Dear Ohio Labor Leaders,

With only 21 days to Election Day, it is really time to make sure we are doing everything we can to elect Barack Obama and the other candidates who will protect and fight for working families.  We’ve all heard it before, but that doesn’t make it any less true: this may be the most important election of our lifetimes or even our country’s history.  How it ends up will determine the path of our nation for the future, and whether working families are valued for their contributions, or whether they are treated as expendable, not worth politicians’ time.  We must elect Barack Obama, Mary Jo Kilroy, John Boccieri, and other candidates who will work with us, not against us, as we beat the path to children’s’ future. 

Elijah and Eric Evans (IBEW) at a Columbus phone bank

We need you to send mail to your local union, and hand out flyers.  We need you to come out to phone banks and walks, and bring your friends, your family – bring your children, like Eric Evans (IBEW) did at a Columbus phone bank last week.  We need you to talk to everyone you know who cares about our country.  Tell them why we can’t afford not to elect Sen. Obama to the presidency. 

This week we are immensely proud to feature some of the people who are helping set the table for a better future for working Americans.  Sue Taylor, our Labor Leader of the Week, is President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers.  She’s helping elect Barack Obama not just because he’s better for her union, but because he’s better for the children OFT members work with every day.  Our Local Union Spotlight, TWU 2019, has been very active, thanks to a leadership that understands that whether we want it to or not, our government plays a big role in our lives and our workplaces.  So it matters who we elect. 

Finally, our Release Staff Profile is Adam Banig (UMWA), who is working as Zone Leader in Zone 9 and helping unions in southeast Ohio educate and involve members. 

Sue Taylor, Adam Banig, and Fred Fink, Pat Smith, and Doug Wegryn of TWU 2019 are among the people who are making a difference in our state.  But we know that there are thousands of you who put in hours when you can on phone banks, walks, and other activities.  On behalf of our children, our children’s children, and all the children that follow them, we thank you.  It’s our time (and theirs). 

In solidarity,

Ben Waxman, National AFL-CIO Labor 2008 Ohio Director
Jeanette Mauk, Ohio AFL-CIO Field Director

1. Program Report Card
2. Last Chance to Send That Local Union Mail!
3. Ohio AFL-CIO President Joe Rugola on the “Road to Recovery”
4. Labor Leader of the Week: Sue Taylor, OFT-AFT
5. Local Union Spotlight: TWU 2019
6. Meet Your Release Staff: Adam Banig, UMWA
7. News From Around the Buckeye State: ALF Updates
8. Working America Update, from Dan Heck
9. Union Jobs
10. News Clips

1. Program Report Card

Worksite Flyers

IUE-CWA 722 worksite leafleting

The following affiliates ordered 461,150 customized worksite flyers last week:

AFGWU, AFSCME, AFT/OFT, APWU, ATU, AWIU, BAC, BCTD, BCTGM, CWA, GMP, IAM, IATSE, IBEW, IRON, IUEC, IUOE, IUPAT, LIUNA, NALC, NATCA, OPCMIA, OPEIU, SMWIA, TWU, UA, UAW, UMWA, USW, UTU, UWUA

This brings us to a year-to-date total of 4,561,480 flyers ordered!

Phone Banks

Go to http://labor2008.typepad.com/oh/phonelocations_10-1.xls to find out where you can participate in a union phone bank today!

Ray Mitchell (NALC) phone banks

The following unions did phone banks last week:

Zone 1
AFSCME, AFT, APWU, ATU, IBEW, USW

Zone 2
AFSCME, NALC, OAPSE, UAW, UFCW, USW

Zone 3
AFT, APWU, ATU, IAM, OAPSE, NALC

Zone 4
AFSCME, APWU, IAM, IBEW, IUE-CWA, NPMHU

Zone 5
AFSCME, NALC

Zone 6
AFSCME, AFT, IUPAT, NALC, NPMHU, OAPSE, OPEIU, UA, USW

Zone 7
AFSCME, APWU, IBB, IBEW, IUE-CWA, NALC

Zone 8
AFSCME, BCTGM, CNA, NALC, TWU

Zone 9
UMWA

Zone 10
AFSCME, IBEW

Local Union Mail

LIUNA 329 local union mail assembly

Zone 3
IBEW

Zone 4
AFSCME, APWU, UA, UAW, UFCW

Zone 5
ATU, NALC, UA

Zone 6
NALC

Zone 7
IAFF, IBEW

Zone 8
BCTGM

Zone 9
AFSCME, IBEW, UMWA, USW

Zone 11
AFSCME, GMP

Labor Walks

Go to http://labor2008.typepad.com/oh/WalkSchedule10-14.xls to find out where you can walk today!

UMWA walk volunteers in Bridgeport last Saturday

Zone 1
AFSCME, AFT, APWU, ATU, IBEW, USW

Zone 2
NALC, USW

Zone 3
AFSCME, APWU, ATU, IAM, IRON, IUE-CWA, NALC, NATCA, OAPSE, OPEIU

Zone 4
AFSCME, AFT, AFTRA, BAC, CNA, CWA, IAM, IBEW, IBT, IRON, NATCA, NPMHU, UNITE-HERE, USW

Zone 5
AFSCME, AFT, APWU, ATU, CNA, CWA, IAM, IBT, LIUNA, NALC, NATCA, NPMHU, OAPSE, OPEIU, TWU, UA, UNITE-HERE, USW

Zone 6
AFSCME, AFT, BAC, CWA, IBEW, IUPAT, NALC, NPMHU, UNITE-HERE, USW

Zone 7
AFSCME, APWU, IBC, IBEW, IBT, IUE-CWA, IUPAT, IUOE, NALC, UA, USW

Zone 8
CNA, TWU

Zone 9
AFSCME, IBEW, IUPAT, LIUNA, NALC, USW

Zone 10
AFSCME, IUPAT

Zone 11
AFSCME

2. Last Chance to Send that Local Union Mail!

We’re only a few weeks away from the election, but there’s still time to send local union mail.  Remember to get that last letter out while you still can!  Local union mail is one of the best ways to reach your members.  Read what some leaders have to say about it below:

At the Cleveland Pre-GOTV rally last week, International President of AFSCME Gerald McEntee said, “When union members receive a letter from their local union president, that is probably the most important contact they could have.  I would like to impress upon all local union presidents, send a letter out, speak out at meetings,

Ron Davis, USW 169 President, and Carl Neutzling, IBEW 688

and contact those members.” 

Carl Neutzling, Business Manager of IBEW 688, has sent two letters so far and will send another before the election.  He said, “It’s important for working people to get out and vote for people who are going to support us.  The mailings reinforce our position, and when members hear something from their local union, they’re going to pay more attention to it, no doubt about it.”  His letters focus on jobs, the economy, and health care, and explain why Sen. Barack Obama will be the best leader on those issues.  

Tim Litman, IRON 550

Tim Litman, Business Manager of IRON 550, has been sending local union mail every other week, and his local will send two more letters before the election.  He says local union mail is important because “It keeps union members informed as to what the issues are, and what the different candidates are offering us, from the Presidential race all the way down.  We support the candidates who support the labor movement.”  Litman has met Sen. Obama, and when we interviewed him over the summer he said he was impressed.  “We think he’s got a vision to turn this country around,” he said. 

You can check out http://www.workingfamiliestoolkit.com/ to get flyers and see sample letters to help you get started, or contact your Labor 2008 zone coordinator.

3. Ohio AFL-CIO President Joe Rugola on the “Road to Recovery”

Joe Rugola and supporters outside a shuttered factory in northeast Ohio

Ohio AFL-CIO President Joe Rugola has traveled on foot to Youngstown, Girard, Niles, Salem, Massillon, Canton, Lorain, Vermilion, Barberton, and other northeastern Ohio cities since his walk began on October 5.  He takes this week off from his trek, and will begin the second leg on October 20, visiting sites in southeast Ohio.  He travels to factories and other job sites that have shut down or held mass lay-offs in the last eight years.  Since the year 2000, Ohio has lost over 180,000 jobs due to shut downs and lay-offs at 1,098 different job sites.

Rugola said, “The Bush administration has wrecked our economy and destroyed the lives of hundreds of thousands of Ohio’s working families, and John McCain is committed to policies that promise more devastation for our communities and our people.  The challenge now is to reverse these trends and this election presents Ohioans with a chance to right the ship by electing a president who will put working families and the middle class first - Barack Obama. We will never give up on the idea that America must re-industrialize, and that Ohio has to lead the way in that effort.”

You can watch a short video about the first day of his effort on our blog at http://labor2008.typepad.com/oh/2008/10/ohio-afl-cio-pr.html.

4. Labor Leader of the Week: Sue Taylor, OFT-AFT

Sue Taylor, President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers.  Click here to go to the blog.

Sue Taylor has served as President of the Ohio Federation of Teachers for almost two years.  Before that, she served as President of the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers, after teaching for twenty-three years in the Cincinnati public schools and being active in her union.  She said of the beginning of her career, “I’m a very proud product of Cincinnati Public Schools.  Once I started student teaching, I fell in love with teaching in the public schools.  I was offered a job in one of Cincinnati’s most prestigious private schools, but when I really reflected on what I needed to use my skills and talents for, I realized that I need to give back to the school district that shaped who I was.”

It is critical for OFT members (including teachers, paraprofessionals, college and university faculty, and children’s service workers) to be involved in the political process, says Taylor – “The very air that we breathe is political.”  Walks, phone banks, worksite flyers, and local union mail are all important parts of the OFT member contact and political education program.

She has her eye on the presidential election, saying, “The Obama-Biden ticket is the better ticket, and the only ticket that will support public education in the U.S. today.”  But she’s also interested in electing allies in the State House and to Congress.  She says, “Whether or not we have support for the middle class in legislation at the national level depends on who we elect to U.S. Congress.”  And, she looks forward to a Congress that will take the right perspective on the No Child Left Behind Act and help reform it so it really serves children.  So, she’s paying attention to endorsed Congressional candidates like Victoria Wulsin, Steve Driehaus, and Mary Jo Kilroy. 

“The political leaders who are elected will determine whether or not we have shared leadership,” Taylor says.  “They will determine the extent to which they allow teachers and other school workers into the conversation and into the decision-making process.  To the extent that that is open, it will be more successful because we know that the practitioners understand what happens at the ground level and need to have an influence on the decisions of their work.”

You can see the video of this interview on our blog at http://labor2008.typepad.com/oh/2008/10/sue-taylor-oft.html

5. Local Union Spotlight: TWU 2019, President Fred Fink

Pat Smith, VP, Fred Fink, President, and Doug Wegryn, Political Coordinator of TWU 2019

Last Thursday in a union meeting, TWU 2019 President Fred Fink talked to members about why they should support Sen. Barack Obama for President.  He talked about why their jobs and their union could be endangered by John McCain’s anti-union, anti-worker policies, and he assured them that Obama would be a strong leader who would respect workers and their unions. 

“He's a strong candidate,” Fink said in an interview.  “I like the way he keeps talking about the future.  I like the way he stays on the issues.  He seems to have a command of where the country needs to go.” 

After the meeting, Political Coordinator Doug Wegryn passed out worksite flyers to TWU 2019 members, who inspect and repair railroad cars in a freight car repair shop outside Cleveland.  As he handed out the flyers, he said, “Remember, guys, he’s not taking your guns away.”

Doug Wegryn talks to a TWU 2019 member at a worksite leafleting

In addition to talking about the election in meetings and handing out flyers, TWU 2019 members participate in phone banks and walks out of the Cleveland CLC, and President Fink sends local union mail.  This week they are sending a letter to talk to members about the presidential candidates’ economic policies, and what Sen. Obama will do to help keep American jobs at home. 

Health care is another issue that is a top priority for TWU 2019 members.  Pat Smith, Vice President of the local, is recovering from a motorcycle accident; he recognizes how urgent it is that we elect a president who will work to improve and reform our health care system.  “I don’t want my co-payments to go up, I know that,” he said.  “They are up high enough as it is.” 

“This is probably the most important election we’ve had in a long time,” Fink says.  “In the railroad industry, there isn't anything going on that isn't affected by the federal government.  Whether it's collective bargaining, health care, our pensions, or the regulations we work under.  There's a real link between our members' livelihoods and their ability to work, and what takes place in Washington, D.C.  We talk about the election continuously, and we try to do everything we can to be politically active.”

Check out the video on our blog at http://labor2008.typepad.com/oh/2008/10/twu-2019-local.html

6. Meet Your Release Staff: Adam Banig, UMWA

Adam Banig on a labor walk in St. Clairsville, Ohio.  Click here to go to the blog

Adam is on release from UMWA to work as Zone Leader in Zone 9 for the Labor 2008 program. In that position, he’s working to help affiliates get involved in the program and make sure they have the tools they need to get the word out about Sen. Obama and important down ticket races to union members in the zone. 

Adam, who has spoken with Sen. Obama, is excited for the day when he’ll become president.  “The AFL-CIO building is about 100 steps from the White House, but we haven’t been able to do anything there for eight years.”  Of Obama, he says, “He’s one of us.  He worked his way to get where he is.  He’s been a community organizer, he’s walked on picket lines.”

“He’s good on developing clean coal technologies to help fill our energy needs, he’s good on health care? he’s good on all the things America needs right now.”

Adam graduated from Towson University, worked for West Virginia Congressman Nick Rahall, and for the IBB before coming on staff with UMWA. 

Check out the blog post here: http://labor2008.typepad.com/oh/2008/10/adam-banig-umwa.html

7. News from Around the Buckeye State: ALF Updates

Northeast ALF
Pres. Deborha Bindas 

In the Northeast, AFSCME, AFT, APWU, BAC, IBC, IBEW, IBT, IUE-CWA, IUOE, IUPAT, NALC, NPMHU, OPCM, UA, UNITE-HERE, and USW walked.  AFSCME, AFT, APWU, IBB, IBEW, IUE-CWA, IUPAT, NALC, NPMHU, OAPSE, OPEIU, UA, and USW members phoned.  IAFF, IBEW, and NALC did local union mail.  AFSCME, IUE-CWA, UA, UAW, and USW did worksite flyers.  Activists are walking out of the NALC 148 office at 518 Fouse St. in Akron Monday through Thursday at 2:00 pm, and on Saturdays at 10:00.  Last week we incorrectly spelled the street “Souse” – we apologize for any confusion.  Walks and phone banks continue regularly out of the USW Golden Lodge in Canton and the AFSCME Council 8 Office in Akron.  The Mahoning-Trumbull CLC (Pres. Bill Padisak) is hosting phone banks Monday through Thursday from 2:00-8:00.  Jim Clark, President of IUE-CWA, is visiting northeast Ohio; he helped distribute worksite flyers today with IUE-CWA Locals 717, 722, 727, and 734, and on Wednesday he’ll host a debate watch party at the IUE-CWA Local 717 hall.  The event begins at 8.  OAPSE members at PARTA went out on strike Monday, August 25.  Call Nanette Folsom for more information (330-933-8651); the union invites allies to picket with striking members.  The Golden Lodge (USW 1123) will hold a debate watch party on Wednesday night beginning at 8:30.  They are also planning a rally for Election Day.  Last week, Congressional candidate John Boccieri helped hand out flyers at Timkin, the USW 1123 facility.  If you live in Tuscarawas or Wayne counties, please consider volunteering – we need your help.  Call Nanette at 330-933-8651 to find out what you can do.

North Coast ALF
Pres. Pat Gallagher
 
AFSCME, AFT, APWU, ATU, CNA, CWA, IAM, IBT, LIUNA, NALC, NATCA, OAPSE, OPEIU, TWU, UA, and USW walked.  AFSCME and NALC phoned.  ATU, NALC, and UA did local union mail.  AFSCME, AFT, ATU, NALC, NATCA, OAPSE, TWU, and UA did flyers.  Union members are walking in Cleveland every Saturday.  In Lake County walks are scheduled October 18, 25, and November 1.  Call Darlene Tinsley at 216-299-8975 to participate in the Lake County walks or upcoming phone banks.  IUPAT members walk in Cleveland every Tuesday.  LIUNA 310 is organizing weekend walks for members.  The Cleveland Pre-GOTV Rally was held last Thursday at the USW District 1 office.  One hundred fifty people attended, including speakers Gerald McEntee, International President of AFSCME, Joe Rugola, President of the Ohio AFL-CIO, and Richard Trumka, Secretary Treasurer of the AFL-CIO.  AFSCME is hosting a “Dial and Debate” party at the USW District 1 office at 3421 Independence Rd in Cleveland.  Dinner will be served at 8:00 for phone bank and walk participants.  Please RSVP to Dian Herrman at (202) 957-6772.

Southwest ALF
Pres. Wesley Wells

AFSCME, AFT, AFTRA, APWU, ATU, BAC, CNA, CWA, IAM, IBEW, IBT, IRON, IUE-CWA, LIUNA, NALC, NATCA, OAPSE, OPEIU, UNITE-HERE, and USW walked.  AFSCME, AFT, APWU, IAM, IBEW, IUE-CWA, NALC, NPMHU, OAPSE, and USW phoned.  AFSCME, APWU, IBEW, UA, UAW, and UFCW did local union mail.  AFT, CWA, IRON, SMWIA, UA, and UAW did flyers.  Walks for union members are staged out of the Dayton-Miami Valley CLC (Executive Secretary Wes Wells) Monday through Thursday and Saturday every week.  Eight union release staff members are walking daily in Hamilton and Butler counties, and AFSCME Council 8, APWU 164, and IBEW 212 are hosting phone banks in the Cincinnati area.   On October 12, IBEW 82 hosted a rally with Gov. Strickland and candidate for Ohio Attorney General Rich Cordray.

Central ALF
Pres. Billy Boyce

TWU and CNA walked.  AFSCME, BCTGM, CNA, NALC, and TWU phoned.  BCTGM did local union mail.  BCTD, IAM, and IUPAT did flyers.  Saturday walks continue every week out of the Central Ohio CLC office at 1545 Alum Creek Drive, the AFSCME Council 8 Columbus office at 6800 N. High St., the TWU 208 office at 2800 S. High, and the NALC 78 office at 1029 Harrisburg Pike (all in Columbus).  Worksite flyers are going out all week.  There will be a debate watch party at the Carpenters hall (at 1545 Alum Creek Dr) immediately after the Central Ohio CLC meeting.
 
Southeast ALF
Pres. Bill Sams

AFSCME, IBEW, IUPAT, LIUNA, NALC, OAPSE, UMWA, and USW walked.  AFSCME, IBEW, and UMWA phoned.  AFSCME, IBEW, IUPAT, and UMWA did flyers.  AFSCME, GMP, IBEW, UMWA, and USW did local union mail.  Tim Bowman at NALC 63 in Zanesville is organizing walks and phone banks on most days for union members in the area.  The UMWA District Office is holding phone banks for union members in the Bridgeport area.  Dan Leslie and Troy Ferrell (IBEW) have been leafleting and walking in Washington and Monroe counties.  IBEW 972 has the predictive dialer set up in its hall; members from around the zone will be able to use it.  Joe Biden will visit Marietta on Tuesday, October 14, and Athens on Wednesday, October 15th.  Zone 10 has a new release staff member -- Brian Lacey, of UMWA, joined us Monday to work on the Labor 2008 program.  Members from AFSCME Ohio Council 8, IBEW, and OAPSE made over 500 calls last Saturday to union members in the Athens area.  Response was very positive for Barack Obama.

Northwest ALF
Pres. George Tucker

AFSCME, AFT, APWU, ATU, IBEW, NALC, and USW walked.  AFSCME, AFT, APWU, ATU, NALC, OAPSE, UAW, UFCW, and USW did phones.  UAW and USW did flyers.  Zone steering committee meetings for Zone 1 take place every Friday at 10:00 am at Toledo Federation of Teachers (AFT 250) office in Toledo.  Phone banks are open at the LIUNA 329 hall at 4560 S Dixie Hwy Monday through Thursday all day; call Bev Spetz with questions, 419-309-5913.  Max Reynolds, a retired UAW member, comes in to make calls on the phone bank almost every day, making 180-200 calls every time.  IUPAT members Gary McPheron, Brian Outland, and Jamie Peppers, and NALC 143 President Jeff Kranz are walking once a week.  Walks and phone banks are ongoing, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10-7 and Saturdays from 9-2 in Mansfield at LIUNA 1216 and Sandusky at LIUNA 480.  This week only there is a phone bank at LIUNA 480 in Mansfield from 3-7:30, and the phones and walks in that location on Wednesday will end at 6, not 7.  Call zone leader Lynda Mobley with questions, 419-217-7013.  Steering Committee meetings are planned for October 15 and October 22 at the North Central Labor Council, 1205 W. Perkins Ave in Sandusky.  In zone 2-West, OAPSE members are phone-banking on Tuesdays, while UAW members are walking on Tuesdays.  On Friday, OAPSE/AFSCME locals distributed flyers.  LIUNA 329 is sending another local union mailer this week.  NALC 105 phone banked in Lima last Thursday, and Roger Schrader from USW 3210 was released to work on the Labor 2008 program.

8. Working America Update, from Dan Heck

Working America continues to hire around the state.  If you know motivated people who would like to turn this country around, have them give our local office a call http://www.workingamerica.org/about/

We are getting regular feedback on what messages are resonating with members and helping them understand what is really at stake in this election. Last week, we tested messages around the Bill Ayres issue and other dramatically overblown distractions when they came up.  We've found that it is effective to very briefly explain that there's nothing of substance to these accusations, and then to point out that the McCain campaign actually SAID they are bringing these up to distract people from the real issues in this election: the economy, jobs, health care and education. This effectively pivots the conversation back to the actual issues, and also helps inoculate against these kinds of deceptive attacks.

9. Union Jobs

Working America is hiring canvass organizers – go to http://www.workingamerica.org/about/jobs.cfm for more information or to apply. 
CNA/NNOC is hiring a staff person – go to http://www.unionjobs.com/staff/cna/cna101_multi.html for more information.  Posted August 1, 2008.  

10. News Clips

“Momentum Building as Union Members Pull Out Stops for Election,” AFL-CIO Now Blog
With just 25 days to Election Day, you can feel the momentum building as working people and their unions go all out to reach every union member. From AFL-CIO President John Sweeney to the newest rank-and-file members, workers are spreading the word that the stakes in this election are huge for working people.
http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/10/10/momentum-building-as-union-members-pull-out-stops-for-election

“Ohio AFL-CIO President Joe Rugola: Walking the ‘Road to Economic Recovery’”, AFL-CIO Now Blog
On Sunday in Youngstown, Ohio, Joe Rugola, Ohio AFL-CIO president, set out on a 300-mile trek around the state to bring attention to the toll of the past eight years of Bush-McCain economic polices—more than 180,000 Ohio jobs lost and nearly 1,100 plants, factories and other workplaces closed forever.
http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/10/07/ohio-afl-cio-president-joe-rugola-walking-the-road-to-economic-recovery

“Union Leader Confronts Race Issue in Campaign,” NPR
A top U.S. labor leader is making an unusually blunt pitch to working-class white voters in key battleground states. Longtime United Mine Workers President Richard Trumka, who is now secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO, is making the case for Sen. Barack Obama.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95591135

“Joe Six-Pack Demands Answers From Anti-Union McCain & Co.,” by Leo Gerard, Huffington Post
Recently, she redoubled her efforts to cast herself not as a governor and member of an elite American family earning more than $165,000 a year, but as Joe Six-Pack and someone whose membership in a union enabled her to secure health insurance for her family. Her confounding statements reveal John McCain as a hypocrite on the issue of unionization.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/leo-w-gerard/joe-six-pack-demands-answ_b_132989.html