busters will be gone," he said, and a new Secretary of Labor would be selected from among Labor's own.  Richardson also favors reinstating collective bargaining for public employees.

U.S Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), spoke on behalf of former Senator John Edwards (D-NC), who, he said, knows that the White House is not a cash machine for special interest groups, but a workplace where the peoples' leader works for them.  Edwards believes that a safe, well-maintained, efficient infrastructure is a big part of the answer to reducing America's dependency on foreign oil, and bolstering mass transit systems is a top priority in that accomplishing that. 

 

AFL-CIO Says In America, No One Should Go Without Health Care

The AFL-CIO union movement is fighting for a unique American plan for secure, high-quality health care for all that:

  • Controls rising and irrational costs.
  • Provides comprehensive, high-quality health care to all.
  • Gives every family the opportunity and the responsibility for preventive care.
  • Preserves the right to choose and use your own doctor.
  • Asks our government to play a strong role to curb corporate greed and incompetence and ensure more fairness and efficiency.
  • Lowers employer costs and, in return, asks them to pay their fair share.
  • Builds on what’s best about American health care while drawing from what works in other countries.

The ATU, along with the AFL-CIO and its other affiliates, are mobilizing a 1-million-member health care mobilization team working with a broad alliance of grassroots organizations to win progressive reform and give millions more union members the information and tools to become active players and health care voters.

You can help now - Sign the petition for children's health care.  Keep posted to ATU Action Weekly Updates for more information and ways you can help.