Video: Organizing her neighbors
Ed Donaldson has an inspiring story about a member who was so motivated by our work that she came with him to canvass her whole neighborhood.
Video: Health care affects us all
Chris Antonneau speaks with a Marine family about health care. At first they're not sure the issue affects them, but Chris lets them know about the struggle for children's health care and it becomes clear -- the need for quality affordable health care for all affects all of us.
Video: Concerned about toxic toys
Chris Antonneau finds a new member who's concerned about toxic toys, and offers him a solution that can help keep his child.
Even hospital staff are struggling with copays
by Erica Caldwell—Pennsylvania
I spoke with one older woman who answered the door in scrubs. As soon as I mentioned that health care costs are rising five times faster than inflation, she started shaking he heard emphatically. She told me that she worked at the hospital as a secretary...
The last five dollars
by Jay Rosen—Pennsylvania
As I was canvassing in Allentown, Pennsylvania this evening, I had the pleasure of meeting a woman who was very passionate about the mission of our organization...
Unions rock for retirees
by Monica Whitby—Pennsylvania
While canvassing on the issue of health care in Dupont, Pennsylvania, I encountered a very inspiring retired woman. She was surprised and excited to see a young woman like myself taking action on this issue—especially having the courage to go door-to-door. She explained that without her union, she would have not have been able to retire for many more years. She repeatedly thanked us for our work. I'm also glad to know that though my work, I will continue to help many others like her enjoy retirement.
What the union meant to him
by E B—Colorado
This week I met a rather interesting man who began his career over fifty years ago in a unionized company manufacturing flooring. It was great to hear about unions from his perspective.
When he began working he would contribute twenty five cents a day to his pension which was matched by his employer. By the time he retired the amount was closer to fifty six cents an hour...
Sowing the seeds of change
by E B—Colorado
Today I met a fascinating man while canvassing in Thornton, Colorado. He is nearing his eightieth birthday and is still working part-time as a security guard to make ends meet. This hard working American had been fired just months before he was to receive retirement...
Helping each other
by Chelsey Evans—Minnesota
I went to this door and a young woman answered. Once I gave her the rap she signed up as a member. She told me that she does care about these issues, but she doesn't have a lot of knowledge on the subject.
She then told me that she had someone that she wanted me to meet...
My generation
by Anthony Hammes—Minnesota
Every day when I go out canvassing, I run into people that are excited to see a young face out fighting for the issues that we focus on. I feel good when the older generations praise my work, because it makes me finish my work every night and come back the next day.
I realize that my future is important and I would like to make sure that my generation is able to support themselves.
Another person denied care
by Justin Geiger—Minnesota
I was out canvassing and spoke to a woman who signed up as a member. She told me she could not get an operation. She has a condition that is a precursor to cancer, but the insurance company would not operate unless it was cancer. The sheer notion that they would do this is outrageous. I was very appalled.
Great night in Winona
by Lee Erickson—Minnesota
I was canvassing in Winona, MN. I was having a pretty good night, until I went to this one door later in the evening. The gentlemen was really into politics and was very passionate about the issues. Before I could even ask for a dues payment, he had the five dollars in his hand. My pretty good night ended up being a great night.
Cookies!
by Beruk Zeru—Minnesota
So I was out canvassing with my trainer, Chelsey and I had a spell where I had a few doors being slammed in my face. We approached this next door and a woman came to the door, I began giving her my rap...
“The best knock I had all day!”
by David Delanoy—Pennsylvania
As soon as she opened the door, she didn't look very happy to see me. When I told her who I was and my purpose in being there, she looked at me curiously and asked me if I was "for real." I said, "I'm as real as the health care problem in America!" We both had a laugh.
She went on to tell me about how she is just getting over a stroke, and that her son was recovering from eight surgeries on his hip. She said that what we are doing is great and that I was the best knock she'd had all day. With a smile, she thanked me and said, "Continue fighting!"
Planting the seeds for activism
by Jennifer Hofelich—Pennsylvania
I was sitting on the sidewalk finishing up my paperwork for the night. At the end of the street, I noticed a group of young people (11-12 years old) walking toward me. As they passed, one of the young girls said, "What are you doing?"...
Getting fired up
by David Delanoy—Pennsylvania
Today is my observation day. One of the gentlemen I talked to left me with a feeling of accomplishment. When I spoke to him about outsourcing of jobs, he seemed to get sad...
She kept me pushing on
by Tamara Stanley—Ohio
It was the first day of sweat-breaking heat in Dayton, Ohio. The weather was hot in Dayton's working class west side, but my efforts were not futile. I met a diverse group of people. Prior to my interaction, my night as a trainee was not going as planned, but the influence of my contacts, and their expressed need for change, strengthened my need to push on...
They brightened my day
by Rachelle Paynter—Colorado
We've all had those nights where we feel like it cannot get any better. It could be a matter of the weather or you may have worn the wrong shoes on turf.
A few days ago I was having one of these nights...
A glimmer of hope
by Rachelle Paynter—Colorado
I've been in Colorado for a month now. The people here are amazing, but one woman in particular stands out in my mind. I was canvassing in Thornton, Colorado, which is an area that has been devastated by massive amounts of foreclosures. I met a woman who had been laid off at her job recently...
First time voting at age 55
by Kara Kukovich—Pennsylvania
I encountered a middle-aged man working in his yard while canvassing. After talking about jobs being lost in Pennsylvania, he asked me if I voted in the primary...
“Hand over that clipboard!”
by Nabil Cristillo—Pennsylvania
It's a nice spring day in Swoyersville, a small community devastated by job loss. I walk up to an older couple who are sitting on their front porch enjoying the sun. I began talking to them about the jobs that had been outsourced from the area...
Jobs are shrinking
by Donald Pettyjohn—Ohio
While canvassing in Dayton, Ohio (the second rated city in America for job loss), I met a man who told me his job had been outsourced to Asia after working there for 13 years. This man was a very big, well-built gentleman and when he talked about his job with a lump in his throat...
Video: Turn around America
Erin Gill breaks it down at the AFL-CIO's Turn Around America Rally, talking about all the issues that matter most for working families.
Video: Budding activist
Patricia Penton encounters a young activist-to-be while our signing up members.
Video: Canvassers get fired up
Our Allentown, Pennsylvania office gets fired up for a night of knocking on doors.
Working overtime to find a job
by Jonathon Vogt—Ohio
Wednesday was one of the first warm days our office has had after a long winter of canvassing. I walked down a street in west Dayton thirsty and unprepared for the heat.
Then I met this woman. I told her that we were fighting to keep good jobs in Ohio and we needed members to hold our politicians accountable. She told me that she would sign up but that she was very tired; she had been awake for the last eighteen hours...
Out of work with carpal tunnel
by Kara Kukovich—Pennsylvania
I was canvassing in Pottsville, PA and met a woman with a heavily-bandaged hand. I talked to her about job losses. She told me how bad the job situation was, that she had just lost her manufacturing job because the factory shut down. Ironically, her hand was bandaged because she had developed carpal tunnel at this factory job!
Misdiagnosed
by Lauren Vlot—Pennsylvania
I spoke at length with a woman who could barely speak. She often has to crawl up her steps because she can't breathe. She had gotten sick, and the polyps on her lungs were misdiagnosed. Therefore, they burst and her lungs filled with fluid. She had been in a coma, but miraculously recovered. Now she's without health care and the state has not yet declared her disabled.
It costs to leave the hospital
by A. Mark Robinson—Pennsylvania
I spoke with a middle-aged man in Exeter, PA about health care. He immediately started talking about how he had to borrow money ($400) from his boss so he could purchase a vital breathing machine for his mother. The hospital would not release her until the machine was in place. He told me he could not read and thus, called for his sister to read the clipboard and signed up as a member.
Struggling in retirement
by Travis Blake—Pennsylvania
While signing up members in South Whithall, PA, I came to the house of a lady who is retired and disabled. She needs a wheelchair and walker just to get around the house. She also has an autistic child she takes care of. She is struggling to pay her own health care bills, as well as struggling to do all she can for her autistic child.
This woman is a saint
by Travis Blake—Pennsylvania
When I was signing up a woman as a member, she expressed great concern for the soaring health care costs. When she invited me in her home, she introduced me to her brother...
Cancer without health care
by Jackie Lima—Pennsylvania
Once we were in her living room, looking at the clipboard, she looked teary eyed and told me that her husband died three months prior. And then her son died three weeks after that. He had cancer and couldn't get hospitalization, even with the melanoma on his arm...
“Give me that!”
by Jackie Lima—Pennsylvania
"Give me that! I'll sign it. I don't know how people do it who don't have health care. My husband recently had a heart attack. He needed defibrillation, they put in three stents and he was in the hospital for 14 days. His bill was $260,000. Can you believe that? What do people do who don't have health care? I'll sign!"
Personal experience with our issues
by Shane Gleason—Ohio
One day I came across a man who almost immediately invited me in. He had been outsourced himself and had to take a one third cut in income. As he signed up we talked...
Health care cut when he finally needed it
by Dean Powers—New Mexico
I met a guy who worked ten years for a company, a brake supply and repair chain. For ten years he had health coverage.
When he developed cancer and needed his health care more than ever, but couldn't work the 60 hour work-weeks that his company demanded of him, they let him go...him and all of his benefits; a simple write-off...
What veterans are facing
by Adam Gazdalski—Pennsylvania
A veteran from the war in Vietnam brought to my attention the correlation between the treatment of soldiers back then and today. I became aware of the large volume of soldiers that come home from Iraq to face inadequate health care, debt, and life without a job. What an injustice to the people who serve our country! The man was eager to sign up as a member and also asked about volunteer opportunities.
Help for their daughter
by Jeremy Reiferson—Pennsylvania
A couple informed me that their six year old daughter was in need of heart surgery and they were grateful that SCHIP (the State Children's Health Insurance Program) would cover the expenses. However, they were horrified that had one of them been in need they would not have qualified for any assistance from the state. The couple eagerly signed up to support a stronger health care system for America.
Military service brings issues to the frontline
by Tommy Todd—Missouri
The other night, I met a Marine who had just returned from a two year tour in Iraq. When I started to talk to him about the issues, he stopped me and said that he was a Republican. What he said next was quite a shock...
Work injury means piling bills
by Marcella Drennan—Virginia
Last week I met a 32-year-old gentleman who had been injured at work. He had fallen at a construction site and broke his leg. He had not worked for his company long enough to have benefits. He is trying to apply for worker's compensation, but his boss wasn't trying to give it to him. He'd filed for unemployment, which he said was "a joke." So the bills are piling up and he said he now needs surgery on the leg. Even though he was unemployed, he still gave a $5 dues payment. He also let me use the bathroom and gave me some Sunny Delight.
Concerned about education
by Tim Robertson—Virginia
Last week, in an apartment complex in Herndon, I spoke with a gentleman who was a naturalized U.S. citizen from India. We engaged in a rather broad conversation about the issues as he became a Working America member, but he was constantly lamenting a problem he'd seen since moving to the U.S...
Making America work again
CLIFF SCHECTER—OHIO
This is the core value of Working America, a community affiliate of the AFL-CIO. In every sense of the word.
Working America seeks to put hard-working Americans—often victims of a
system that provides pecuniary rewards for venal CEOs for shipping jobs abroad,
slashing health care plans and blowing up respected firms while pocketing
obscene amounts of cash—back to work (and improve conditions for many
others), while making this a country work for most
Americans once again, as it did from the 1930s-1980s...
The click
by Phil McCahill—Pennsylvania
"I remember you!" the young man said as he opened the screen door and stepped out on his front porch to greet me. I remembered him, too, from my first time getting involved with Working America in 2006. "Yeah, you came by with another guy to endorse Jason Altmire for Congress. I wasn't too involved, but you convinced me..."
“Hey, Sharon!”
by Angel Gober—Pennsylvania
We thought we weren't gonna make it, my partner and I, because of all of the obstacles we faced on turf. Some other canvassers were out in the neighborhood for different purposes were knocking on doors moments before we got there, so we were starting late...
Results in: Health Care for America Survey
Over a period of just seven weeks, from Jan. 14 to March 3, a total of 26,419 people took the online 2008 Health Care for America Survey sponsored by the AFL-CIO and Working America. Most are insured and employed. Most are college graduates. More than half are union members.
These are the people, it would seem, most likely to have positive experiences with America’s health care system. Instead, their responses tell a sobering story about the breadth of the problems with health care in America. They say our system has fundamental problems that must be fixed.
The people who took the survey also submitted 7,489 heart-wrenching stories about the effects of this broken health care system on them and their families. You’ll see some of their stories throughout the report.
See the report here. You can also download a PDF version.
Us and them
by Dave Ninehouser—Pennsylvania