Final GOTV push includes Players’ Choice event Saturday, Nov. 7

(Nov. 1, 2016) –This week, and especially this Saturday, Nov. 5, you can can make sure you don’t have a political hangover next Wednesday.

Election Day is in one week. The following day, there will be lots of hand-wringing over a few state legislative races that are just too close to call. Some of these key races will be decided by fewer than 100 votes, which means if less than 50 people had voted the other way, the outcome would be different. Just ask Tim Probst, labor’s endorsed candidate for State Senate in the 17th Legislative District, who lost by 78 votes last time around. The outcome of these too-close-to-call elections will determine whether Washington has a pro-worker majority in the Legislature, so the stakes couldn’t be higher.

The hundreds of union volunteers who’ve participated in this fall’s Labor Neighbor campaign want to wake up the morning after Election Day knowing that they did everything possible to make sure fellow members knew about labor’s endorsed candidates and ballot measures — and why they earned labor’s endorsement. And that means one last major push of phone-banking and neighborhood canvassing targeting fellow members who have not yet returned their ballots.

So please consider volunteering for one or more of the following get-out-the-vote activities between tonight and Election Day. That way you can wake up next Wednesday knowing you and your union did everything you could to elect pro-worker lawmakers and pass ballot measures — like Initiative 1433 and Sound Transit Prop. 1 — that will benefit working families in Washington state.

PLAYERS’ CHOICE PARTY — Please join us for Player’s Choice, a M.L. King County Labor Council GOTV event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Teamsters Hall, 14675 Interurban Ave S. in Tukwila. Volunteers will get to choose whether they prefer phone-banking or partnering up to canvass voters in South Seattle on behalf of Sound Transit Prop. 1 (ST3), Seattle Initiative 124 (“Seattle Protects Women”), Initiative 1433 (minimum wage/paid sick leave), and labor-endorsed legislative candidates.

Union volunteers will have brunch, door prizes — including political swag and a $250 grand prize! — a photobooth, and music (by DJ The Stand!) to keep the day fun and fresh. Download and print the event flier to help spread the word. RSVP at the Facebook event page.

Saturday’s Player’s Choice event is co-sponsored by the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO; Teamsters; Electrical Workers Locals 46 and 77; Machinists District Lodge 751; Laborers Locals 242 and 440; Unite Here Local 8; and Professional and Technical Employees Local 17.

Labor Neighbor, the grassroots member-to-member political action program of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, also has the following GOTV events that need volunteers.

PHONE BANKS

Volunteers are needed for GOTV phone banks from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, Nov. 1-3 at the WSLC Seattle office, 321 16th Ave. South.

Can’t make it to the WSLC’s Seattle office. union members can also volunteer to join Labor Neighbor’s virtual phone bank from the comfort of your office, living room, or favorite coffee shop! For more information on how that works, email WSLC Field Mobilization Director April Sims or call 253-441-5113. Or click here to RSVP and volunteer.

Other GOTV phone banks this week include:

Teamsters 117 phone bank Monday, Nov. 7 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at IBEW 77, 19415 International Blvd in SeaTac.

Mass Transit Now  phone bank (in support of Sound Transit Prop. 1) on Sunday, Nov. 6; Monday, Nov. 7; and Tuesday, Nov. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Transportation Choices Coalition, 219 1st Ave. S., #420, Seattle.

Contact the MLKCLC’s Katie Garrow for more information on both.

MORE?

Live outside King County? There are likely other GOTV phone banking and canvassing opportunities in your area. Contact your local Central Labor Council to find out about GOTV efforts in your community to help labor-endorsed candidates and ballot measures.