Pennsylvania's Working Families Cast Their Votes for Progress and Change, Not Business as Usual or Going Back to the Failed Policies of Bush/Cheney

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May 19, 2010, 04:20 ET

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania's working families voted for progress and change not business as usual or going back to the failed policies of the previous administration, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Bill George said today in commenting on the Primary Election results.

"Working men and women expect their elected officials in Washington and Harrisburg to stand up for good jobs now, protecting and improving health care and pensions; fighting for fair trade policies and giving workers the freedom to organize unions without fear of being fired or discriminated against by their employers," George said.

Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Bloomingdale said, "Workers are frustrated with the slow pace of progress on good jobs, economic recovery and rebuilding our middle class. They expect results from our government and at the same time they resoundingly reject the Tea Party candidates and the corporate right wing agenda. Workers support jobs and prosperity for Main Street not just Wall Street."

"We congratulate Congressman Joe Sestak on his victory. He ran a strong campaign committed to supporting the working men and women of Pennsylvania. We also thank Senator Arlen Specter for his support of working families of Pennsylvania throughout his distinguished career," President George said.

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO also congratulates Democrat Mark Critz on his victory in the closely contested election in the 12th Congressional District formerly held by the late John Murtha. Organized labor played an important role in mobilizing union household voters in this special and primary election.

We look forward to helping elect candidates in November that will represent and fight for the working families of Pennsylvania and for America. The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO will soon begin the process of making endorsements of candidates for the November election.

Organized Labor's Volunteers Made the Following Accomplishments in the Primary Election:

Pennsylvania Democratic Senate Primary:
Direct Mail:	Mail sent to 335,888 union members from the AFL-CIO.
Worksite Flyers:	Union volunteers distributed over 94,850 worksite flyers to union members. In addition 2,575 flyers were distributed at large worksites in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
Walks:	A total of 12,645 doors were knocked on in targeted areas prior to GOTV weekend. In Philadelphia over 1,000 union members were out on GOTV weekend and Election Day.
Phone Calls:	Prior to GOTV weekend volunteers made 28,253 calls to union households.
	Phone lines were flooded with 757,890 robo-calls from the AFL-CIO.

Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional Special and Primary Election:
Direct Mail:	Mail sent to 103,021 union households from the AFL-CIO, National Unions and Local Unions.
Worksite Flyers:	A total of 65,600 worksite flyers handed to union members
	At 60 worksites. An additional 8,900 worksite flyers handed out for GOTV between Friday and Tuesday, Election Day.
Phone Calls:	Total of 14,439 volunteer phone calls to union homes. Between 14,000 and 15,000 volunteer phone calls to union homes in final four days before Election Day –GOTV.
Walks:	8,200 doors knocked on by union volunteers and Working America volunteers.
	More than 150 union volunteers knocked on doors of union members the weekend before and through Election Day.
Alliance for Retired Americans/AFL-CIO:	Sent 13,000 mail pieces to union retirees.
	ARA volunteers made close to 10,000 live phone calls over weekend before Election Day.
Union Veterans Council mailed to more than 12,000 union veterans endorsement piece.