Labor Kicks Off Massive Door-to-Door Campaign On Behalf of Congressional Candidate Mike McMahon

Union Members Visit More Than Three Thousand Union Households in Staten Island's 13th Congressional District

ALBANY, NY (09/27/2008)(readMedia)-- Today, 130 union members took part in a massive door-to-door "Labor Walk" campaign on behalf of Congressional Candidate Mike McMahon. Today's event, coordinated by the New York State AFL-CIO and New York City Central Labor Council, is the first of ten "Labor Walks" scheduled to take place before Election Day.

"Labor Walks" are an integral part of labor's "Get Out the Vote" grassroots campaign, where union members visit the households of fellow union brothers and sisters, educating them on labor's position on the issues in a particular race.

Today, 130 volunteers were split into groups of two, with each of the 65 groups visiting between 50 and 70 union households. As a result, the labor activists visited between 3,000 and 4,000 union households within the 13th Congressional District.

At today's kick-off Breakfast, held before the action took place, New York State AFL-CIO President Denis Hughes, New York City Central Labor Council Executive Vice President Jack Ahern and New York City Central Labor Council Executive Director Ed Ott were joined by labor's endorsed candidate Mike McMahon.

At the morning event, President Hughes stated, "The true strength of the labor movement is our ability to mobilize our members and communicate our position on the issues important to working men and women. Today's event is a perfect example of the overwhelming value labor brings to any campaign. The New York State AFL-CIO will work day and night from now through Election Day to ensure a victory for Mike McMahon."

Jack Ahern, Executive Vice President, New York City Central Labor Council stated, "Staten Island has always been one of the true working and middle-class communities of New York City, and we know Michael McMahon is the right person to represent those interests in Washington as our next Democratic Congressional representative. Michael shares the same dedication and passion of the labor movement, and we are proud to mobilize our members in the community to help bring his strong and dedicated voice to Washington."

Ed Ott, Executive Director, New York City Central Labor Council stated, "This event is part of a well-planned and strategic effort by the labor movement to ensure that the next Congressman from Staten Island is pro worker in fact, not just in gesture. We strongly believe Michael McMahon is that Congressman."

Mike McMahon stated, "New York's working men and women are the backbone of this city, building our infrastructure, running our mass transit system, protecting our streets, caring for us in hospitals, teaching our children, and working in our stores. For all they do for New York, the least our government can do is ensure their ability to freely organize, guarantee a decent wage, and protect their dignity and respect on the job. I am incredibly grateful for the AFL-CIO's outpouring of support today, and promise to fight for New York's working families in Congress. Through this grassroots effort, we will spread my message of change to the district, and get one step closer to bringing home real results for Staten Island and Brooklyn."

The "Labor Walks" are only one aspect of labor's grassroots campaign, and will supplement other initiatives such as phone bank operations, mailings and worksite contacts.

Approximately 60,000 union members live in the 13th congressional district.

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