by Jeulia Russell—Ohio
I knocked on a senior’s door. She was a nice older woman. I told her who I was and with and what we were doing–fighting to lower the costs of health care.
She told me she had never had health insurance until she was 65 years old, and she said it was hard because she’s on a fixed income. I assured her that what we’re fighting for was going to pay off and she became a dues-paying member and she brightened my day and my confidence.
Tags: health care, seniors
by Sue Burke—Ohio
I signed up a member after talking with her about health care. She told me that her son had Parkinson’s disease. She found out a friend of hers was in the same situation. They decided they would feel better if they talked about it over coffee.
We both cried. I, because I was so moved and she because she was impressed by what Working America was all about and because we care enough to do what we do everyday.
Tags: health care, membership
by J Russell—Ohio
I was canvassing in Wapakeneton, Ohio, and ran in to a teacher. I gave him my rap and he was very excited that I had stopped by his doorstep. He was having trouble paying his medical bills so he became a member and he jumped up for joy as I assured him we’re joining together to fight for affordable health care, and we plan to win. Then he paid the voluntary dues and I thanked him for his support and contribution. He thanked me. I told him it was my pleasure to inform him about what’s going on in the world.
Tags: health care, membership, taking action
by DeAndra McCollum—Ohio
One of the great inspirations that I had on turf was when I knocked on an elderly person’s door. I was told her who I was, and explained that I was fighting to keep jobs in Ohio and lower the cost of health care. She said it was a coincidence because her husband’s job was just shipped to Mexico and told me how hard it was for them to pay their bills. They may lose their home pretty soon if her husband did not start doing something. The only income she had was the disability she receives of $600 a month and she thanked me for what I was doing and said good luck to me. So that made me feel great that I was doing something to help someone especially an elderly person.
Tags: health care, jobs, outsourcing
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.
Along my journey I met a nurse who works with veterans. She refuses to leave veterans behind for a higher paying job in England. Her passion reminded me of why I was doing the job I was doing, and how important it is to press on for better health care. The next woman I met had watched me all down the street. She seemed tired as she shared her disgruntled feelings about health care, as she was a diabetic with no health insurance. My heart broke when she mentioned it. I am so proud to be a part of Working America. The TIME FOR CHANGE IS NOW! The need for change is ever present! We are the change!
Tags: health care, taking action, veterans
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 and a tear in his eyes he seemed to physically shrink when describing the situation. Thankfully he was able to obtain a position as a corrections officer, though he wasn’t particularly fond of his new employment.
He shook my hand and thanked me for the work I was doing and had absolutely no hesitation about becoming a dues-paying member of our organization. He handed me an ice cold bottle of water before I left. The whole time thanking me for my work. I just want to give Working America a huge shout-out for giving me the opportunity for doing some good in what is sometimes a cold, confusing world!
P.S. To all Working America staff, in every state, keep up the good fight because we really do make a big difference.
Tags: jobs, membership, outsourcing
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. I asked her what kind of job she had that kept her awake for eighteen hours, assuming she worked the long hours that most people do at a hospital.
She told me that she didn’t have a job and had been continually looking for work for the last two days, revising her resume, submitting applications, attending a job fair and several interviews. Dayton ranks second in the country for most jobs lost due to outsourcing, just after Detroit. Linda’s struggles are endemic of the problems created by crooked free trade agreements that help neither American workers or workers overseas.
She said God has a plan for her and it is not for her to give up now, after a lifetime of hard work. I told her that you reap what you sow and since she was working hard, I firmly believe she will find a job. I told her that Working America will fight to make sure that people like her get the economic fair shake they deserve. She offered me a bottle of water and thanked me for stopping by. She said I could come back anytime and that she looked forward to getting involved with Working America.
Walking away no longer thirsty, I thought to myself that there is nothing that tastes better than the water you drink after knowing you made a difference in someone’s life.
Tags: jobs, outsourcing
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 and he let me know his wife had just died of cancer. He eagerly signed a band aid sticker to fix health care. When I asked him for a dues payment of $5 he promptly gave it to me. I like to think in these trying times I brought a ray of hope to him.
Tags: health care, jobs, membership, taking action
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.
As we know, with the Little Prince in power, and his heartless legions willing to sink any bill—whether it is making gazillionaires pay more taxes than their servants or providing health care for kids—this is no easy task. But they are accomplishing nothing short of miracles on a grassroots level. And I had an experience last Friday which proved this.
I went over to my local Working America office, which is located in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio accounts for one third of Working America’s members, as well as its offices (700,000 of 2.1 million members and 5 of 15 offices in states from Oregon to Minnesota). Obviously, as a part of the Rust Belt, we’ve been hit hard by neoconservative, napkin-drawn economic theories (see Laffer, Arthur) that have crippled our manufacturing base. People need to know how they can improve things for themselves and their community.
So I met up with their Central Ohio Canvass Director, Scott Sneddon, who runs a tight and enthusiastic ship. We had lunch after a daily briefing for canvassers, and then I joined two particularly talented ones, Tanesha Powell and Jon Middleton, as we headed to a downscale neighborhood in Northern Columbus.
The results, judging from my past experiences doing canvassing work, were nothing short of amazing. Let me back up for a second and explain the theory behind Working America. It is that people care most about economic issues that affect their lives, but need to be reached where they live and breathe, as most of us who don’t obsess over politics don’t always know all of our rights and the possibilities that lay in front of us.
Therefore, Working America seeks DPMs, or Dues Paying Members, the dues being a-not-so-overwhelming $5 per year, as well as the chance to let all working Americans know how they can positively impact their own economic situation. Whether it is shady trade deals, the health care crisis or keeping up wages, those who are not members of unions often do not know how important their voice can be in righting our economic wrongs.
The key part of what they do is providing a community to those unable to join unions because of corporate shenanigans or because they are retired or out of work. Working America serves as their union. And a powerful one indeed.
In the time I was with my two hosts, they easily signed up two dozen new members (some offering dues up front, others an interest joining and providing information), and this was on only two blocks at 4PM, while many were still at work. Powell and Middleton were a picture of professionalism, with a passion to better these United States. Sneddon could not be more perfectly suited for his job, a guy who had the feel of an inspirational football coach on a mission, yet one who also could right away become your best friend.
With the reptilian Roves of the world running Republican fear campaigns, and the weakening of unions over the years by corporate stooges masquerading as public servants, we need Working America today more than ever. They educate people about the issues. They create a sum greater than its parts. Hell, they produce progressives.
In any case, that was my experience and I felt duty-bound to share it. I am honored to be aligned with such an organization. And can’t wait to see their impact in November 2008 and beyond.
Cliff Schecter is a Senior Fellow at Working America. On May 1 his first book, The Real McCain: Why Conservatives Don’t Trust Him And Why Independents Shouldn’t, will be released by PoliPoint Press.
Tags: Cliff Schecter, economy, jobs, membership, outsourcing
by Donald Pettyjohn—Ohio
On my ninth day of canvassing in Dayton for Working America, I met a woman with an interesting and inspiring story. She was in her late fifties and raising her ten-year-old grandson, whose mother and father didn’t want anything to do with him. She didn’t want to see the boy sent to a foster home and so took custody of him. She explained that she had a medical problem consisting of a mass building up inside of her and didn’t know what exactly it was, except that it causes her a lot of pain. She also said that she had so many medical bills from her past problems that now she couldn’t possibly pay them with what she was receiving on social security. As such, she felt she couldn’t go to the doctor to find out what was wrong with her on her $450/month from social security. A few months ago, her social security had been raised to $520/month, but as a result her food stamp allowance had been reduced to $23/month. As she started crying, she told me that her rent was $325/month and that she could barely afford food and utilities.
She said between sobs that she couldn’t pay any dues but said she would make phone calls for Working America, put together fliers or even follow canvassers around with something cold to drink. I thanked her for her generosity and willingness to help despite her situation and she told me, “No, thank you for coming out each day trying to help better the lives of people like me.” I gave her a big hug and assured her that things will get better and she smiled.
As I left, I couldn’t help but think about what we do and the impact it has on peoples’ lives. And I know in my heart that coming to Working America was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. If we don’t stand up and fight for these people, no one will.
Tags: children, health care, membership, seniors, social security
