by Mike Hall, Sep 9, 2009
Labor Day marches and rallies capped off more than a month of an incredible union member mobilization to move the health care reform debate beyond the screaming diatribes and disruptive tactics by opponents that marred the start of the congressional recess.
During the weekend, some 150,000 union members turned out for rallies, parades and picnics that not only celebrated the workers’ holiday, but showed broad support for comprehensive health care reform.
Those events followed the more than 400 August town hall meetings, health care forums and other events where more than 24,000 union members spoke up for health care and wrote letters, made phone calls and went door to door to educate their neighbors.
Click here to read about the 5,000 union family members at the Cincinnati AFL-CIO Labor Council Labor Day picnic, who heard President Obama say their efforts have helped bring “real reform” closer that it ever has been, although
“the special interests are doing what they always do—trying to scare the American people and preserve the status quo.”
Labor Day weekend also saw more than 3,000 union members from the Duluth (Minn.) Central Council give rousing ovations when Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) and Stewart Acuff, special assistant to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, urged them to work even harder to counter the lies health care reform opponents are spreading.
In Sacramento, 1,000 union members and more than 30 elected officials took part in the Sacramento Central Labor Council’s gathering that focused on health care reform In Pittsburgh, more than 8,000 people, including Vice President Joe Biden, rallied for health care reform at the Allegheny Central Labor Council’s picnic.
Just prior to the Labor Day weekend, more than 3,000 Seattle union members and health care reform advocates marched and rallied to tell that state’s congressional delegation to “go back to Washington and finish the job of fixing our broken health care system.” Click here to read more from the Washington State Labor Council (WSLC).
Also last week, union members in Massachusetts capped off the month-long congressional recess mobilization at town hall meetings with Sen. John Kerry (D) and Rep. Stephen Lynch (D). Writes John Drinkwater, Massachusetts AFL-CIO organizing and mobilization coordinator:
If the two events during this past week are any indication, however, the right-wing’s attempt to disrupt the debate looks to have lost its steam at the end of the congressional recess. Union members and other supporters of health care reform far outnumbered right-wing protesters at both events.
Here’s what some other union members who e-mailed the AFL-CIO had to say about their town hall experiences.
Jo Anne H. of Salinas, Calif.:
There were enough calm people who really did come to hear some answers that the rabble rousers couldn’t really take over. All in all, it was a very educational night, and I was happy to realize that my congressman completely supports a healthcare reform that includes a public option.
Nick R. of Palisades Park, N.J.:
In general, it was a good meeting. Congressman (Steven) Rothman (D.) had the opportunity both to hear from his constituents and to explain his positions on health care reform. The two organized anti-reform groups there were not able to disrupt the meeting.
With Congress back in Washington, D.C., President Obama is set to deliver a national television speech tonight on health care reform. The fight goes on.
source: AFL-CIO Now blog
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