Phone banking gains popularity as members value labor-friendly officials

By DEBORAH A. MILES
If numbers are a good indication of how politically active PEF members are becoming, the figures at PEF’s 28th Annual Convention phone bank center tell the story.

There were 40 slots, and nearly 70 volunteers.

The phone banks ran Monday and Tuesday evenings, and members gladly opted to forego their evenings in Lake Placid to instead encourage people to get out and vote for a PEF-endorsed candidate. The participants called 3,100 union members during the sessions.

A lot of new delegates were eager to help as well as long-time political activists.

“I’ve been getting more involved in the political action arena,” said Steve Nawrocki, a tax auditor from PEF Region 1. “I volunteered to make calls for Assembly Member Francine DelMonte. I thought she was doing a good job, so I wanted to give her campaign some support. It was my first time doing phone banking and it was a pleasant experience. The time went by so fast, it was no big deal. I think the work we did helped. I probably talked to almost 50 people.

“People should get involved. It is a worthwhile program. Being part of the union means to support labor-friendly candidates for local and statewide races,” Nawrocki said.

Bill Cruz, an addiction program specialist from PEF Region 10 agreed.

“I’m a long-time union activist. I volunteered for the phone banks because I sense a negative feeling from the general public about unions due to the conservative newspaper articles and editorials about the state budget, pension system and benefits. Public pressure will build so we have to continue to support elected officials who stand firm and recognize the value of union workers. These PEF-endorsed candidates have proven by their records or by their actions that they are willing to go the extra mile to back labor unions.

“Many of us do jobs that benefit all the people in the state of New York, and we need to be protected too,” Cruz said. “It’s important to get our allies elected.”

PEF Legislative Director Brian Curran said the convention phone banking was one part of PEF’s political action campaign. He said the union was recruiting volunteers for more phoning and door-to-door campaigning for candidates until Election Day, Tuesday, November 7.