“I Was Just Talking About This”
by David Weston—Pennsylvania
One woman was outraged at the rising price of gas. "I was just talking about this!" she told me. She reminded me that, "if this was the 70's, we'd be out protesting and demonstrating with signs in hand!". I let her know that her mentality was exactly the reason that I was out in the community building up that support. I realized the universality of the Working America message and the outrage of average Americans at the state of the economy. She and I both knew that if our politicians maintained the status quo, people would stand up and fight back, especially with their ballots at the polls.
Outsourced after 9-11
by Kara Kukovich—Pennsylvania
I was canvassing in Alburtis, PA when a woman answered the door. I had been to her house earlier and met her son. I told her we were fighting job outsourcing. She said, "I know. My husband was one of them." She told me how her husband was working and that shortly after 9-11-2001, he lost his job because of outsourcing. "Wow. That must have been a hard time for your family," I said. "Yeah, she replied, it was."
The “nursing home”
by Arthur Benson—Pennsylvania
I came to the door of a soon-to-be-member and met an elderly couple. They were bedding in a cluttered living room with most necessities at arm's length. The husband informed me that they were ineligible for any form of government assistance...
A very committed member
by Jay Rosen—Pennsylvania
Today I had the distinct pleasure of meeting a wonderful couple. He works in construction and his wife is a hair-stylist. Their passion for our cause is so profound and we talked for at least 10 minutes. They are struggling as many people that I have come across in this line of work. They asked me to sit with them, gave me some bottled water and paid their dues as well. It was a fruitful endeavor as I also signed up three other people that were visiting them. Meeting people like these helped make our mission worthwhile and meaningful.
No leave for hospital worker
by Wes Gadsden—Pennsylvania
I canvassed a great lady who had worked for a local hospital for 30 years. When she got ill and has to take off a few months of work, she was denied Family Medical Leave...
“Keep up the good work!”
by David Delanoy—Pennsylvania
While I was out canvassing, I met an older man who lost his job to outsourcing. He had tears in his eyes as he told me about the steel mill that he had loved and lost. I told him how we were fighting back and his face list up with excitement. He jumped at the chance to do anything he could to help. It made me feel good to know that I had made his day. As I left he asked to shake my hand and he told me to "keep up the good work!"
Health care and job loss a REAL crisis
by Jennifer Hofelich—Pennsylvania
This elderly woman I spoke to in Duryea, PA told me that many years ago she was hurt in a fork lift accident at her job, leaving her unable to work. Years later, her company shipped their jobs overseas along with her health care benefits. She has had two strokes since and is relying on Medicare to pay 80% of her medical costs...
Jobs being outsourced
by Kara Kukovich—Pennsylvania
Recently, while canvassing in Forks Township, I knocked on a gentlemen's door and told him we were fighting to keep our jobs from being outsourced. "Yeah, my job's being outsourced," he said. He said he worked for a company designing dyes and tools and that in August, his job is going to Mexico and China!
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.
“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...
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...
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.
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!"
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.
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...
Us and them
by Dave Ninehouser—Pennsylvania
He was definitely sitting firmly on the fence before he finally took the clipboard. The issue at hand was sweatshop labor, job outsourcing and the devastating effects on American families...
A mother without health care
by Jon Fox—Pennsylvania
Tonight I met a 46 year old mother of two who lived in Pittsburgh. She was laid off as a welder in 2001 and has been unable to find a suitable job to support her family...
Taking care of each other
by Alicia Bryan—Pennsylvania
I was canvassing in Beaver Falls, PA and an older man opened his door while on the phone and said to the other person, "No, I'm calling for a phone battery!" he turned to me and said, "Come on in. Helen, talk to this young lady...
Carrying hope to the doors
by Thom Mol—Pennsylvania
Sometimes it's easy to fall into the statistics we hear everyday about disappearing jobs, the declining value of the dollar and the spider web cracks showing up in our debt-ridden society. We hear and study these things everyday....have concrete examples given at some households we visit, see them in the eyes of the people who we encounter...
A retiree’s worst nightmare
by Jonathan Fox—Pennsylvania
A retired woman in Beaver Falls told me how she took an early retirement from the plant she worked at and now has to pay for health care out of pocket, but she can't afford it. She gets $700 a month from her retirement and it would cost $400 a month for insurance. Her and her husband have health problems but can't do anything about it...
Inspiration
by Lauren Vlot—Pennsylvania
A woman answered the door and I began speaking to her about health care. She immediately invited me in and told me that she works so hard for her company, full time and they offer her nothing in the way of health care...
Guitars or health care?
by Adam Gazdalski—Pennsylvania
I met a gentlemen tonight who has a terminal illness. He had at least 30 guitars strewn about his living room, all of which he had made himself. Unfortunately, his disease left him unable to play them. When I asked him how happy he was with his health care coverage, he smiled and said, "I'd be able to afford it, if I sold all my guitars, but that just ain't happening!" I was struck by how much respect I felt for this man...in such good spirits given his situation, and barely able to afford his health insurance.
The “no health care” shuffle
by Claire Pengelly—Pennsylvania
I spoke to a woman who was very passionate about the issues of health care: She has cancer and diabetes. As she signed up as a member, she told me about how her government job laid her off because of her need to take time off for chemotherapy...
More than a pay cut
by Alex Barth—Pennsylvania
Tonight, I had a woman rip my clipboard out of my hand to sign up when I talked about the loss of jobs in Pennsylvania. The woman's job had just been outsourced and she was denied unemployment because she wouldn't take the job the company offered to give her instead (paying less than half of her original salary). It's really obvious that corporate America has the upper hand.
The bottom line
by Claire Pengelly—Pennsylvania
I talked to a man tonight who had just been informed last week that he was being laid off from his job. He worked for human resources at a major bookstore chain. He had been working there for six years and was told that before he was to be terminated, he had to train other people to do different parts of his job. Of course, this was in the interest of the company saving money on his salary and benefits. The bottom line was that money was his employers cared about!
Closer than he thought
by Josh Pollack—Pennsylvania
I spoke with an older gentleman who said that only young people want more affordable health care because they have no health care. Five doors from this gentleman, I talked to a lady who was the same age as this man, that told me she works 70 hours a week and has no health insurance.
Health care issues are closer to people than they think or care to discover.
Take this job and…
by A. Mark Robinson—Pennsylvania
I spoke with a guy in Kingston, PA who revealed that he was a machinist. He said his company's management team reported to their staff that the company was doing "very well." The next month he came to work and noticed some of his co-workers missing...
No money, no medicine
by Jackie Lima—Pennsylvania
I met a 96 year old woman tonight. She invited me into her home and we began discussing health care. She had good reason for signing up as a member of Working America. Her son was denied his medication at their small town pharmacy because he owed too much money...
“I thought it would never happen to me”
by Jonathan Sharwarko—Pennsylvania
Sad words, but true on so many occasions. While canvassing in Johnstown, PA an older woman opened the door with a huge smile on her face and almost instantly signed up. As the conversation went to the subject of health care, she told me how she has diabetes and lacks any type of health care coverage. Her last bill from when she was hospitalized amounted to $2700...
Nursing “care”?
by Jackie Lima—Pennsylvania
The woman I spoke to tonight worked in a nursing home. Apparently, the home was purchased by firms from other states. One elderly client, who still held his own "power of attorney" had an outstanding bill with the nursing home. He was relegated to "hospice status," but bounced back after responding to medication...
A national disgrace
by Erin Gill—Pennsylvania
If you do this kind of work long enough, it'll make you really angry. Anyone that knows me, knows I'm a fairly laid-back, easy going kind of gal, and I am, for the most part. Except when I hear stories like the following...