Labor Runs Unprecedented Electoral Program Across TN

The TN State AFL-CIO and its five Central Labor Councils, the local bodies of the AFL-CIO, ran a robust coordinated electoral program in every part of our state this year, the largest labor electoral program in recent memory. This effort aimed to educate union members and their families about labor-endorsed candidates and to encourage them to vote.

Over the past two months, union member volunteers and paid canvassers have made over 28,000 phone calls and knocked on almost 22,000 doors. They also utilized social media, mailings, text messages, distributing flyers at worksites, candidate forums, and GOTV events to reach union voters.

“I can’t remember the last time we had this much excitement and activity around the elections,” reflected June Rostan, retiree from the AFL-CIO, and volunteer with the Knoxville-Oak Ridge Central Labor Council. “We’ve had so many candidates who were excited about gaining Labor’s endorsement, because they knew we would work to educate our members about where they stand on issues important to working families, such as Medicaid expansion, public education, wages, and collective bargaining.”

“Union members know that we are strong in the workplace, but after door knocking and calling thousands of other union members, we’re seeing that we have so much potential political power, too, and we’re working to turn that potential into a reality,” said Jeffrey Lichtenstein, Campaigns Coordinator of the AFL-CIO of Memphis.

“No matter what the outcome of the election, union members have built a strong member to member program that will continue to build power for working families long after this election cycle is over,” said Vonda McDaniel, President of the Central Labor Council of Nashville and Middle TN, and coordinator of the TN Labor 2018 Electoral Program.