by Patricia Penton—Ohio
I asked a man what issue was most important to him and he eagerly replied, “Keeping our jobs here!” I was so excited I told him that that was one of our most important issues. He went on to explain that he was in jeopardy of losing his job in the manufacturing business and sincerely thanked me for being out in his neighborhood that evening.
Tags: jobs
by Donald Pettyjohn—Ohio
While canvassing in Middletown, I met a husband and wife who were taking care of their son and his wife. The son had been locked out of his manufacturing company and lost his job and developed a rare disease since and couldn’t work. The son’s wife was battling breast cancer and also couldn’t work. The parents were retired and the father was also battling cancer. They couldn’t pay to help their son and his wife and everything else. They had to take out a mortgage on their home and file bankruptcy as well. The mother was weeping as she continued and I couldn’t help but think of all the similar stories I’ve heard since I started canvassing five moths ago and the other peoples’ doorsteps I stood on watching them weep and pour their hearts out to a complete stranger and it hit me how widespread the problem really is. You’re not supposed to take your work home with you but I can’t help it sometimes. I’m just thankful Working America gives me a chance to give these people some hope that someone is doing something about it! Go Working America! Let’s change this country one doorstep at a time!
Tags: complete stranger hearts pour weep problem widespread watching
by Octavio Armendariz—Ohio
I was canvassing in the area of Lakewood. I had been having a rough night because I kept running into very negative people. However I went up to a door and knocked, and this really nice lady answered the door. I gave her my rap and she seemed very interested. What amazed me most was her three kids who all signed the band-aid petition. But what really got me was their involvement. As I asked what issues mattered most to them, her daughter–who must have only been thirteen if that–started to comment on how important good jobs were. The other two younger kids also gave their input on the economy and health care. I thought to myself: “Maybe there is hope for the younger generation!”
Tags: jobs, membership, youth
by Becky Angelo—Ohio
I talked to a woman in Akron area, who is retired from a company who has sold out to another company who is outsourcing. The way they are doing it is that if a current employee refuses to train people from India they are bringing in they will be fired no questions asked. They are also getting rid of a few employees at a time instead of all at once. This isn’t all. All former employee’s that are retired are losing their health care insurance starting jan 09.
Tags: health care, jobs, outsourcing
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
