Largest Mobilization in Union Movement’s History Shifts Into Overdrive for Final Four Days
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney: “We’re Turning Around America”

The AFL-CIO and its community affiliate Working America will unleash an unprecedented “Final Four” get-out-the-vote (GOTV) effort in the final four days of the election to reach more than 13 million union voters in 21 presidential battleground states as part of a historic drive to change America’s direction, the federation announced today.

Beginning Saturday, tens of thousands of AFL-CIO volunteers will visit more than 3.9 million union households, make 5.5 million calls and distribute more than 2 million leaflets at worksites through Election Day urging union voters to get to the polls in support of working family candidates on November 4.

“This unprecedented effort is the culmination of months of hard work by hundreds of thousands of union volunteers who are leading the fight to turn around America,” said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. “Heading down the homestretch, there’s more grassroots energy and enthusiasm for change among working families than ever before. We’re hitting critical mass at precisely the right time.”

The GOTV blitz is the final phase of a mobilization that has deployed an army of 250,000 union volunteers this year. The AFL-CIO GOTV program is the largest independent turnout program in the nation, aimed at electing candidates who will champion working families’ priorities.

A key component of this year’s Final Four push is Working America, the AFL-CIO community affiliate for workers without a union on the job. In the final four days, Working America will deploy 1,000 full-time canvassers in 11 battleground states to knock on more than 300,000 doors. Working America’s effort is the capstone push of a year-round campaign aimed at engaging its 2.5 million members, many of whom are independents and moderate “Reagan Democrats,” on economic issues.

The 2008 GOTV effort relies heavily on sophisticated targeting designed to increase voter turnout among exurban and rural voters in key states. The effort comes on the heels of a months-long targeted approach to these voters through mail, phones, front-porch visits and email. Since identifying more than 3 million undecided voters in August, the AFL-CIO’s intense communications among swing groups like retirees, veterans and gun owners have shifted the landscape in states such as Ohio.

Since mid-August, according to AFL-CIO polling, support for Sen. Obama among union members has increased dramatically as the AFL-CIO grassroots mobilization has gained intensity. In Ohio, Obama now has a 29-point advantage (61%-32%) over McCain among union members, an improvement of 16 points since August. In Pennsylvania, Obama’s support has risen 22 points to a 63%-27% advantage. In Michigan, Obama now holds a commanding 68%-23% lead among union members, up 26 points.

Union support is seen as crucial to Obama in the Rust Belt states as union voters are expected to comprise 25%-35% of the overall electorate in those states on November 4.

“We’re seeing a wave of support for Sen. Obama among union voters as they learn more about his positions on the issues they care about and contrast those positions to Sen. McCain’s failed proposals,” AFL-CIO Political Director Karen Ackerman said. “But this is no time to let up. We’re going full throttle this weekend to ensure every union voter knows just how critical a vote on Election Day is to our country’s future.”

The elements of the overall GOTV program include:

·  A 21-state presidential battleground program, the broadest ever. In recent weeks the AFL-CIO has shifted resources and manpower to non-traditional battleground states like North Carolina, Indiana and West Virginia, while maintaining an intense effort in the top-tier states of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan;

·  More member contact than ever before. To date, AFL-CIO union voters have received 70 million phone calls, 10 million door knocks, 57 million pieces of mail and 27 million worksite fliers focusing on economic issues;

·  4,000 paid staff working on the AFL-CIO mobilization nationwide;

·  A nine-state voter protection program to address voting rights abuses and prevent voting rights violations on Election Day.

The final GOTV push is part of a $250 million grassroots mobilization by the AFL-CIO and its 56 affiliated unions.

Here’s what AFL-CIO volunteers around the country are saying about the final push to talk to their co-workers, neighbors and fellow union members about the stakes in this election:

Gerrard Strutt, Bus Operator, Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 85 (Pittsburgh, PA)
“The economy scares me to death. I am worried about health care and the future of my job and my family. I am knocking on doors and making calls here in Pittsburgh because I believe that union members trust each other and are more likely to hear a message about how important it is to vote from another union member. Member-to-member contact is the most powerful means of engagement we have.”

Dave McCloskey, Mail Handler, National Postal Mail Handlers Union, Local 301 (Manchester, NH)
“Recently I underwent an emergency medical procedure, but luckily my health care plan paid 90 percent of my medical bills. It’s hard to believe that 47 million people in this country still don’t have health care. Due to my condition, I’m not supposed to be out of the house very often, but I feel it’s important to volunteer and do my part for the Americans that aren’t as fortunate as I am.

Deb Breneman, Office and Administrative Specialist, AFSCME Local 4001 (St. Cloud, Minnesota)
“I grew up under the philosophy that if you don’t get involved, you don’t get to complain. We just need to keep talking to people about this election. They’re our neighbors, so for us to be making these phone calls, it means more to them than some guy in Duluth or some guy in St. Paul.”

Joe Mailey, Sheet Metal Worker, Sheet Metal Workers International Association, Local 17 (Auburn, Maine)
“It’s time we had leaders in Washington to stick up for the middle class. I do a lot of phone banking, labor walks, leafleting, and I helped send out local union mail. When I talk with union members, I tell them that we are heading towards a wall, and if we hit it we are going to crash hard.”

To interview union volunteers or make arrangements to cover GOTV activity, please call 202-637-5018.