IBEW 1837 member Bob Toole makes a point as Jane Allen listens at Labor 2008 training.

May 29, 2008 - The Democratic Party may not have officially chosen their presidential candidate yet, but IBEW 1837’s Worksite Coordinators have already begun to take a look at some of the issues in this year’s presidential campaign. In the case of the presumptive Republican nominee, they don’t always like what they see.

“I’m concerned by John McCain’s plan to tax our health insurance benefits as income,” said Bob Toole, an IBEW 1837 Worksite Coordinator at Bangor Hydro Electric. “I’m anxious to help get the word out to other IBEW members about this and other election year issues that are important to working people.”

Brother Toole is not alone. He’s been joined by dozens of other IBEW 1837 members at our represented companies in an effort to distribute literature and share information about the policy positions of the presidential nominees as well as candidates for state and local office in the run up to November. In that way, our Worksite Coordinators can help our members to make an informed decision when they cast their ballots on Election Day.

“Because whoever we put in there will affect our jobs, will affect our benefits,” said Jane Allen, a Worksite Coordinator at Central Maine Power. “This is something we have to do as union members to protect our future.”

IBEW 1837 is working in conjunction with the New Hampshire and Maine AFL-CIO on the “Labor 2008” political program. We will be part of an effort of thousands of union members nationwide to inform and educate workers throughout this summer and into the fall. Through our Worksite Coordinators, members will receive regular issue updates and learn about opportunities to participate in labor walks, phone banks and union rallies. Research conducted by the National AFL-CIO has shown that these worksite contacts are the most effective mode of communication with our members.

“It’s more effective to have an opportunity to talk one on one with members,” said Kerry Guptill, one of the Worksite Coordinators for Public Service Company of New Hampshire. “The information leaflets are great, but they’re just a piece of the puzzle.”

The last eight years have been challenging for working people, with the skyrocketing costs of health care and an administration in Washington, D.C. that has made tremendous strides in damaging labor laws and eroding worker protections. The choices we make this November at the state, local and national level will help chart the future of our country and the world.

“With what we see going on today and the decisions being made, it’s important to be involved and know where politicians stand,” continued Sister Guptill. “Health care is an issue that’s got to be there, social security—and with what happened with the PSNH Working Foremen at the NLRB, we’ve got to elect politicians who will appoint the right people to the Labor Board.”

You can join with the other IBEW 1837 Worksite Coordinators to help make a difference this year as part of the “Labor 2008” Program of the AFL-CIO. For more information, please call IBEW 1837 Organizer Matt Beck at 207-623-1030 or email at matt@ibew1837.org.

Click here to read more about John McCain from the AFL-CIO website. This story originally appeared in the Spring 2008 issue of The Current.