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.
Tags: membership, taking action
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. Needless to say she will lose her job, her pension, health care and she’s sick. Why is this happening in a country that is so rich that we can build bridges and buildings in other countries? We need to clean our own backyard before we can clean someone else’s!
Tags: Health Care
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!”
Tags: Jobs, membership, taking action
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.
She went on to describe the horror her family has endured fighting the health care system. But as she recounted tales of cancer, strokes and not being able to pay, her eyes welled with tears and her face with sorrow.
I talk to people all the time about job outsourcing and the health care crisis, but this conversation was especially disturbing. As I watched tears stream down her face, I was reminded just how REAL these problems are…and that they happen to REAL people and REAL families in this country-EVERY SINGLE DAY!
Tags: Health Care, Jobs, outsourcing
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!
Tags: Jobs, membership, outsourcing
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 doctors and nurses told her and the other secretaries that they were shocked that they even worked at the hospital because the copays on their health care plan were so horrible they weren’t affordable for the pay they made.
Tags: Health Care, membership
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. Although her schedule does not allow her to volunteer for us, she signed up and gave me her last five dollars to support our cause.
I was deeply moved and impressed by her willingness to give me all the money she had. We need many more like her with such generosity.
Tags: membership, taking action
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.
Tags: membership, retirees, unions
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!”
Tags: Health Care, membership
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?” I replied, “I’m working. What are you doing?” After we exchanged small talk, they began asking more questions about the nature of our work. I said, “We’re fighting so that people like you and your grandparents can afford to go to the doctor.”
One of the little girls saw the health care petition on my clipboard and asked me about it. I explained that it was a petition; then told her that two 8-year olds had signed my petition earlier and that they could sign it too. They ripped it from my hands, gathered in a circle on the sidewalk and began filling out the bandage stickers.
I told them that they could do this kind of work too. One of the young boys spoke up and said, “I would tie myself to a tree to fight for something.” So, I responded, “Well, what would you fight for?” He said, “I’d fight for the trees. I like trees.” I told him that there are environmental groups who do that kind of work everyday. I asked another young lady what she would fight for and she said, “I’d fight for the rainforest.”
They eventually got distracted and ran off. But my sincerest hope is that the seeds of activism have been planted and that one day, I’ll answer my door and see one of these kids advocating for a better America.
Tags: children, Health Care, membership, taking action
