The Official Bulletin 2012 Q2 No-1. 636 - IA.TSE Local 80

political resource guide for IATSE Localsand members to get out the vote in 2012ACTION NOW!AON THE GROUNDAccording to a recent post by Federal ElectionCommission Director Paul Ryan on the CIO President Mike Williams for implementingBowles singles out the vision of Florida AFL-Open Society Foundations blog, special interest leading edge methods like developing a “Uniongroups like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Farm Team” of labor-friendly candidates. SuchAmerican Action Network (along with their corporateallies) will donate hundreds of millions (union members and retirees) in districts withsteps include identifying potential candidatesdollars to anti-labor candidates’ war chests this union density and opportunities, and providingyear. This “black hole” of anti-labor campaign candidate training (based upon best practicesfunding is due mostly to the landmark 2010 from the New Jersey AFL-CIO Candidate SchoolCitizens United ruling by the Supreme Court, and the Wellstone Action Candidate Training)which allowed for unlimited special interest in areas like campaign finance and planning,spending in America’s political theatre. Experts grassroots mobilization, opposition research,predict corporate spending in this coming electioncycle will outstrip labor by more than 15-1.fundraising, and media outreach.“Our Legislature was completely taken overBut, as Steve Smith observes, “organizedby extremists in 2010,” concludes Florida AFLlaborstill has the infrastructure and peopleCIO legislative/political director Rich Templin,power,” in the form of a mass volunteer base,Ph.D. “The response was a Labor Unity Coalitionthat directed the single largest legislative“to communicate directly with voters. We hadmore than 30,000 union volunteers working tomobilization program in state history, and beatelect Governor Brown in 2010, and this year weback challenges against collective bargaininghope to increase that number by tens of thousands.Our targeted voter communication totalsrights, pensions and privatization of governmentalservices. The Sisters and Brothers ofmore than six million, or roughly one-third ofIATSE were a major asset in those efforts, providingvolunteers across the state and incorpo-California’s voting base, nearly half of which isunion voters and their families and friends. Sorating the programs in all of their work. Thisthe person-to-person, member-to-member approachto mobilization is still the best tool inyear’s Unity Coalition has re-tooled with laserlike focus, and will be incorporating more volunteersthan ever before. IATSE members haveour box, and the most cost-effective ways forIATSE members to help get out the vote.”committed to be a part of this effort.”Sentiments about on-the-ground activism inDirect ways to take action now include:the nation’s key battleground state, Florida, sounda similar note. “Now more than ever, IATSE is engagedat the grassroots level with our Central La-neighborhood and circle of friends about the4 Talk early and often to non-union voters in yourbor Councils and the Florida AFL-CIO,” explains key issues in this next election.Kimberly Bowles, Secretary-Treasurer of IATSE4 Use word of mouth, particularly with regardsLocal 631, a member of the Florida AFL-CIO ExecutiveBoard and Vice-President of the Centralto state and local ballot initiatives, andHouse races in key districts, to promote andFlorida AFL-CIO. “Whether it is joining us on aprotect the interests of working families, thispicket line or making sure all activities that requirestage and sound techs are IATSE members,November.the Florida AFL-CIO and its affiliates have gone 4 Confirm your current email and postal addressthe extra mile for [working families].”with your Local to ensure service of your online/printnewsletter announcing phone bank drivesand other volunteer opportunities in your area.year in response to attacks on public employee unions,says “the absolute priority of this membership,” shouldbe to ensure that “every pro-labor candidate and ballot4 Call your local Central Labor Council to get updates oninitiative is fully supported by our efforts” in this upcomingelection cycle.action event dates/locations in your region.4 Volunteer with your local CLC or labor-friendly candidatecampaign office to help build a regional volunteerbase in your area.4 Volunteer to be a precinct worker or captain on ElectionDay“Activities like phone bank volunteering, registeringunion-friendly voters, and talking to your neighbors,friends, and extended family members about theimportance of this election can all make a real difference,”Loeb states. “We simply cannot allow radical,out-of-the mainstream candidates and their supporters4 Host neighborhood “meet-and-greets” in your area toto continue this assault on working families. It’s ourhelp GOTV drivesresponsibility to protect those Union rights and valuesIATSE President Matthew Loeb, who made personalappearances at pro-labor rallies around the nation lastthat those who came before us fought so hard to earn.The stakes this November have never been higher.”Contacts and InformationThe AFL-CIO’s Labor 2012 Program breaks down this year’s election cycle into key regions around thecountry. Topping that list (see contact numbers and Web links below) are electoral-rich states like Ohio,Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan, Florida and Nevada, which have all played prominently in the last fourPresidential elections.Ohio AFL-CIO395 E. Broad Street, Suite 300Columbus, Oh 43215Phone: 614-224-8271Fax: 614-224-2671www.ohaflcio.orgMichigan AFL-CIO419 Washington Square SouthSuite 200Lansing, MI 48933Phone: 517-487-5966Fax: 517-487-5213www.miaflcio.orgNevada State AFL-CIO1891 Whitney Mesa DriveHenderson, NV 89014Phone: 702-459-5288www.nv.aflcio.org/nevadaCentral Florida AFL-CIOP.O. Box 560779Orlando, FL 32856Phone: 321-695-1873www.fl.aflcio.org/centralfloridaWisconsin State AFL-CIO6333 W. Bluemound RoadMilwaukee, WI 53213Phone: 414-771-0700www.wisaflcio.org/solidarity@wisaflcio.orgPennsylvania AFL-CIO319 Market St.Harrisburg, PA 17101Phone: 800-242-3770Fax: 717-238-8541www.paaflcio.orgOther states, like Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts,Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York,North Dakota, Texas, Virginia and Washington, will play host to key House and Senate races, and offer ballotinitiatives with far-reaching implications for America’s working families.Please contact the state or local labor council in your region to take ACTION NOW!20 Official BulletinSecond Quarter 2012 21