Public Employee Press

PEOPLE program targets White House

To take back the White House in 2008, DC 37’s national union is revving up its political action Green Machine, strengthening the PEOPLE fundraising arm and mobilizing 40,000 volunteer activists for Election Day.

DC 37 is asking members to volunteer more and contribute more to Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality, the grassroots political fundraising committee that helps elect union-friendly candidates. Contributions to PEOPLE help protect jobs, wages, benefits and working conditions.

“We have unique power because we elect our bosses,” said DC 37 Executive Director Lillian Roberts. “We need to elect officials who will stand with us to protect the public services we provide.” The union aims to have 90 percent of members registered and ready to vote.

Election ‘08 presents unprecedented circumstances: At no other time in U.S. history has opportunity been as great, possibilities as diverse. The next president can be male or female, African American, Latino or white. AFSCME plans to win big in ’08 races for at least 33 Senate seats, all 435 seats in the House and numerous state and local offices.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, DC 37’s parent union, aims to raise $35 million in PEOPLE dollars to help elect the best candidates in 2008. The goal is to have at least 25 percent of all PEOPLE members enrolled as Most Valuable Participants, MVPs, who give at least $100 a year in voluntary payroll deductions. Two special new one-time incentive awards have been added to the program: PEOPLE MVP Gold, for members who give $250 per year, and PEOPLE MVP Platinum, for $500 per year contributors.

The union terminated its VIP incentive program effective Oct. 1, but will continue to provide a one-time incentive for members who contribute between $50 and $100. Contributors who joined the old VIP program prior to the termination date will be “grandfathered” into the new program.

“If we want to protect our rights, keep our health and pension benefits and save our jobs and services from the chopping block, it can no longer be business as usual,” said PEOPLE Committee Chair Kevin D. Smith, president of Local 1655. “We’ve got to bring our A-game and sign up as many PEOPLE MVPs as possible.”

Under Bush, unions have been shrinking, big corporations have gotten richer and policies have been set by right-wing, anti-labor, anti-women, anti-civil rights politicians. Roberts said, “We have people power, strength in numbers. PEOPLE can raise the money we need to win the White House, retain control of Congress and prevail against those who attack labor and public services.”

—Diane S. Williams