A federation-sponsored TV ad will run the weekend of Labor Day on network telecasts of baseball, college football and auto racing, But mostly, unions will concentrate on their ground game between now and Election Day, federation President Richard Trumka said.
The federation will focus its political drive on reaching union members and allies in six “firewall” states – Illinois, California, New York, Ohio, Nevada, and Pennsylvania
– and 20 other battleground states, including Minnesota, he added. It will be involved in 70 U.S. House races, plus at least 330 other Senate races, governorships and even state legislative races.
At a Sept. 1 press conference, Trumka steadfastly declined to say how much the AFL-CIO would spend on politics. Other fed officials previously said the total would equal the $50-million-plus spent in 2006. That does not count spending by the other national labor federation, Change To Win, or individual unions. All political spending is from voluntary contributions, not dues.
But Trumka also predicted that unions, as usual, would be far outspent by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its Right-Wing allies. Still, labor’s “boots on the ground” will trump the Right Wing’s air war, he said, adding, “Talking face-to-face is more important.”
Unions face an uphill political battle. Polls show their normally Democratic allies in Congress trail both individually and generically among voters in general and “swing” independent voters in particular. Voters are also angry at high unemployment, stagnant wages, offshoring of jobs, and that “too much has been done for Wall Street and not enough for Main Street,” Trumka said.
They also face emotions roused by Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, the Radical Right and the “Tea Party.” Trumka and other leaders said laying out labor’s positions on economic issues – and detailing candidate stands on each – will overcome emotions.
Younger workers will get fliers, phone calls, worksite contacts and new media tailored to their issues, added federation Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler.
Mark Gruenberg writes for Press Associates, Inc., news service. Used by permission.
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A federation-sponsored TV ad will run the weekend of Labor Day on network telecasts of baseball, college football and auto racing, But mostly, unions will concentrate on their ground game between now and Election Day, federation President Richard Trumka said.
The federation will focus its political drive on reaching union members and allies in six “firewall” states – Illinois, California, New York, Ohio, Nevada, and Pennsylvania
– and 20 other battleground states, including Minnesota, he added. It will be involved in 70 U.S. House races, plus at least 330 other Senate races, governorships and even state legislative races.
At a Sept. 1 press conference, Trumka steadfastly declined to say how much the AFL-CIO would spend on politics. Other fed officials previously said the total would equal the $50-million-plus spent in 2006. That does not count spending by the other national labor federation, Change To Win, or individual unions. All political spending is from voluntary contributions, not dues.
But Trumka also predicted that unions, as usual, would be far outspent by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its Right-Wing allies. Still, labor’s “boots on the ground” will trump the Right Wing’s air war, he said, adding, “Talking face-to-face is more important.”
Unions face an uphill political battle. Polls show their normally Democratic allies in Congress trail both individually and generically among voters in general and “swing” independent voters in particular. Voters are also angry at high unemployment, stagnant wages, offshoring of jobs, and that “too much has been done for Wall Street and not enough for Main Street,” Trumka said.
They also face emotions roused by Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, the Radical Right and the “Tea Party.” Trumka and other leaders said laying out labor’s positions on economic issues – and detailing candidate stands on each – will overcome emotions.
Younger workers will get fliers, phone calls, worksite contacts and new media tailored to their issues, added federation Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler.
Mark Gruenberg writes for Press Associates, Inc., news service. Used by permission.