Unions Take on Anti-Worker Governors in California, Texas

CWAers in California and Texas are looking to unseat two notoriously anti-worker governors on Nov. 7.

Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Calif.) tried to raid state worker pensions through the legislative process last year, and when that failed, tried to silence the political voice of state employee unions through a ballot initiative that would have restricted their contributions to political campaigns. But, mobilizing thousands of volunteers, CWA and other union members quashed Prop 75 in the 2005 special election, handing Schwarzenegger yet another defeat.

Privatization of state services is a big issue for CWAers in Texas, where in good times Gov. Bush and then-Lt. Gov. Rick Perry pushed for tax cuts. Then when money got tight, Perry's only answer was to cut state services.

In California, friends of working families already control both houses of the state assembly, and CWA members want to keep it that way. The final slate of candidates will be determined in the June 6 primary. Schwarzenegger's a clear target. But, putting to work the huge mobilization network they assembled last fall along with the state AFL-CIO and central labor councils, CWA activists already are campaigning for candidates for state and local offices.

"Our members are still fired up from November," said Tom Ramirez, CWA legislative-political chair for the Northern California-Nevada Council of Locals. "If we had our precinct kits ready, they would be ready to hit the streets today." Members in the Sacramento area participated in their first precinct walk on March 26 for labor-friendly candidate Larry Carr, currently a municipal board member who is running for county supervisor.

"For members to see the value of our political work, I try to get a local elected official or political candidate at every stewards meeting," said Mike Millman, legislative-political chair for the Southern California Council of CWA locals. "We have someone, from the city supervisor on up, come and make it personal for our members. That makes a connection."

"Walking and talking to members is key" to getting out the vote, said Sandra Carter, legislative chair of Local 9417 in Stockton, Calif. She said members who had never before been active handed out fliers and made phone calls to defeat Schwarzenegger's ballot initiatives. "They learned that they can make a difference and make things change."

Both states have an excellent fundraising effort through CWA-COPE. Through a program of asking members to have contributions routed directly from their bank accounts, the Texas State Employees Union, CWA Local 6186, has signed up 1,080 members who contribute $1 a week or more. In February alone, they raised $6,280. They've already made strategic contributions to the primary campaigns of state assembly candidates on both sides of the aisle.

They're battling Perry's plan to lay off 2,900 state workers by closing down 100 Health and Human Services offices, eliminating face-to-face interviews for food stamps, Medicaid and Temporary Aid to Needy Families and turning that work over to four privately run call centers.

The 11,000 member local sent 2,000 members to Austin in April to lobby against the measure, and working with the state AFL-CIO and central labor councils, plans to put hundreds of volunteers on the street again in November.

"Taking back control of the state legislature is a big goal," said Local 6186 Vice President Mike Gross. "In Texas, that's where the heavy lifting's done."

In the race for governor, Chris Bell, a former congressman who lost his seat in the last round of redistricting, will take on Perry for the Democrats. There are also two independents running to unseat Perry: Carole Strayhorn, currently state comptroller, and musician Kinky Friedman. Union members in Texas, through the Texas AFL-CIO, will meet later in the year to decide on strategy in the governor's race, Gross said.