Unionists in Virginia reaching out to Union Families on Weekend
http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/Q1a31_F19PkC/
Eileen Toback, AFL-CIO political organizer/Voice@Work campaign, took part in the union movement’s kickoff walks over the weekend in Virginia, where dozens of union members turned out.
Northern Virginia had a great get-out-the-vote kickoff this past Saturday with more than 70 activists knocking on the doors of union members who this November have a chance to elect many working family-friendly candidates to state offices.
Nearly 900 households were greeted by members from AFGE, AFSCME, Communications Workers of America, Electrical Workers, Food and Commercial Workers, Laborers, Iron Workers, Office of Professional Employees, Operating Engineers, Painters and Allied Trades, Plumbers, Seafarers, Sheet Metal Workers and Transport Workers.
The morning began with steaming cups of coffee, donuts and appreciative and inspiring words from the candidates. Chap Peterson, a Democrat running for the State Senate in the 34th District, addressed the crowd by reminding folks that their critical volunteer work will directly support working family priorities once he and his colleagues are in office.
Also on hand to greet us were: state Sen. Mark Herring (D-District 33); House of Delegates incumbents David Poisson (D-District 32) and Chuck Caputo (D-District 67); House of Delegates candidate Rex Simmons (D-District 40); Gerry Connolly, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; Mike McClanahan, candidate for Fairfax County Board of Supervisors; and Gerry Hyland, incumbent Fairfax County supervisor.
Tony Perez, government affairs coordinator for UFCW Local 400, brought 11 of his brothers and sisters to the walk and told the volunteers:
We all believe Virginia is ready for change. We don’t just feel the wave–we have seen it with the governor’s race and last year’s U.S. Senate race. Now it’s time to change the face of the state legislature.
CWA Local 2222 President Stacie Adams added:
We are going to hit the streets to take the Senate. Contracts are coming in 2008, and we are battling the State Corporation Commission’s deregulation on service quality. Politics has a direct effect on our contracts and our members’ lives.
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