Missouri AFL-CIO excited about November election, but it needs your help

By SHERI GASSAWAY
Assistant Editor

Riverside, MO – The Missouri AFL-CIO is looking forward to the upcoming November election, but it needs your help to get the word out about the state’s Labor-friendly candidates and propositions.

That was the message shared with Labor leaders at last week’s Missouri AFL-CIO 32nd Biennial Convention. The three-day conference, which hosted 156 delegates and six guests, was held at the Argosy Hotel and Casino in Riverside, Mo.

During a recorded video message, AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler took a moment to talk about the incredible opportunity that Missouri Labor has in front of it right now with the election and thanked leaders for their help in the past.

‘WE CAN FIGHT BACK’
“I know it isn’t always easy, when you’re up against a governor who is attacking our fundamental rights and an anti-worker state legislature that’s right there in lockstep,” Shuler said. “But Missouri Labor has proven over and over again that we can fight back.”

Shuler was referring in part to Missouri Labor’s successful fight to repeal so-called “right-to-work” in 2018, where thousands of the state’s union members knocked on their union brothers’ and sisters’ doors to get the message out about the anti-worker legislation. Labor’s response led to the anti-worker legislation being defeated at the ballot box by better than two-to-one majority, 67.5 percent to 32.5 percent.

‘READY TO MAKE SOME HISTORY’
“I’m ready to make some history, and I hope you all are too,” Shuler said. “Just know that I am right there shoulder-to-shoulder with you along with 12.5 million working people who have your back. Let’s leave here ready to go talk to our members, mobilize and bring more people than ever before into our movement.”

The Missouri AFL-CIO convention took place the same week of the Democratic National Convention in which Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz accepted the presidential and vice presidential nomination. If Harris wins the election, she’ll be the first woman to hold the seat.

Missouri AFL-CIO President Jake Hummel called the DNC conference “electrifying” and said he was excited about the upcoming election.

‘BOOTS ON THE GROUND’
“I’m ready to get out and start talking to voters, but we need your help,” Hummel said to delegates. “We need boots on the ground to get these Labor-friendly candidates across the finish line and flip the red seats to blue. Our future is bright for the Democratic Party.”

Missouri AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Merri Berry said since the defeat of so-called “right to work” in 2018, she’s seen union volunteer efforts decrease. She said she hopes that will change with November’s historic election.

VOLUNTERISM
“Do you know why we were so successful in 2018?” Berry asked the delegates. “It’s because we were all volunteering and knocking doors because it meant something to us. We need to get off our butts and get out there for 2024 and start voting for our paychecks.”

Berry said she understands that everyone is busy, but begged for volunteers from each union to give the federation four or five shifts to get the job done this election cycle. Union volunteers will be talking to their union brothers and sisters.

Also speaking at the convention were House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, who is running for Missouri governor, 13-year Marine veteran Lucas Kunce, who challenging Josh Hawley in the U.S. Senate, and several key state senate candidates. If Quade wins her election, she’ll be the state’s first female governor.

Quade said just a few weeks ago during a radio interview, her opponent, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, was asked would you veto “right-to-work.” His response was “I haven’t seen the legislation yet. It depends on what it is but I bet we can find a compromise with the unions.”

‘NO COMPROMISING’
“The difference is I will veto ‘right-to-work’ if it comes up again,” Quade said to a room full of applause. “There is no compromising when it comes to your wages, your benefits and your rights.”

If you would like to volunteer for the upcoming election season, contact Berry at merriberry@moaflcio.org.