Members set record in volunteer efforts to elect worker–friendly candidates

Utility workers across the country spoke at the polls like never before. This fall, UWUA joined with AFL-CIO’s political program, committing the largest number of member volunteers in its history to get out the vote in the 2010 national elections.

Nationally, some 200,000 union volunteers knocked on 8.5 million doors and:

• Distributed 19.4 million fliers while talking with workers one on one at their work sites.
• Made millions of phone calls.
• Sent 24.6 million pieces of mail.

This also included showing support at rallies, such as the One Nation Rally on Oct. 2 in Washington DC, numerous labor walks in various states, knocking on doors, phone banking, doing radio spots, commercials, tirelessly driving thousands of miles, everything in their capacity to elect worker-friendly candidates who will stand with working families. Union members nationwide, made the difference in key races, overall voting for working family endorsed House candidates 64 percent to 36 percent and for working family-endorsed Senate candidates 62 percent to 38 percent. The following is a roundup of UWUA’s election efforts throughout the regions.

Region I
Out in Suffolk County, NY, “our members did a lot of phone-banking, mailings, a labor walk in late October,” says UWUA Region 1 Representative Shawn Garvey. The labor walk included support from UWUA Local 355 retiree Sal Giordanno. At press time, the key Congressional race had yet to be decided as absentee ballots were still being counted with Democrat Tim Bishop holding on to a slim lead.

In Massachusetts, “Local 369’s COPE director, Dan Leary, did a tremendous job of getting members to participate in phone banking, walks, rallies. There were several rotating full time volunteers, including election committee chairman Paul Doyle, member Bob Schilling and executive board member Michael Spirito,” says Jack Holland Jr., national director, Region I. Local 369 also got out the vote in Norfolk County to help District Attorney Michael Morrissey win the Senate seat, Steve Grossman win state treasurer, and also reached out to New Hampshire to help re-elect Governor John Lynch.

Regions II & III
Pennsylvania lived up to its reputation as a battleground state in national elections. UWUA’s Region II Senior National Representative Jim Lewis figured prominently in the first commercial for Dan Connolly for Congress. “This...marked our highest volunteer participation so far including a massive turnout in Southeastern Pennsylvania where the two labor walks in Bucks and Philadelphia fielded close to half of all workers in the state,” says Lewis. Union supported winning candidates include Mark Critz and Jason Altmeir, both for House of Representatives.

Members of Local 433 sent up a hearty welcome to UWUA President Mike Langford while he was in PA at the Alcosan plant in Pittsburgh. He later phone banked, made an appearance on the “Union Edge” Talk Radio Show, and met with candidates.

And in Philadelphia, Local 686 President Keith Holmes mustered forces to handbill at worksites, walk door-todoor and phone bank for Rep. Patrick Murphy, a former West Point professor and Iraq war veteran, in his unsuccessful bid for re-election, and Rep. Joe Sestak, a three-star Admiral, in his bid for a U.S. Senate seat, which fell short.

Region IV
In Illinois, UWUA voting strength led to victory for Governor Pat Quinn. “Local 18007 worked diligently on both Quinn and Democratic Senator candidate Alexi Julius’ campaigns. Luis Gutierrez retained his Congressional title, along with Janet Schokowsky,” says Jim Gennett, national representative, Region IV.

Local 223 led the effort in Michigan. “On the state level things were dismal,” admits Jim Harrison, Local 223’s president. “On the flip side, we fared better on the federal level, chalking up victories for Congressman Gary Peters, which was a close race, and Congressman John Dingle, who was re-elected. He is the longest serving Congressman in the House of Representatives, a young buck back in the days of the Eisenhower administration,” laughs Harrison.

Michigan members persevered, despite losses. “We made more than 10,000 phone calls during the final three weeks, two nights a week, rotating about 20 volunteers. We focused on all UWUA members in Michigan. We had two retirees on loan from Local 223, Richard Turner and Jack Jaskowski, who coordinated all locals in Macomb County.

President Langford also attended a walk there. “We did more than we’ve ever done and now we’re a little bit better at it,” says Harrison proudly.

Region V
“This is the first time in Local 132’s history that we released five full-timers for a California election,” says Jerry Acosta, senior Region V representative. “One of our own was running in San Bernadino, Carl Wood for State Assembly, so we decided to pick five people in that area to work with Central River Council (CRC).”

Belén Leticia Smith, a veteran 27-year admin clerk at Southern California Gas Company and shop steward at Local 132, was nominated by several members to be a full-time election volunteer, paid her regular union rate. “I’ve never done anything like this before,” says Smith, who ran a good 2,000 miles on her car during the campaign period between Sept. 20 and Nov. 2. Smith liked Wood’s message, which spoke out against the pending implementation of ‘smart readers’ at the company, which could affect thousands of jobs. “Smart readers can’t smell gas. People need to be educated.” She felt his message was one to get behind. “I didn’t realize before how important unions are, the great avenue we have to reach our members, meet the public, to speak with Democrats and Republicans, union and non-union workers as well.” Despite Wood’s loss, Smith says of Local 132, “they are my family. We’re all in it together. It was a great experience.”

Kelley Lacey, a customer service rep at SoCal Gas for nine years and also a shop steward at Local 132, worked alongside Smith as a full-time volunteer at CRC and later for Wood’s campaign. “I live in one of Wood’s territories, Yucaipa, CA, and I’m also a Republican, so they asked me to do a quick 60-second voice spot on the local radio.” Says Lacey of working with the others including Smith, “We had a good rapport with each other and confidence in Carl, wanted to help in any way we could. I was honored.”

In addition, 30 additional retirees and active members were released from Local 132 for up to a month to volunteer in California, with pay. “Our primary focus was on Jerry Brown for governor, who won,” says Acosta happily. “He successfully ran against Meg Whitman, who spent $150 million on her own campaign. Union supporter, Senator Barbara Boxer, also won.”

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