In its endorsement statement, the AFL-CIO General Board cited Obama’s strong support of working families on issues such aslike health care reform, fair trade that will lift up workers here and around the world, retirement security and the freedom to form unions and bargain for middle-class living standards. Obama has a 98 percent voting record on working families’ issues, compared to just 16 percent for Sen. John McCain.

"Senator Barack Obama has secured the nomination of his party in a campaign that has energized millions of Americans and spoken to the hopes and dreams of people from every corner of our nation," read the AFL-CIO General Board’s statement to endorse Obama. "His leadership can re-engage disenfranchised Americans and bring our country together." The General Board, which includes presidents of all 56 unions in the federation as well as Executive Council members and representatives of state and local federations, trade departments and constituency groups, votesd by per capita membership.

The endorsement is not only a stamp of approval; it marks the beginning of a huge, united political mobilization among working class voters. The AFL-CIO will focus on mobilizing more than 13 million union votersÿincluding union members, families of members, retirees and members of the AFL-CIO community affiliate Working Americaÿin 24 priority states, working to elect U.S. senators and representatives, as well as state and local candidates.

"We’ll work our hearts out for Barack Obama,

The endorsement is the latest phase in a massive grassroots program to mobilize union voters. In early March, the AFL-CIO launched its national "McCain Revealed" campaign, which focuses on educating union voters about John McCain’s anti-worker record and plans. Since the campaign began, AFL-CIO volunteers have knocked on more than 60,000 doors and delivered 1.5 million worksite flyers on McCain’s economic record. Nearly a half-million mailers on McCain’s economic positions have been sent to union swing voters in key battlegrounds.

"We want to engage our members and all working people on the need for action on the issues that make a difference in our daily lives," said International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) President Ed Hill. "It is time to move beyond name callin g and division so that our country can take positive action on the challenges we face."

Elements of the AFL-CIO grassroots mobilization:

• The AFL-CIO top-tier states in 2008 are Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
• More than 250,000 volunteers will be activated and deployed.
• Through Labor Day, volunteers will go to 150,000300,000 union voters’ homes, make more thanover 150,000300,000 phone calls and distribute over 21 million fliers.
• In addition to the presidential election, the AFL-CIO is engaged in every viable Senate race and more than 60 House races. All told, the AFL-CIO will be engaged in more than 510 races nationwide, including state legislative elections.
• The unions of the AFL-CIO will collectively devote more than $200 million to the 2008 election.
• The 2008 grassroots mobilization is the most sophisticated program the AFL-CIO has ever run, employing cutting-edge voter communication techniques, including micro-targeting to ensure our members are receiving the information they want on the candidates and issues.

  Working families are poised to play a pivotal role in this year’s elections. On Election Day, union household members will account for nearly one in four voters nationwide. The campaign in support of Sen. Obama will prove especially helpful among working class voters, which many have identified as the swing group in this election.

• In key battleground states such as Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania, union household voters made up between 25 and 35 percent of the total vote in 2006; .
• In 2004, turnout among registered AFL-CIO union voters was as much as 19 percentage points higher than turnout among nonunion voters in key battleground states;.
• Working America, the community affiliate of the AFL-CIO, has expanded to 11 states and will have more than 2.5 million members nationwide by Labor Day. In Ohio alone, Working America has nearly 800,000 members;.
   
• Union household voters across all demographics consistently cast votes for pro-work ing family candidates. For example, in the last presidential election among AFL-CIO members, 61 percent of white voters voted for John Kerry, while 37 percent voted for George Bush. By contrast, among nonunion voters, 41 percent of white voters cast ballots for Kerry while 58 percent voted for Bush.
  

  For interviews with AFL-CIO leaders and affiliated union presidents, please contact the AFL-CIO Media Outreach department at 202-637-5018.

  
  

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