BadNewsforKentuckyGov.IsGoodNewsforWorkingFamilies

RacheleHuennekens,AFL-CIOMediaOutreachfellow,isbloggingandleafletingherwaythroughtheeighthdayofa10-daybustourthroughKentucky,whereformerLt.Gov.SteveBeshear(D)ischallengingGov.ErnieFletcher(R),whohascanceledbargainingrightsforstateemployeesandtakenotheranti-workerstands.DozensoflocallaborleadersandunionvolunteersaretakingpartintheBluegrassExpresstour,whichovertheweekendmadestopsatmanydiverseworksites.

OnFriday,KentuckyStateAFL-CIOPresidentBillLondrigan,AFL-CIOfieldrepresentativeDonSlaiman,Labor2007zonecoordinatorEddieBowlingandIwerejoinedbyUnitedSteelworkers(USW)Local14300PresidentBenSuttlesandUSWVicePresidentGarySmith.Together,wedistributedleafletsattheJackson/MSCsteelplantinBarbourvilleinsoutheasternKentucky.Next,wevisitedthenearbySealTechnologiesplantandthenmadeourwaytoLexington,wherewedistributedleafletstoBrendaLynn,SEIULocal541vicepresident,topassontomembersofherlocalunionwhoareemployedatthefamousKeenelandhorseracetrack.

OnSundayandMondaymornings,thebusmovedtoAshlandinnortheasternKentucky,wherewemadethreestops:atthehugeAKSteelPlant,withmembersofUSWLocal1865,ataCingularcallcenter,joiningmembersofCommunicationsWorkersofAmerica(CWA)Local3371,andattheRacelandrailyard,withmembersoftheUnitedTransportationUnion(UTU).

Everywherewewent,wecouldfeeltheexcitementamongunionmembers.Nearlyeveryonehadheardabouttheelectionandmanypeoplehadstrongfeelingsaboutthecandidatesandwereconcernedaboutworkingfamilyissuessuchasaffordablehealthcare, thefreedomtoformaunion andgoodjobs. 

Thispositiveresponsewasnodifferentfromthepastsevendaysofthetour.Sofar,atsomeofthemostdiverseworksitespossible,theBluegrassExpresshasbeenverysuccessfulinstimulatingdiscussionandinterestaboutpoliticsamongunionmembers. 

SlaimanhighlightedthereasonsweallaretakingpartintheBluegrassExpresstour.

Regardlessofitbeingabehemothpowerplant,atobaccofactory,asteelplant,acallcenter,aracetrack,oraconstructionsite,there’salwaysaconversationgoingon[amongco-workers]thatweneedtobepartof.That’swhyit’simportanttoengageourmembersinvarioussettings.

AddsLondrigan:

Whenwedistributeleafletsoutsideagivenworkplace,theconversationand“buzz”aboutpoliticsandtheupcomingelectionsbuildsinside.Withaleafletinhand,unionmembersaremotivatedtotalktotheirco-workersandfamilymembers. 

That’sbadnewsforGov.Fletcherandhisgreedycorporatecronies,butevenworseforthem:There’snowaytheycanstopthegrowingexcitementandpoliticalengagementtheBluegrassExpresshasgeneratedacrossthestate.

OnNov.6,Kentucky’sworkingfamiliesaregoingtoflextheirpoliticalmusclelikeneverbefore,andIcanhardlywait!

--AFL-CIO;courtesyofFrankLeidermann,AssociateEditor