Funmi Komolafe
8 November 2008
analysis
Surprisingly the media, local and international did not report the role of the American Federation of Labour and the Congress of Industrial Organization (AFL-CIO) in the election of Democratic Party candidate, Senator Barack Obama as President-elect of the United States of America.
Unknown to many, even during the primaries of the Democratic Party, the AFL-CIO threw its weight behind Senator Obama urging the working people to vote to for him.
This, a Nigerian residing in Houston, Texas, Yetunde said was done by AFL-CIO by sending text messages to union members and generally mobilizing them to support Senator Obama.
She said of the voting during the primaries. "As early as 6 a.m. voters were on the queue for Obama. She said she joined the queue about 6 p.m. and there was still a large turn out of voters for Obama.
Unknown to many, the organized labour in the United States under the parent AFL-CIO worked hard to get Senator Obama elected.
It was also to hold on the labour's support that Senator Obama during his campaign consistently talked about the welfare of working families.
This however made him unpopular with many business owners some of who accused him of trying to introduce Socialism through the back door with his policy of " spreading wealth".
It must be stated though that the AFL-CIO used persuasion instead of coercion on its members.
The AFL-CIO in its account of its influence in the election of the 44th President of the United States of America and indeed the first Afro- American to be elected President of the United States wrote:
Here's how union members made the difference in Tuesday's big win.
* Union voters supported President-elect Barack Obama 67 percent to 30 percent over Sen. John McCain. In the top-tier battleground states the difference was even more stark, with union members going for Obama 69 to 28- a 41-point margin.
*While McCain won among voters ages 65 and up, active and retired union members older than 65 went for Obama by a 46-point margin.
*While McCain won among veterans, union veterans went for Obama by a 25-point margin.
*Working America members, concentrated in key states, supported Obama by 67 percent to 30 percent.
*60 percent of union members and 56 percent of Working America members said the economy was a top issue.
*Union members got a lot of contact from their unions about the election, with more than 80 percent receiving union mail, more than 80 percent receiving union publications, 59 percent getting live phone calls and 32 percent getting worksite fliers.
*75 percent of union members say Obama's victory gives him a mandate to make major change.
81 percent support the Employee Free Choice Act.
*21 percent of voters were in a union or union household.
With 52 percent and more than 62 million votes, Obama has more than surpassed Bush's 2004 win. His seven-point win over McCain is a decisive victory for pro-working family policies.
In union-heavy midwestern states, where Bush had come close and McCain campaigned hard, the efforts of union volunteers helped put them solidly in Obama's column. Obama won by 13 points in Wisconsin, 16 points in Michigan, 10 points in Minnesota and 11 points in Pennsylvania.
On the day of the election, AFL-CIO stated, "As of this morning, it looks like we've added at least five new pro-worker senators, and many AFL-CIO-endorsed candidates will be headed to the U.S. House as well.
While union members didn't win every race they targeted, the breadth and national scale of working families' victory is striking."
Here's how this historic win took place
More than 250,000 union volunteers devoted their time and energy to reaching out to their fellow union members-educating them on issues, informing them about candidates and getting out the vote. Some 10 million door knocks, 70 million phone calls, 27 million worksite fliers and 57 million union mail pieces made the difference in races from the White House to state legislatures.
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said the results "show the continued strength of the union movement and the widespread desire for change in this country.
"We salute labour leaders and volunteers all across our country for a record turnout of voters from union households-they made the difference in critical states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, Ohio and so many others. We congratulate Barack Obama and Joe Biden. Our prayers and our continuing support are with them as we begin the arduous task of turning our country around.
"The union movement put its full efforts into its largest political mobilization ever, and the results are clear. It's a historic victory for working families and a chance to pass policies that will pull us out of our economic crisis and make real changes in real people's lives.
"Now, we have to move forward and fight for those policies. It won't be easy or quick. But as we proved this year and Tuesday, when working families unite and work hard, we can win."
The historic role of the AFL-CIO is a challenge to other countries including Nigeria where the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress need to work together to make Nigeria a better country.
Anywhere in the world, the trade union movement is a critical social partner in the sustenance of democracy.
Except in South Africa where the Congress of South African Trade Union plays a very prominent role in the presidency of South Africa, other African countries have not been so influential.
The AFL-CIO by its action has challenged the NLC, the TUC, Ghana Trade Union Congress and other labour organizations to make the difference in their countries.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2008 Vanguard. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
