Pennsylvania Working People Join Fifteen Thousand Union Members to Knock on a Million Doors on the Same Night Pres. Bush Accepts RNC Nomination; Good Jobs, Health Care, Secure Retirement Focus of Concerns

HARRISBURG, Pa., Aug. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- As President Bush addresses the Republican National Convention on Thursday, September 2, Pennsylvania union members will join 15,000 union members nationwide going door-to-door to talk with a million union households about the jobs crisis, the need for affordable healthcare and a secure retirement in addition to where the candidates stand on these issues. It will be the largest single-day election mobilization in the Union Movement's history. Union members will fan out in Pennsylvania to conduct voter education as part of the AFL-CIO's Labor '04 program. This year, political volunteerism is at an all-time high in the movement because workers are concerned about the direction of the nation under President Bush, especially jobs leaving the country and the family budget-busting, rising cost of health care. "Upbeat and optimistic. That is how President Bush says he feels about the future of our economy, unfortunately workers in Pennsylvania cannot share his enthusiasm," said Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President, William George. "The working people of Pennsylvania have never before been so energized about an election. "We've been overwhelmed by the number of volunteers who want to be out in their neighborhoods, talking to fellow union members while President Bush accepts his party's nomination." Union household members are expected to represent one out of four voters in November, as they did in the 2000 Presidential elections. The September 2nd walks are part of the AFL-CIO's continuing outreach program to inform and mobilize America's working families around issues central to their lives and future for the 2004 election. The AFL-CIO is the umbrella organization for America's unions and represents 13 million working men and women. For more information about the walks, including scheduling a time to accompany the walkers, please contact the coordinator in your county. Philadelphia Contact: Erin Young or Diane Topakian 215-665-9800 Location: IBEW Local 98 Hall, 1719 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia Bucks, Montgomery, Chester, Delaware Contact: Sandy Felder or Richard Womack 610-940-2631 Locations: USWA 1165 Hall, 750 Charles St., Coatesville Delaware CLC Office, 400 N. Springfield Road, Clifton Heights UFCW 1776 Hall, 3031A Walton Rd., Plymouth Meeting Dauphin, Lebanon, Berks, Lehigh, Schuylkill, Northampton Contact: Ben Waxman 717-571-3172 Locations: IBT 429 Office, 1055 Spring Street, Wyomissing Van Bittner Hall, USWA 2599, 53 E. Lehigh Street, Bethlehem AFSCME Conference Center, Council 89, 150 South 43 rd Street, Harrisburg IBT Local 429, 4 South Second Street, Pottsville Tioga, Bradford, Susquehanna, Wayne, Lycoming, Sullivan, Wyoming, Lackawanna, Pike, Union, Snyder, Montour, Northumberland, Columbia, Luzerne, Carbon, Monroe Contact: Roger Clayman 570-961-5394 Locations: AFSCME DC 87, 1258 O'Neill Highway, Dunmore Operating Engineers Local 542, 501 E. Main St., Wilkes-Barre Erie, Warren, McKean, Potter, Crawford, Mercer, Venango, Forest, Elk, Cameron, Clinton, Lawrence, Beaver, Butler, Clarion, Jefferson Contact: Dave Keicher 716-867-0587 Locations: Erie Labor Temple, 1701 State St., Erie IBEW Local 712, 217 Sassafras Lane, Beaver USWA 1016 Hall, 107 Broadway, Wheatland Allegheny, Washington, Greene Contact: Richard Barchiesi 202-285-6684 Locations: USWA Headquarters, 5 Gateway Center (Blvd. of Allies), Pittsburgh Washington Greene CLC HQ, Beau Street, Washington PA Armstrong, Indiana, Cambria, Blair, Westmoreland, Fayette, Somerset, Bedford Contact: Toni Vallone 724-837-6312 Locations: USWA Sub-District 10 Office, 519 Somerset Street, Johnstown Westmoreland CLC Office, One Northgate Square, Greensburg Centre, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Cumberland, Adams, York, Lancaster, Fulton, Franklin Contact: Lara Wheelock 717-852-7286 Locations: Lancaster CLC Office, 675 Manor Street, Lancaster IBEW Local 229, 300 Hudson St., York