The AFL-CIO’s Labor 2018 campaign, an aggressive voter education effort leading up to the midterm elections, will kick off tomorrow across the country as working people hold a nationwide day of action. With canvasses and phone banks taking place in at least 26 states, thousands of volunteers will have conversations with fellow union members about the issues at stake for working people in November.

Armed with materials blazoned “Issues Matter. Vote Union” and “I’m Union. I Vote,” canvassers will knock doors months earlier than in previous election cycles. Organizers are aiming to deploy a member-driven political program that prioritizes a long-running discussion about working family issues over partisan labels and personality-focused rhetoric.

“We’re unleashing the largest and most strategic member-to-member political program in our history, sparking change by doing what we do best: Talking to each other,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. “Street-by-street and person-by-person, we’re having conversations about the issues that matter most: Higher wages, better benefits, time off, a secure retirement and a fair return on our labor. By starting now and putting our agenda first, we’ll be able to cut through the television ad blitz and political noise of October and November.”

Tomorrow’s launch comes in the wake of several recent election victories delivered by working people in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, California, Wisconsin, Virginia and elsewhere. Based on previous exit polling, the AFL-CIO expects union households to make up approximately 20% of the midterm electorate this year.

Contact: John Weber

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October 4, 2018

AFL-CIO Ad Marks Historic Media Investment in Communities of Color

The AFL-CIO this week launched a massive get-out-the-vote campaign, airing ads on African American and Spanish-language radio in 26 targeted media markets across the country. The high six-figure buy marks the largest such investment in communities of color in the AFL-CIO’s history.

“Stand up, speak out and be heard,” the ad urges. “Vote for good jobs and a secure retirement. Vote for affordable, quality health care. Vote for dignity, equality and opportunity.”

“The labor movement is in a unique position to mobilize these communities and turn people out to the polls. At a time when trust is so rare in politics, working people are still turning to our unions for guidance,” said Julie Greene, AFL-CIO director of Political/Electoral & Issues Mobilization.

“Whether we’re at the door, on the phone, at the worksite, in the mailbox or over the airwaves, these conversations are going to make the difference over the next few weeks. We have the power to educate and mobilize our brothers and sisters.”

The ads will air in English and Spanish through Election Day in the following markets:

Albany, Georgia                     
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Atlanta, Georgia
Augusta, Georgia
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Columbus, Georgia    
Columbus, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Denver–Boulder, Colorado
Detroit, Michigan
Harrisburg–Lebanon, Pennsylvania
Jacksonville, Florida
Kansas City, Missouri
Lansing–East Lansing, Michigan
Las Vegas, Nevada
Miami–Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Phoenix, Arizona
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Reno, Nevada
St. Louis, Missouri
Tampa–St. Petersburg, Florida
Toledo, Ohio
West Palm Beach–Boca Raton, Florida

Contact: John Weber

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October 18, 2018

AFL-CIO Launches Largest Digital Ad Campaign in Federation’s History

Three weeks before Election Day, the AFL-CIO has launched a massive digital ad campaign to mobilize working people across the country. This latest piece of a multifaceted political program will deploy a blend of Facebook, Instagram and Google ads to boost labor-endorsed candidates in 27 gubernatorial, Senate and House races.

This single largest digital ad buy in the AFL-CIO’s history will reach more than 10 million voters in 15 states by Election Day. It is part of a broader get-out-the-vote campaign that includes a nationwide member-to-member field program, direct mail and radio ads.

“In these final weeks, the labor movement is going to bring it home for pro-worker candidates at every level,” said AFL-CIO Communications Director Josh Goldstein. “For months, we’ve been mobilizing our members and getting ready for this moment, winning key victories along the way. Now, we’re poised for a labor wave across the country and this creative digital campaign is a key part of it.”

“On November 6, stand with the candidate who supports the right to collectively bargain, works to increase your wages and makes sure every student in Georgia gets a quality education,” urges one ad targeting working Georgians. “Go vote for Stacey Abrams, a governor for working people.”

The campaign, in the following states, will run through Election Day:

Arizona
Colorado
Florida
Georgia
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
Nevada
Ohio
Pennsylvania
Wisconsin

Contact: John Weber