NY CWAers Mobilize for Cuomo, Schneiderman and DiNapoli on Working Families Party Row E

Twelve years ago, CWA--along with the Autoworkers, Transit workers, Laborers, and Citizen Action of NY--founded the Working Families Party to build political and legislative power for working people in New York.

It worked. The Party has become a major force in New York State politics, fighting for issues that matter to unions and working women and men:

• The party fought for legislation that protects jobs in CWA industries.

• WFP led the fight to increase in the minimum wage in 2004.

• WFP stopped $5 billion in cuts to health care and education and other vital public services by winning a tax increase on the wealthiest New Yorkers, those making over $500,000 a year, in 2009.

• WFP passed landmark a Green Jobs program to weatherize one million homes and create 15,000 union construction jobs.

• WFP helped lead the fight, which is still going on, to guarantee that all New York City workers get at least some Paid Sick Days; currently 50% of all NYC workers have none.

The WFP has helped build CWA’s power in Albany, in City Hall, and in County Legislatures across the state.

50,000 Votes for Governor

Under New York State election law, a minor party like Working Families must get 50,000 votes or more for its gubernatorial candidate—this year it’s Andrew Cuomo—to maintain its “official ballot status” for the next four years.

That’s why CWA members across New York State are phoning and leafleting for the WFP Row E slate of Andrew Cuomo for Governor, Eric Schneiderman for Attorney General, and Tom DiNapoli for Comptroller. If you want special flyers to hand out where you work, we have a Cuomo Row E flyer here and a Schneiderman Row E flyer here.

By voting on Row E, our votes count toward the totals for the candidates we support. But they also send a message that these are votes that stand for good union jobs, honest government, stronger unions, and greater economic equality.

Help build power for CWA and working families—Vote Row E on November 2nd.