WHY ARE UNIONS POLITICALLY ACTIVE?
The single most misunderstood aspect of the labor movements is it work with political engagement. To put it simply Unions are involved in politics, because politics has NEVER left Unions alone. We have seen time and again public employee’s rights to collectively bargain stripped away. This is why as a Union we must work to elect worker friendly candidates who support the values we hold as a Union. ​

COMPLETE OUR SURVEY SO WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT ISSUES ARE
​​MOST IMPORTANT TO YOU!
"What do we want? More schoolhouses and less jails; more books and less arsenals; more learning, less crime; more leisure, less greed; more justice, less revenge; in fact, more of the opportunities to cultivate our better natures."
— SAMUEL GOMPERS, FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR, CIRCA 1898

Political Action Committee

The Purpose of the Political Action Committee is to advance the mission of the union through member engagement in political and legislative action.

On a daily basis, elected leaders make decisions that determine the workplace conditions of private sector and public sector workers. In fact, they can decide whether we even have jobs. That’s why it is vital that Local 251 members be politically active.

Political action allows us to directly elect our bosses and sets the table for the rest of the union’s activities since the political climate can make or break our efforts to organize workers, negotiate contracts, settle grievances and communicate at the workplace with one another. Local 251 supports or opposes candidates based on their positions on issues important to working families and their communities.
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Actions are decided and implemented by Local 251 union members through our Political Action/PEOPLE Committees. Here are some tasks for a year-round PEOPLE committee:
  • Inform and educate members on issues of      importance to working families;
  •  Enroll at least 25 percent of members in the PEOPLE PAC at the MVP level;
  • Register at least 90 percent of members to vote;
  • Identify, recruit and train 3 percent of members as grassroots political activists;
  • Deploy 2 percent of members as Election Day volunteers;
  • Identify worker-friendly candidates for public office, communicate with them and help elect them to office;
  • Educate elected public officials on issues of importance to workers and their families;
  • Hold politicians accountable for their actions through constant interaction, supporting those who support us and opposing those who oppose us.
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All members interested in legislative and political issues, or who want to learn more are welcome.