Nov. 8: Why Union Members Took Action

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2006/11/08/nov-8-why-union-members-voted/

Nov. 8: Why Union Members Took Action

by Tula Connell, Nov 8, 2006


Gail Ganiszewski, a Postal Workers (APWU) union member from Pennsylvania, and United Steelworkers (USW) member Sharon Feemster from Ohio spoke today at the AFL-CIO’s post-election press conference, where they discussed why they were active in the union movement’s get-out-the-vote mobilization.

Ganiszewski, a registered Republican who has been a union member since age 19, says the push to privatize the U.S. Postal Service has made her job and future less secure.

I’ve always thought that voting was enough. This year, my eyes have been opened to what I can do to ensure working families have who, when elected, will listen to and fight for us.

Feemester, who works in Canton, Ohio, says she has good health care benefits through her union, but worries that her grandchildren and parents will not be so lucky.

In my community and throughout Ohio, we have witnessed the loss of good manufacturing jobs by the stay-the-course failures of this administration…. We are working harder, producing more, and our real wages continue to fall further and further behind. It’s time to change the course with a new direction.

Since the beginning of the year, the AFL-CIO union movement has involved 205,000 volunteers who have taken part in labor’s largest midterm get-out-the-vote effort. No matter what their party affiliation, union members were inspired by a common need to change the direction of this country.

As Ganiszewski sums it up:

I decided to volunteer to take back the country for working families…. This year, I voted Democratic because I feel that it’s time for a change. I cast my vote and dedicated my time to change the direction of this country, starting with me, starting with the labor movement, starting with working families.

[bread_and_roses]

1. Thanks, Omaha

People should go on over to aflcio.org to see the numbers on the Union effort this election.

[cmd]

2. Every union that fights for health care

is fighting for health care for everyone. Everytime someone gives in, it sets an example for others. As a teacher, I had wonderful health care coverage. People in the community hated that fact. They were, for the most part, non union people who resented the fact that they had to pay for insurance buy we didn't. The dummies just didn't catch on that they needed to go to their employers and complain to them. We were setting the standard. They needed to reach up, not pull down. Hang in there, union members. You serve us all.