Volunteers needed now

A coalition of unions, churches and community volunteers has launched a statewide organizing effort aimed at defeating an anti-union petition campaign masquerading as a secret ballot issue. 

The phony secret ballot proposal is being promoted by anti-union business interests that have started circulating petitions in congressional districts around the state in an attempt to place the proposal on the genereal election ballot later this year.

The effort to defeat the petition drive is being spearheaded by Jobs With Justice, an organiation that had a leading role in stopping an anti-civil right petition drive in 2008.

Jobs With Justice is encouraging union volunteers to participate in the campaign by training members in how to oppose the petition campaign with information that will help voters understand the false pretenses behind the phony secret ballot campaign.

Union members are being encouraged to:

• Decline to sign the petition if approached by a petitioner
• Scout for petitioners at shopping centers and other gathering places in their communities, and to call a hot line that will be set up after a series of training sessions launched last week at union meetings in Kansas City and St. Louis
• Talk with their state legislators and encourage them to oppose any bill that refers to a "secret ballot" issue.

Training sessions have already been held with union Firefighters, teamsters, communications workers, steelworkers and building trade unions. More meetings are scheduled until April.

Union members who would like to participate in the campaign should contact their union to find out when a training session is going to be held.