CWA Campaign Helps Re-elect President Obama, Democratic Senate and Key House Members

Washington, D.C. – For Election 2012, the Communications Workers of America conducted an aggressive “boots on the ground” outreach that helped re-elect President Obama and candidates who support working families, in critical battleground states.

CWA focused on one-on-one, member-to-member contacts with workers on the issues and the candidates. Thousands of activists participated in worksite leafleting, phone banks, labor walks and other actions throughout the battleground states in support of President Obama and candidates in key races in those states.

"Our members, activists and volunteers stepped up and did amazing work, not only in returning President Obama to office but in electing representatives who will stand with ordinary Americans, not look for ways to push us down a black hole of cuts in programs that workers and their families count on and more tax breaks for the wealthiest in our nation,” said CWA President Larry Cohen.

CWA had state coordinators in 38 states, and members were particularly active in Florida, Colorado, Virginia, Missouri, New Mexico, Arizona, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, as well as in states with large CWA membership: California, Texas, New York and New Jersey. More than 15,000 CWA volunteers participated in Election 2012.

CWA, working with other partners, also played a big role in turning some red House seats to blue. CWA backed Rep. Tim Bishop, who was re-elected in NY 1, as well as Krysten Sinema, who is leading Vernon Parker in AZ 07, and Democrat Ami Bera, who is leading incumbent Dan Lungren in CA 09. These ads were especially effective in spotlighting the opposition of candidates to legislation to bring back good jobs to the U.S. (Watch the ads at http://www.cwavotes.org/cwavotes/pages/jobs_ads.) Bishop is the principal House sponsor of H.R. 3596, the U.S. Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act.

CWA volunteers and resources also elected Texas representative Pete Gallego to the U.S. House in TX 23, defeating Rep. Francisco Canseco.

(Watch that ad here: http://www.cwa-union.org/news/entry/ay_no_cwa_says_canseco_is_wrong_for_tx-23#.UIrxl_69KK0)

In Pennsylvania and other states, CWA worked with the NAACP and the Transport Workers Union to register 25,000 voters at train and bus stations and to help get voters to the polls.  The Pennsylvania legislature had passed the nation’s most restrictive voter id law, and it was in effect for this election until just a few weeks shy of the registration deadline. CWA activists, part of the Stand Up for Ohio coalition, had an amazing ground campaign that made the difference in the re-election of President Obama and U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown.

CWA also worked with the Sierra Club and other allies on several ballot initiatives. In California, Prop. 32, rejected by the voters, would have made it illegal for workers to voluntarily make political contributions through payroll deduction and was a rightwing attack on the ability of union workers to participate in politics. CWA activists also backed California Prop. 30, approved by voters to help fund education and public safety.

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Contact: Candice Johnson or Chuck Porcari, CWA Communications, 202-434-1168, cjohnson@cwa-union.org and cporcari@cwa-union.org