From Mass AFL-CIO
On the 8th day of the 8th month in the year 2008, 88 days is all that remains before November 4th, when Americans will take to the polls and exercise the power of the vote. Fed up with policies that favor only the rich, working families across the country will send a resounding message that any continuation of the anti-labor Bush agenda is unacceptable. On that same day, anti-labor Senators across the country are up for reelection; and are facing candidates who are committed to fighting for working families.
There are eight particular Senate races up on the front lines in the fight to turn around America. Alaska, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, and Virginia all have the opportunity to oust Senators who have repeatedly voted against the interests of working families. If pro-worker candidates are elected to these seats, the Democrats will have the 60 votes needed to get past a Republican filibuster or cloture and get the Employee Free Choice Act, and other meaningful legislation passed.
- In Alaska, Mayor of Anchorage Mark Belgich is running against Republican Senator Ted Stevens. Stevens has recently been indicted for accepting illegal donations from contractors. Alaska deserves someone with a commitment to a higher standard of ethics. Belgich has been endorsed by the Alaskan AFL-CIO and is a strong supporter of the Employee Free Choice Act.
- Bruce Lunsford, running in Kentucky, is attempting to unseat Republican Senator Mitch McConnell. McConnell is the Republican minority leader who has an 11 percent lifetime labor voting record. Among the Senator's anti-worker efforts, he has led the fight against working family-friendly policies like children's health insurance, a real economic stimulus bill, and he was instrumental in the obstruction of the Employee Free Choice Act. Bruce Lunsford has the endorsement of the Kentucky AFL-CIO and has pledged to work with union members, and to support the Employee Free Choice Act.
- In Maine, U.S. Congressman Tom Allen is running to unseat Republican Senator Susan Collins. Senator Collins has a mere 34% lifetime labor voting record in support of working families issues and has repeatedly supported President Bush's efforts to pass anti-worker legislation. Rep. Allen received the endorsement of the Maine AFL-CIO and has committed to supporting the Employee Free Choice Act. Throughout his service as Congressman, he has advocated for Maine's working families.
- Al Franken has secured the Minnesota AFL-CIO endorsement for Senator in his race to unseat Republican Senator Norm Coleman, a viciously anti-union Senator who has made Al Franken's support of unions a central point in his campaign. Senator Coleman has refused to condemn anti-worker advertisements that attempt to equate unions with mobs, a scare tactic meant to scare voters off Franken.
- Former New Hampshire Governor Jeanne Shaheen is running against Senator John Sununu, who has one of the worst lifetime Labor Voting Record. Senator Sununu voted against working families 90% of the time. Sen. Sununu voted against health care for children, has sponsored health care policies that would make health care more expensive for New Hampshire's workers, and he actively opposes the Employee Free Choice Act. Jeanne Shaheen has the endorsement of the New Hampshire AFL-CIO and has pledged to support working family friendly policies, just like she consistently did as Governor.
- In North Carolina, the Republican Senator Elizabeth Dole has ascribed to hurtful Bush economic policies. Not only has Senator Dole repeatedly voted for anti-worker legislation, she is scheduled to speak at a rally against the Employee Free Choice Act and other worker-friendly legislation. Her labor-backed opponent Kay Hagen will push for incentives to keep jobs at home and has a long record of fighting for quality schools, job training, and affordable healthcare.
- In Oregon, Oregon House Speaker Jeff Merkley has been endorsed by the AFL-CIO to the lead the fight for working families against Republican Senator Gordon Smith. The Center for Union Facts, a misnomer, has financed advertisements targeting Merkley's support for the Employee Free Choice Act; making their choice clear: the anti-labor Senator Smith.
- Former Virginia Governor Mark Warner is competing to fill the open senate seat against Republican James Gillmore III, who has a dismal pro-labor record and does not support the Employee Free Choice Act. For Virginia, if Mark Warner wins, this would be the first time since 1970 the Commonwealth has had two Democratic U.S. Senators and a Democratic Governor.
During the last 88 days till the election, union members across the country will continue a massive grassroots mobilization effort to not only block Senator McCain from continuing the 8 years of Bush's anti-labor agenda, but to also oust anti-worker Senators from Washington, D.C. The Labor Movement will turn around America by fighting to elect Senate leaders and a President who will be champions for affordable health care, restore the freedom to unionize, and will transform this country.
