Washington, DC -- International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) General President James Williams and union staff will be traveling the country to meet with local labor leaders and union members to rally support for Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

As part of the IUPAT’s “It’s About Us!” campaign, Mr. Williams and his staff will travel by bus to cities throughout Florida, and then will fly to the nation’s most hotly contested battleground states, including Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

“This election is the most critical since the Great Depression to the future of working Americans,” Mr. Williams said. “The IUPAT has always been one of the most politically active unions in this country, so we’re hitting the road to visit with working families to get them excited about this election and show them how important their vote is this year.”

The IUPAT’s bus, painted black and gold – the union’s official colors –will be making stops in cities throughout Florida, including a kick off rally in Jacksonville on Monday, October 20. A rally will also be held on October 31 in Tampa Bay, outside Obama’s Florida campaign headquarters.

IUPAT leaders will also visit Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Miami, Lansing, Toledo and Cleveland, as well as Pittsburgh and Scranton, finishing the tour in Philadelphia on Election night.

Williams is available to the media to offer his insight and opinion on what this election means for working families and the country. Members of the press are also invited to join the IUPAT bus while it travels through Florida.

Dubbed the 'Army of Black and Gold' by members of the media in 2000, the IUPAT endorsed Senator Obama in June of this year and is recognized as one of the most politically active unions within the labor movement.

The IUPAT represents more than 160,000 active and retired IUPAT members in North America. Its members are painters, glaziers, floor coverers and drywall finishers, among other construction trades.