NOVA Labor Begins Final Push for 2012 GOTV

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

“Oh yes, I’ll be out there Tuesday for President Obama,” AFGE member Joan Findlay promised Labor-to-Labor canvasser Jackie Jeter this morning. “And I’ll be making sure all my neighbors get out too; we’re going to get there!” Jeter (at right in photo below left), President of ATU Local 689, was canvassing in Chantilly with husband Roland – also a Local 689 leader – and rank-and-file member Sirria Woodard, as hundreds of labor volunteers fanned out across Northern Virginia today. Woodard, a Metro train driver who was canvassing for the first time, said that “it’s time for me to get more involved, to help build my union and a stronger movement.” Down in Dumfries, postal worker Dena Briscoe (at right helping put up a yard sign), bundled up in her union jacket against the chilly wind, wore a broad smile as she door-knocked on Azalea Sands Lane. “Response has been just great this morning,” the president of APWU Southern Maryland said, “everyone’s either already voted for Obama or plans to on Tuesday.”  After giving AFGE 12 member Antonio Caraballo an Obama yard sign – and helping him put it up – Briscoe and her team, APWU’s Gary Kloepfer and Sally Davidow, moved on to the next house. Early this morning, Virginia State AFL-CIO president Doris Crouse-Mays and NOVA Labor president Dan Duncan had warmed up the final Saturday crew with call-and-response chants of “Fired up, Ready to go!” as the 2012 election entered the final 96 hours. “Virginia’s going to be the next Ohio” swing state, promised Duncan, reminding the crowd of the moment in 2008 when the state went for Obama “and moments later he was declared the winner.” NOVA’s canvassing continues tomorrow (Sunday), with doors opening at 9:30A and the canvass wrapping up “no later than 1P” promised Duncan. Click here for the latest metro-area labor GOTV calendar. - report/photos by Chris Garlock