SEIU President Mary Kay Henry Participates in "Envisioning Prosperity" panel at New Media Big Tent

Ari Melber from The Nation moderates a panel on what an America for the 99% would look like. Can we achieve an economy that prioritizes the interests and financial security of working families first?

Note to editors and reporters: Interviews can be arranged with SEIU leaders and members at the DNC Convention as delegates or with members on the ground in Colorado, Florida, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Sept. 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Service Employees International Union (SEIU) President Mary Kay Henry will join a panel discussion that explores how we can achieve an economy that puts the needs of working families first today at 9 a.m. at the new media space (PPL/The Big Tent).

Reducing income inequality is a core driver behind SEIU's work to elect candidates who support policies that help create good jobs, invest in vital services like healthcare and education, ensure corporations and the richest 1% pay their fair share and create a fair road map to citizenship for every immigrant worker.

More than 100 SEIU members and leaders have attended Democratic National Convention in Charlotte this week, representing the interests and concerns of working men and women. Among them is Tisa Rodriguez, an environmental planner for the California Department of Transportation, and a member of SEIU Local 1000.

"Everything is at stake. As a transportation employee, I've seen the impact of the Obama Administration. The stimulus helped fund several years of transportation projects that helped create good union jobs," said Tisa. "As for Romney-Ryan, I know they are on the opposite end of the spectrum regarding issues important to me and my community."

You can read more about why Tisa is in Charlotte after the events schedule.

SEIU'S DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION PROGRAM
(All Times Local / All Locations Charlotte)

Thursday, September 6
SEIU President Mary Kay Henry Participates in "Envisioning Prosperity" panel at PPL/The Big Tent

Ari Melber from The Nation moderates a panel on what an America for the 99% would look like. Can we achieve an economy that prioritizes the interests and financial security of working families first?

• When:            9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
• Where:           PPL/The Big Tent, Packard Place, 222 S. Church St

For more information on SEIU's schedule and media opportunities please contact [email protected].

One of the SEIU members in Charlotte as a delegate is Tisa Rodriguez, a member of SEIU Local 1000.  

Tisa Rodriguez is taking her passion for politics to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte next week as a California delegate. The 32-year-old environmental planner for the California Department of Transportation has been a member of SEIU Local 1000 for six years but has been active in politics even longer because she sees the real impact lawmakers' decisions have on the everyday lives of working people.

"Everything is at stake," said Tisa. "As a transportation employee, I've seen the impact of the Obama Administration. The stimulus helped fund several years of transportation projects that helped create good union jobs. The Administration cares about the environment. Military veterans returning from deployment now get better care than they did years ago. As for Romney-Ryan, I know they are on the opposite end of the spectrum regarding issues important to me and my community. We've seen Ryan's budget plan, which would be devastating to working people. But Paul Ryan will talk about his misplaced priorities in a charming way. We have to be careful, and we have to let people know where Romney/Ryan stand."

She is knocking on doors and working with local and state candidates during this election season. She said she's motivated to help get out the vote and ensure that the politicians representing her and others in her Perris, Calif. community share the same priorities and values.

"It's very important that we re-elect President Obama, but we also need to get him some backup, that's why we're working hard to make sure the Congressional seat goes Democratic," she said.

But she says she knows that working people cannot rest on their laurels even when they've successfully voted in one candidate who better represents their interests. This is why she volunteers her free time to work on campaigns and get out the vote for school board members, state representatives, U.S. representatives and, now, the presidential election.

"And we have to focus on changing this country for the better one election at a time."

With 2.1 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy. www.seiu.org

SOURCE Service Employees International Union