NYC Fire Fighters Get Out the Vote in Wisconsin

by Mike Carvalho  |  July 12, 2011

As voters in Wisconsin head to the polls for the first of four election days in this summer's recalls, supporters of workers' rights are receiving support from a group of New York City fire fighters. They include Patrick Bahnken, president of AFSCME Local 2507 (District Council 37) and an FDNY emergency medical technican who was at the World Trade Center when the buildings came down on 9/11.

“I’m a Republican, but what’s happening here is not a political issue. It’s not a Republican vs. Dem, it’s not a union, non-union thing. This is an attack on middle class families across this country.”

The FDNY EMTs used vacation time and paid their own way to the Badger State to volunteer with We Are Wisconsin's get-out-the-vote efforts.

Watch the report from WFRV Channel 5 News:

"People have to pick a side," says Bahnken. "You're either going to stand up for working families and middle class families, or you're going to kneel before the rich."

For more information about the election including dates, endorsed candidates, polling locations and more, visit the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Blog.