November 5, 2008

Contact: Jeff Miller or Candice Johnson, CWA Communications

Washington, D.C. -- The Communications Workers of America conducted an aggressive and very successful outreach to union members for Election 2008 that produced real results and support for candidates who support working families.

CWA was committed to focusing on worksite contacts and one-on-one, member-to-member conversations as the most effective way of engaging members in discussion on the issues and the candidates. This work was supplemented by phone banking, labor walks, mailings and other actions throughout the battleground states.

CWA worked with the Alliance – a coalition of the Steel Workers, Auto Workers, Professional and Technical Engineers and CWA – in seven states, and also did extensive independent work in other battleground states, in addition to joining AFL-CIO efforts.

The Alliance was active in these states --Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota, Louisiana, Mississippi and Kentucky – and efforts focused both on the presidential race as well as key senate races.

In Mississippi, where CWA is the largest union in the state, representing state employees, telecom and other workers, nearly 300 CWA volunteers leafleted worksites, made telephone calls, held labor walks three days a week and met one-on-one with members, working more than 1,400 volunteer shifts.

In Virginia, where CWA also is the largest union in the state, members and some 800 volunteers held labor walks every day throughout the state, made thousands of phone calls and distributed leaflets at hundreds of worksites where activists held one-on-one discussions with members.

"CWA members are proud to have played a big part in this historic election. It is a huge victory for working and middle income families, who soon will have in the White House and in Congress real advocates for the critical change our country and economy needs – a laser focus on creating quality jobs here in the U.S., real health care reform and real bargaining rights through the Employee Free Choice Act that will enable working people to secure a better future," said CWA President Larry Cohen.  Among CWA's campaign highlights:

• More than 100 coordinators in Alliance and other battleground states mobilized 10,000 member volunteers for Election 2008 actions. 
• During the week of worksite action in October, more than 1,500 worksites were leafleted in across five CWA districts.
• CWA members in New York and New Jersey took buses every weekend to Pennsylvania to support labor actions, worksite leafleting and labor walks.
• CWA members and locals held more than 1,000 debate watch and convention watch parties.
• More than 700,000 leaflets were distributed at worksites and other locations, produced by CWA to focus on members' key issues – jobs, the McCain tax on health care, veterans' issues, the economy, guns and the second amendment, equal pay for women, and more.
• Mailings to nearly 100,000 retired members focused on the McCain tax on health care, social security and other issues important to retirees. 
• 200,000 members in battleground states received a series of mailings comparing Senators Obama and McCain on the issues.