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Ready to Take Back America

AFSCME Activists Make Battle Plans to Elect Worker-Friendly Candidates in 2008.

By Clyde Weiss


Determined To Win | Dora Trevino (center) of Wenatchee County, a Washington state financial services specialist and member of Local 1299 (Council 28), was among those cheering speakers at the opening of the three-day AFSCME Leadership Conference.
Photo Credit:Rick Reinhard

More than 2,000 AFSCME members gathered this June in Washington, D.C. They were there to formulate a plan to build a 40,000-member AFSCME “army” of election activists and expand the union's political action fund (PEOPLE).

“We're here for one reason: to launch our 2008 political program,” Pres. Gerald W. McEntee told leaders attending the AFSCME National Leadership Conference. “We plan to take back the White House, build the Democratic majority in Congress, and elect pro-worker, pro-family officials throughout this country.”

To do it, he said, AFSCME must “put boots on the ground, make calls, knock on doors, double our PEOPLE war chest for the 2008 elections and work harder and smarter than ever.”

Politics, Inside & Out

AFSCME members will be critical in turning out the vote in the next election, and the activists heard five of the leading Democratic Presidential candidates outline their views during a forum moderated by MSNBC "Hardball" host Chris Matthews. (For a look at seven of the Democratic hopefuls, see the article Where Do the Candidates Stand.)

Fielding questions submitted by AFSCME members were U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, former U.S. Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois and New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

The hopefuls addressed issues ranging from affordable health care and the environment to protecting Social Security, the Iraq war and a worker's right to join a union. Afterward, activists braved 95-degree heat at a Capitol Hill rally in support of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), which will make it easier for workers to join a union without being intimidated by their employer.

Planning to Win

The union's Presidential Search Committee is guiding a thorough review of the candidates, which will include polling of AFSCME members and may result in an endorsement recommendation.

Election Day - Nov. 4, 2008 - “can be the start of our nation's recovery,” said McEntee. “But it will take the determined effort of AFSCME members nationwide to make that a reality.”

“We’re Taking Action!”

Whether it's educating and registering voters or mobilizing working families on Election Day, we have a lot of work to do to take back the White House and elect pro-working family officials at every level of government. That's why activists at our Leadership Conference in June committed themselves to do more: to help sign up more members to AFSCME's PEOPLE political fundraising program and build an AFSCME volunteer army of 40,000 members to make more calls, knock on more doors and turn out more voters. Here, activists from across the country share their ideas and personal commitments to help elect candidates who support working families.

“One of my primary goals is to increase membership in our PEOPLE program. Another goal is to educate our members so they understand the importance of their vote — that each vote does count.”

Helen Hamada
Media Designer/Graphic Artist
Kapiolani Community College, Honolulu
Hawaii Government Employees Association/
AFSCME Local 152 Oahu-at -Large Director
Photo: Gary Hofheimer

“I’ve signed up over 200 members in Philadelphia for our PEOPLE Committee. I hope to get another 500 by Election Day. We have to make some changes in the 2008 election. A lot of money is being spent on the Iraq war that could be spent in the United States for people who need help.”

Leonard DeBose
Retired City of Philadelphia Water Inspector
PEOPLE Committee Organizer for Pennsylvania District Council 33
and a Member of Retiree Chapter 2
Photo: Sherman Harris

“It’s important for everybody to knock on their neighbors’ doors and find out who is a registered voter. It’s important to get out to the schools, reach out to the children who are turning 18, and make sure they’re registered. I run a youth center. When kids turn 18, I register them to vote. I will be going door to door, building to building and block to block, to get out the vote!”

Jackie Rowe-Adams
Recreation Manager
New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (Local 299)
Vice President and Executive Board Member of New York City's DC 37
Photo: Clarence Elie-Rivera

“Kids are getting sick but they’re not getting treated. Families don’t have insurance. We need to bring back the middle class. We need to stick together, whether we’re union members or not. So I’m going to get out the vote, get people registered, get them rides to the polling booths, hand out flyers and pick up the telephone. If you’re going to walk the walk and talk the talk, you’ve got to get off your butt and make it happen..”

Mark Blumenthal
Head Custodian
María C. Colón Sánchez Elementary School
Hartford, Conn.
Member of Local 566 (Council 4)
Photo: Larry Dorman

“As a Republican, I voted for President Bush thinking the war was going to be over quickly. But I feel deceived because things just keep going on and on. In the next election, I’m voting Democrat, but I’m going to see who is the best Democratic candidate. I want the war over, and the economy built back up.”

Bill Beucler
Corrections Officer
Texas Department of Criminal Justice
Huntsville, Texas
President and Chief Steward of Local 3807 (Council 7)
Photo: Richard J. Carson

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