PRESS RELEASE from Laborers'
International Union of North America
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jacob Hay, (202) 942-2285, (202) 445-4788 or jhay@liuna.org
LIUNA Makes Final
Election Push and Promotes Build America Agenda for the Next Administration
Election Night Ads Call on New President
and Congress To Build America, so America Works
Washington, D.C. (October 31,
2008) – Next week on Monday and Tuesday, the Laborers'
International Union of North America will make a final push to elect
Senator Barack Obama with 48 Hours
to Elect a Build America President – a massive member-to-member
"get out the vote" phone banking operation that is expected to reach
thousands of LIUNA members in battleground states who support Senator
Obama.
So far this election cycle, LIUNA's phone banking program resulted in
over 100,000 member-to-member conversations about registering to vote,
electing a "Build America President" in Barack Obama, early voting and
getting involved in the campaign. The program uses sophisticated
technology that allows members to volunteer at home or on cell phones
from anywhere.
48 Hours to Elect a Build America
President will compliment LIUNA's effort on the ground where
thousands of volunteers will be out in full force to elect Senator
Obama and progressive candidates for Congress and state office. During
the 2008 election cycle, LIUNA recruited more than 15,000 volunteers,
distributed more than a half-million flyers on job sites, and sent over
two million robo-call messages, one million emails, thousands of text
messages and delivered six separate mail pieces to its half-million
members – the working class voters in battleground states who will
decide this election.
LIUNA's $15 million 2008 election budget more than doubles the $6
million the union allocated in 2004 and is five times greater than the
$3 million allocated in 2000.
"The stakes in this election are higher for our members, for all
working people and for our country than ever before," said LIUNA
General President Terry O'Sullivan. "The policies of the last eight
years have hurt our economy and left nearly a million construction
workers unemployed. We need a change to get people back to work and
overwhelmingly our members believe Senator Obama will bring that
change."
LIUNA Shifting Focus to
Post-Election Build America Agenda
As the polls close on election night, LIUNA will already be shifting
its focus to promoting a build America agenda for the next President
and Congress. LIUNA will run its television ad "Build" during election
night coverage on CNN and MSNBC in Washington, DC and Chicago. The ad
issues a call to "fix our roads and bridges, and build the new rail and
renewable energy we need" and urges viewers to tell Congress and the
new President to "build America so America works."
"Before the dust settles in this election, we are going to be out with
our agenda to build America," said O'Sullivan. "In an August speech to
our union, Senator Obama announced he will be the 'build America
President' and promised to invest needed resources to rebuild our
country."
The television spot is part of LIUNA's Build America, so America Works,
campaign – an intensive and sustained effort to redirect our nation's
priorities and resources to building America and taking care of our
basics – the roads, bridges, schools, mass transit and energy systems
we all rely on but that have been neglected and underfunded for decades.
In a November session of Congress, LIUNA is calling for economic
stimulus that includes $100 billion for needed projects to put people
back to work building America. According to Department of
Transportation estimates, a $100 billion infusion of funds for crucial
ready-to-go projects across the country would create more than 1
million jobs.
"America's workers need paychecks, not stimulus checks," O'Sullivan
said. "Jobs building America are too good to keep losing."
In the long term, LIUNA is looking for a nationwide commitment to build
America noting the American Society of Civil Engineers gives our basics
a near failing grade and estimates $1.6 trillion is needed over the
next five years.
"We need a new approach that takes care of America for a change," said
O'Sullivan. "Building America is a prudent investment that creates
jobs, keeps us safe and moving, our economy growing and commerce
running."
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The members of LIUNA – the Laborers’
International Union of North America – are on the forefront of the
construction industry, a powerhouse of workers who are proud to build
America. For more information on Build America so America Works, visit
www.LiunaBuildsAmerica.org.