Union families had a big impact on Election Day, accounting for one out of four voters, according to a survey by Peter D. Hart Research Associates, Inc. The survey showed that there were 27 million union household voters.AFL-CIO leaders said the unprecedented grassroots participation by working men and women in the “biggest, most unified labor program ever” will generate gains for working families. “We’re going to take that energy, momentum, technology and field operation and start right now building a movement that will keep turning this country around,” said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney.
According to the Hart Research polling, union members cited jobs and the economy, the war in Iraq and health care as among their top issues.
From a maritime perspective, as was the case four years ago, a solid group of pro-maritime legislators won their respective elections in the House and Senate, according to SIU Political Director Terry Turner. Additionally, President George W. Bush—whose administration has a strong record of supporting the U.S. Merchant Marine—won reelection.
“Many people were re-elected who understand the importance of a strong U.S.-flag fleet,” Turner stated. “As always, there also are some new faces in both houses of Congress. The SIU will do everything possible to make sure those legislators know the vital role of the U.S. Merchant Marine.”
According to the AFL-CIO, the national federation of trade unions, more than 5,500 full-time staff or union members worked in battleground states—up from 1,500 in 2000. The numbers of full-time staff or union members in only three states in 2004—Ohio (728), Pennsylvania (723) and Florida (514)—exceeded the total number nationwide in 2000.
More than 225,000 volunteers participated in the Labor 2004 program. Union members knocked on more than 6 million doors in neighborhood walks that ran daily in many states since Labor Day. Volunteers made more than a hundred million phone calls and passed out more than 32 million leaflets at workplaces and in neighborhoods. Union members reached out at 257 phone banks with 2,322 lines running in 16 states. The AFL-CIO’s program sent out more than 30 million pieces of mail to union households—not including mailings sent by affiliate unions to their members independently.
“Through our political program, we have invested in our future,” said AFL-CIO Political Director Karen Ackerman. “More unions than ever participated on a large scale in the AFL-CIO’s coordinated program. We have now set the stage to bring working family friendly candidates into office throughout the nation.”
Working America, the AFL-CIO’s new national organization for working people, played a key role. Working America has 750,000 members, and is in touch with a total of 1.1 million members of working family households, offering information on where the candidates stand on such key issues as jobs, health care and overtime pay.
The AFL-CIO’s non-partisan voting rights project, “My Vote, My Right,” began forming community partnerships over the summer which met with elections officials, educated voters, and recruited and trained poll watchers.
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