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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2010
12:37 PM

CONTACT: AFL-CIO

Eddie Vale (202) 637-5279;
Nora Frederickson (202) 637-5212

Working America Unveils Campaign to Organize & Mobilize Unemployed Voters

WASHINGTON - August 18 - Working America is launching a campaign that will organize & mobilize hundreds of thousands of unemployed workers across the nation for the November elections. The campaign will engage unemployed Working America members who are registered voters by reaching out to them in their homes, on the street and in unemployment offices, with the goal of rallying voters around the crucial issues of jobs and trade.

"Millions of people are unemployed and underemployed, and millions more are worried about the future. Twenty-five percent of Working America members who are working are afraid they will lose their jobs," said Karen Nussbaum, director of Working America. "Yet some politicians are willing to play politics with the survival of unemployed workers and their families.  We'll make sure that unemployed workers get out and vote, and that they know the records of the candidates on issues like extending unemployment insurance, investing in jobs and preventing outsourcing."

Over this past year, Working America has spoken to over 25,000 people a week about jobs and the economy through door-to-door canvasses. The organization is stepping up its field mobilization efforts in the fall with a tele-town hall that will reach 20,000 unemployed voters across the country to talk about unemployment, job creation and the November elections.

Working America is mobilizing unemployed voters through a combination of face-to-face and mail campaigns. In addition to talking to everyday voters on the streets, field organizers in 12 cities are talking to unemployed workers at unemployment offices and job training facilities. Workers at these facilities will have the chance to fill out "Help Wanted" petitions to send to Congress asking them what they've done to create jobs and help unemployed workers. Working America organizers are also reaching out to members by mail and phone to pledge to vote in the November elections.

Working America is encouraging unemployed voters to reach out to each other by hosting a "Pledge to Vote" postcard campaign in September. Workers in several cities will organize parties where they will write personal notes to other unemployed voters, encouraging them to vote the right way to create jobs. The goal is to provide workers with a unique opportunity to come together, share their stories, and take action.  

Working America also manages the Unemployment Lifeline (www.unemploymentlifeline.com), an online site that unemployed workers can use to communicate with other unemployed workers and access vital local and national resources, such as listings for local unemployment offices, childcare and healthcare facilities.  And starting in October, workers will be able to use the Job Tracker, an online resource provided by Working America, to look up companies in their towns that are outsourcing jobs, endangering their workers, or violating their rights at work.

Working America, community affiliate of the AFL-CIO, represents working families to mobilize around economic issues like health care and good jobs. Working America represents 3 million people and is the fastest-growing organization for working people in the country. For more information, go to www.workingamerica.org.

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The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) is a voluntary federation of 56 national and international labor unions. The AFL-CIO union movement represents 10.5 million members, including 2 million members in Working America, its new community affiliate. We are teachers and truck drivers, musicians and miners, firefighters and farm workers, bakers and bottlers, engineers and editors, pilots and public employees, doctors and nurses, painters and laborers-and more.

AFL-CIO Links:
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