• Terry O'Sullivan - Join the Frontlines in the Fight for Jobs
    FROM TERRY O'SULLIVAN
    LIUNA Calls on Congress to Extend Federal Unemployment Insurance

    LIUNA strongly urges Congress to extend federal unemployment insurance at a time when job creation in the construction industry remains stagnant.

    Nearly 14 percent of construction workers can’t find a job today. Now is not the time to cut off the federal unemployment insurance that has allowed them to keep a roof over their heads and feed their families. These men and women want to work, but for over four years, the new jobs they need simply haven’t been there. Congress needs to do the responsible thing and extend unemployment insurance now. Read more»

Tell Congress: Stand up for the 99%

Download a jobsite flyer to distribute to LIUNA members here. Read more»

Talking Points on So-Called “Right-to-Work”

You can make the case the against so-called “right-to-work” by using some of the talking points below with LIUNA members, the media, contractors and family members. Read More

Member-to-Member Outreach: the Gold Mine of Activism

There is no more persuasive or effective messenger than when members deliver a message to fellow members. Read more»

Campaign Notes: LIUNA Members Rise Up by the Thousands in Indiana, Wisconsin

More than 2,000 Indiana LIUNA activists have packed the Capitol grounds in Indianapolis for weeks, battling anti-worker legislation that would undermine the basic freedom to join together in a union and collectively bargain. Read more»

 
  • FROM TERRY O'SULLIVAN
    LIUNA Calls on Congress to Extend Federal Unemployment Insurance

    LIUNA strongly urges Congress to extend federal unemployment insurance at a time when job creation in the construction industry remains stagnant.

    The General President’s message can be customized for your Local Union newsletter.

    Nearly 14 percent of construction workers can’t find a job today. Now is not the time to cut off the federal unemployment insurance that has allowed them to keep a roof over their heads and feed their families. These men and women want to work, but for over four years, the new jobs they need simply haven’t been there. Congress needs to do the responsible thing and extend unemployment insurance now.

    Federal unemployment insurance benefits are scheduled to expire in January. If Congress fails to act, many of America’s 1.1 million unemployed construction workers could face disaster. Failing to extend unemployment insurance would also weaken an already struggling economy by denying families the ability to make even basic purchases.

    President Obama and Democrats in Congress have proposed paying for a new extension of unemployment insurance by eliminating tax deductions and loopholes that favor the wealthy and large corporations. So far, Republicans have rejected this approach while still demanding that the cost of an extension be offset.

    Once again, we see Republican politicians protecting the richest 1 percent while doing nothing for the other 99 percent – even those who have been out of work for months on end. But we can’t afford to play political games on this issue – the lives of working men and women and their children are at stake. It’s time for Congress to end the posturing, get to work, and extend these benefits that people desperately need.

    Download a jobsite flyer to distribute to LIUNA members here.

 
  • Inside Frontlines
    Campaign Notes: LIUNA Members Rise Up by the Thousands in Indiana, Wisconsin

    More than 2,000 Indiana LIUNA activists have packed the Capitol grounds in Indianapolis for weeks, battling anti-worker legislation that would undermine the basic freedom to join together in a union and collectively bargain. On March 10th, beside more than 18,000 other working men and women, they were joined by LIUNA General President Terry O’Sullivan, who prompted a thundering response in telling Governor Mitch Daniels that if he wanted to behave like a dictator, “go to Libya, go to Egypt, but get the hell out of Indiana!”

    Indiana is one more 25 states where extremist Republican officials, bankrolled by corporate cash, are trying to pass so-call right to work laws, undermine family-supporting prevailing wages and project labor agreements, and eliminate collective bargaining. In Indiana, LIUNA has been instrumental in beating back so-called right to work and continues the fight against attacks on prevailing wages (known as common wages in the state) and project labor agreements. Indiana locals have made use of the International Union’s automated dialing systems, text-messaging platform, media outreach and targeted publications and branding materials to increase their activist ranks.

    Thousands of LIUNA members have joined the mass mobilization efforts in Wisconsin, including rallies at the Capitol that have attracted more than 100,000 workers, farmers and activists. Members are now turning their attention to take the rebellion to cities across the state and to the effort to recall eight elected officials who, in sealed chambers and the dark of night, rammed through legislation eliminating collective bargaining for teachers, nurses and other public servants. Wisconsin Local Unions have made use of the International Union’s predictive dialing system to ramp up member-to-member outreach – and by doing so have increased their activist base in the state by 50% in less than a month.

    LIUNA members have united by the thousands in Ohio and Missouri to push back so-called “right to work” laws and stand up for public servants who are under attack. In Missouri, members gathered with more than four thousand fellow workers in St. Louis in a demonstration against a so-called "right-to-work" law. In Ohio, LIUNA members have joined rallies at the statehouse against an attack on collective bargaining rights as it moved through the legislature. In Los Angeles on March 26, scores of LIUNA members will join the "Our Communities, Our Jobs" march and rally in support of workers raising their voices in the workplace including Ralph's Supermarket employees who are struggling for a contract.

    Even before the outpouring of workers onto the streets, LIUNA was ready. More than 5,000 members joined the “Fight Back for Good Jobs” telephone conference call with General President Terry O’Sullivan on February 8 to learn how to help defeat anti-worker legislation in their states. Of those on the call, more than 1,400 said they were willing to join in the fight.

 
  • On Message
    Talking Points on So-Called “Right-to-Work”

    You can make the case the against so-called “right-to-work” by using some of the talking points below with LIUNA members, the media, contractors and family members.

    Need to know where LIUNA stands or the latest message on key issues? Check www.LiunaBuildsAmerica.org/talkingpoints or email communications@liuna.org.
    • So-called right-to-work laws are an attack on the fundamental American right to join together for a common purpose in collective bargaining agreements.
    • So-called right-to-work laws eliminate union jobs - effectively shutting out the workers who choose to exercise their fundamental America right to join together in collective bargaining agreements.
    • So-called “right-to-work” laws cut wages, put pensions in jeopardy and destroy good benefits.
    • Families suffer in so-called “right-to-work” states because workers are less likely to have benefits. Twenty-one percent more people lack health insurance.
    • In states with so-called “right-to-work,” tens of thousands of people lose their fundamental American right to join together to bargain for better wages and benefits and your voice and that of your fellow workers is weakened.
    • So-called “right-to-work” laws take from the pockets of all working people -- especially women and minorities.
    • So-called “right-to-work” laws deprive workers of the family-supporting wages they deserve – workers in“right-to-work” states make over $5,000 a year less than workers in free-bargaining states.
    • So-called “right-to-work” is bad for employers – it gives the upper hand to “low road” companies that offer poor pay and benefits. They can also devastate your local economy.
 
  • Tools
    Member-to-Member Outreach: the Gold Mine of Activism

    There is no more persuasive or effective messenger than when members deliver a message to fellow members. Using the International Union’s “predictive dialing” system, Local Unions can tap that member power, while still controlling the message and protecting the security of membership lists. It’s a proven tool – in just the last several weeks, Wisconsin members and retirees have increased the size of their activist list by more than half using the predictive dialer, adding to the strength of the Wisconsin rebellion.

    Do You Text?

    Chances are you or a family member are among Americans who sent 152 billion text messages in the past month. You can put the technology to work for your union by using LIUNA’s text messaging system to send texts to members instantly wherever they are. To find out more, contact communications@liuna.org.

    The International’s predictive dialer is available to every Local Union to make member-to-member outreach easy and efficient.

    Features of the dialer’s phone banking program include:

    • Phonebank from anywhere with just a cell phone
    • Volunteers receive live calls only, eliminating time spent on busy signals, answering machines or no answers
    • Member lists are secure
    • Call results are automatically entered in a database, enabling Local Unions to track and build activist lists by member number and other identifying information
    • Reporting is available immediately

    For information or training on member-to-member outreach, contact Strategic Communications at 202-942-2246 or communications@liuna.org.

 

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