For Immediate Release
Wednesday, October 27, 2004
AFSCME Turns Up the Heat in Wisconsin
AFSCME launches million-dollar ad campaign, unprecedented GOTV drive in campaign’s final days
Washington, DC —The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), which has 65,000 members in Wisconsin, is pulling out all the stops to turn out its members for Senator John Kerry and reach out to non-members. The union is also conducting a million-dollar television and radio advertising campaign in Wisconsin to highlight the outsourcing of jobs, health care, rising gas prices, and the Iraq war.
AFSCME’s members are especially important this election. While union household members make up one out of every four voters, AFSCME members turn out and vote for the union’s endorsed candidates in higher numbers than Labor in general. For example, in 2000, 68 percent of AFSCME members voted for Al Gore compared to 62 percent of all union members.
In addition, AFSCME is reaching out to 8,000 family child care providers in Wisconsin who are not members, many of whom are under-registered or infrequent voters. AFSCME’s nonpartisan turnout and mobilization drive is part of a larger effort to help 200,000 such providers across the country win union representation.
"AFSCME’s efforts will help put Wisconsin in the Kerry column on Election Day," predicted AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee. "Senator Kerry has been a longtime fighter for Wisconsin workers and their families. He has the right plans to end the squeeze on the middle class, create jobs, and provide affordable health care."
AFSCME, AFL-CIO, has 1.4 million members nationwide and is spending $48 million on political activities in 2004. AFSCME’s aggressive mobilization program will result in each member being contacted at least eight times through a combination of telephone calls, mail, and visits to homes and workplaces.
