With perhaps the most important election for working families in a generation only a few months away the country is split almost evenly between Bush and Kerry supporters, much like the split in the 2000 election.

Recent estimates are that as few as 2 million voters in 17 states will decide the next presidential race. Virtually everyone else has made up his or her mind. In Michigan, labor unions represent 900,000 active and retired members, and when voting age family members are added more than 1.5 million Michigan voters are connected to the labor movement.

In 2000, 4.2 million voters cast ballots in Michigan. Labor can be the deciding factor in the election, IF members turn out to vote and those who are undecided receive enough information to make an informed decision to elect John Kerry.

LABOR 2004, is the labor movement’s program to make sure we win in November . On June 12 we will begin our efforts to talk, one-on-one, union member to union member, to outline George Bush’s failed policies and to introduce our members to John Kerry and the plans he has to create 10 million jobs and revitalize our economy for the benefit of working families.

On Saturday, June 12 we will “kick-off” our election year discussions by walking door-to-door, talking with other union members about the importance of this election and how they can make a difference. We’ll be walking in seven targeted areas on June 12 and then for the next month in communities all across Michigan.

For every 42,000 undecided labor union members who decides to vote for John Kerry, we can have a 1% impact on the election in Michigan. In a close election, 1% can mean everything, as we found out in Florida in 2000. Our goal is to talk with more than 200,000 of our members, at their doors, between now and Nov. 2, 2004. We know labor CAN make the crucial difference, but we all have to work between now and Election Day to make sure labor WILL make the difference. You can volunteer to help in the labor walk program by contacting your local union or simply by going to www.miaflcio.org.

Michigan has events in six locations scheduled on June 12, with registration taking place from 8-9:30 a.m. The starting points include: Detroit, SEIU Local 79 at 2604 Fourth St., (313) 965-9450; Grand Rapids, 918 Benjamin Ave. NE, (616) 949-4100; Pontiac, UAW Local 653, 670 E. Walton Blvd., (248) 373-7774; Taylor, UAW Region 1A, 9650 Telegraph Rd., (313) 291-2750, and Warren, UAW Region 1, 27800 George Merrelli Dr., (586) 427-9200.

Also for more information you may contact Derek Pennington, IBEW Local 58, at (313) 963-2130 ext.3046.