~Union Members Make Nearly Two Million Calls into Battleground States~
In a final push for the election, essential workers – doorpersons, office and school cleaners, airport workers and security officers—will knock on thousands of doors and make thousands of calls to get out the vote in battleground states. 32BJ’s essential workers are a part of SEIU’s largest-ever voter engagement program to expand the electorate by turning out infrequent Black and Latino voters, including a robust paid media strategy in multiple languages. SEIU is reaching well over 6 million people, including millions of Latinos in the key battleground states.
32BJ SEIU Voter Outreach by the Numbers:
· 1.183 million calls to PA voters
Approximately 70% of voters contacted thus far have shared that they support Joe Biden for President, while 16% intend to vote for Donald Trump.
· 3.6 million texts to battleground states.
· 30,000 door knocks in FL
· 50,000 door knocks in PA
· 6,000 newly registered 32BJ members
· 3,000 members have volunteered for GOTV work
32BJ SEIU GOTV WEEKEND
PHONE BANK & TEXT BANK TO BATTLEGROUND STATES On Saturday, 32BJ members up and down the East Coast will call voters in battleground states. On Sunday, 32BJ members will hold a text bank and will exceed 4 million texts to voters.
PENNSYLVANIA On Saturday, members and staff will canvass across Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and in districts across the state for Biden and other campaigns down ballot. Canvassing will continue daily through Election Day.
FLORIDA Saturday, a Biden Harris car caravan will be held in Miami. Canvassing and visibility actions will take place in Miami Dade and the Orlando area every day through election day. Saturday: Kissimmee PR Vote Concert with Frankie Negrón, Oscarito, Los Bombys de la Plena, Joshua Pauta
VIRGINIA On Saturday, essential workers will knock on doors in Northern Virginia and participate in a Latino Caucus phone bank, while also holding daily phone banks and holding poll visibility actions throughout Northern Virginia Election Day.
NEW JERSEY Lit drops will take place in eight locations throughout the state, every day.
CT & BOSTON: Car caravans for Biden in Hartford and Stamford on Saturday. Boston phone bank for Biden on Sunday.
For essential immigrant workers, this election means the difference between life and death, and financial stability and poverty. Denied the lifeline of hazard pay while getting sick and dying with the nation’s economy on their backs, essential workers are turning out voters as their lives in fact depend on it. Many essential workers have been volunteering in their time off to make calls and send texts to fellow union members and other voters in states including Pennsylvania, Virginia and Florida.
*32BJ essential workers and election volunteers are available for interview in PA, FL, VA, NY and states up and down the East Coast. These are some of the many 32BJ members making a difference in this election who are available for interview. Live or remote interviews by phone can be scheduled.
Ardist Brown, a doorman in the Upper West Side, an avid volunteer, has spent countless hours reaching out to voters in battleground states. “I’ve volunteered to text over 10,000 voters over the past couple of weeks, because as a Black man I understand that our vote is essential to elect Joe Biden because he has a plan to care for the lives, the health and the livelihood of workers.”
Arthella Harley, a grandmother and Philadelphia commercial office cleaner has made thousands of calls and knocked on thousands of doors in the Philadelphia area. Arthella, a West Philly resident, was an avid volunteer in 2016 and has seen a significant difference in the response from voters this year.
Joshua Kunkle, a Pittsburgh security officer and young father, has knocked on thousands of doors in crucial Allegheny County. Josh has found that voters are overwhelmingly concerned with protecting the Affordable Care Act, the program that provides his young son with health care.
Silvia Cabrera of Virginia escaped a bloody civil war and deep poverty in El Salvador three decades ago to find a better life here in the U.S. Today, her three grown kids vote in every election and inspired Silvia to follow in their footsteps. With guidance from her union’s legal fund, Silvia just became a U.S. citizen and is voting for the first time in the crucial state of Virginia, where the fight for the Latino vote has become fierce.
With over 175,000 members in eleven states and Washington, D.C., 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country.
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