Public Employee Press

2012 Election
DC 37 helps Obama win a second term

By ALFREDO ALVARADO and GREGORY N. HEIRES

From the battleground states of Florida and Pennsylvania to the streets of New York City, activists from the union's big Green Machine joined the more than 65,000 members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, DC 37's national union, in a massive nationwide campaign to re-elect President Barack Obama.

"We are proud of the role AFSCME members and our sisters and brothers in the labor movement played in this critical victory," said AFSCME President Lee Saunders, the day after the election. "Our volunteers went into action
combining cutting-edge voter communications with massive grassroots strength."

At DC 37 headquarters in Lower Manhattan, the activists sprung into action making thousands of telephone calls to fellow New Yorkers urging them to vote.

The union also hosted two pre-presidenial-debate pep rallies in October. "You don't need an ID to vote," Political Action Director Wanda Williams reminded members at one of the rallies.

DC 37 lawyers joined a nationwide effort to make sure people weren't denied their right to vote, especially in the battleground state of Florida. (See accompanying article.)

Out-of-state campaigning

Scores of union activists traveled to Philadelphia and spent the weekend going door to door on behalf of Obama.

"It was awesome," said Marcelo Puleo, a retired School Aide and veteran activist. "The people were impressed that we came all the way from New York to help Obama."

Isabel Figueroa, 2nd vice president of Hospital Employees Local 420, made the trip with four other members from her local and was impressed with the training they received at the District Council 33 headquarters in Philadelphia. "They were fantastic," she said of the staff at the AFSCME affiliate. Figueroa and other members of the Green Machine spent an afternoon going door to door in North Philadelphia. "The people told us not to worry, they were totally behind Obama," she said.

Aurea Mangual, a Community Coordinator and member of SSEU Local 371, volunteered to go to Orlando, where her Spanish-speaking skills came in handy. "I was looking forward to volunteering," said Mangual, who has worked on several campaigns. "When they called I was ready."

Activists also traveled to Connecticut on behalf of Democrat Christopher Murphy who won his U.S. Senate race against pro-wrestling mogul Linda E. McMahon. Joseph Lieberman previously held the seat.

Joining Murphy in the Senate will be pro-worker candidates Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Tim Kaine of Virginia and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. DC37 staffer Tessa Viera and Local 372 member Elaine Hodges visited Massachusetts to campaign for Warren.

Mauricio Estrellas, a member of Local 375, was one of several union members on the streets of Manhattan on Election Day. "We have to deliver for Obama, a lot is at stake here," he said, as he passed out flyers.

The Green Machine also endorsed Democratic State Sen. Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. of Queens who won his election, and Congresswoman Nydia M. Velazquez, who also won.

AFSCME's aggressive political campaign was part of a nationwide mobilization by the U.S. labor movement to turn back anti-labor initiatives by right-wing interests.

Grassroots people power

In California, labor activists campaigned against Proposition 32, which would have prohibited unions from using automatic payroll deductions to support political activities. Voters in California also passed Proposition 30, which will generate $6 billion dollars in revenues for the state's coffers and maintain state and municipal workers on the job.

"This election proved there is no substitute for grassroots people power," said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. The labor federation's 56 unions contacted 10.7 million households through home visits and phone calls during the election mobilization.

Labor's support was critical for Obama in the battleground states, including Ohio, Wisconsin and Nevada.

During the last four days of the race in Ohio, where Obama won 50 percent of the vote to Romney's 48, the AFL-CIO reached out to 800,000 voters. Obama won support there partly because of the auto industry bailout, which saved 1 million jobs.

"The voters have given a mandate to protect vital programs like Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid and strengthen the middle class," Saunders said.

As Washington prepares to attempt to reach a "Grand Bargain" over looming automatic spending and tax cuts during the lame duck session of Congress, the election sent a message that a majority of voters oppose deep reductions in government programs and believe in greater tax fairness.

An election night survey by Peter D. Hart Research Associates for the AFL-CIO found 73 percent of voters believe protecting Medicare and Social Security from benefit cuts is more important than reducing the deficit. Sixty-three percent of the voters survey said it is more important to make the wealthy pay their fair share of taxes than to reduce taxes across the board.

"This election was about a choice between two very different visions for our nation," Trumka said.

"One vision rewards hard work and the people who do it, while the other benefits only those at the top. Voters rejected Romney economics. They made clear they want solutions that respect hard work, strengthen the middle class, invest in American and build upon working together instead of driving people apart. That's the leadership we've seen from President Obama for the past four years."