Local 99 MPOs Help Bring Change
Hundreds of us volunteered thousands of hours to help elect Barack Obama as our 44th President. In 2048, with grandchildren and great-grandchildren gathered around our rocking chairs, we’ll tell the story of how we were a part of history in the fall of 2008, campaigning for an advocate of working families on every Main Street across America — and the country’s first African American President.
Five of us gave all of our time this past election season, serving as Member Political Organizers (MPOs) both locally and in New Mexico. Here are their stories…
Felicia WhitneyFrom the time her flight took off on that warm August day from Burbank airport until the weekend after Election Day, Felicia Whitney, a Local 99 member from the Los Angeles Count
y Office of Education, spent her days knocking on doors in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
And this wasn’t an ordinary precinct walk — this was 21st Century precinct walking: Felicia was given a Palm Pilot with all the voter information she collected immediately going straight to campaign strategists.
“We had people slamming their doors in our face. But that didn’t deter our focus. We were fired up and psyched to continue to persuade people to vote for Senator Barack Obama to be the President of the United States of America!” recalls Felicia.
“I actually started the trip with a few lingering doubts that I would actually vote for Obama myself. I still felt like I wanted to learn more. But after learning more about him in my training, I grew sure beyond a shadow of doubt that his was the right campaign trail to be on and I am so proud to have walked door to door for him. There were so many reasons why I wanted Obama in office that it actually came out in my regular conversations when I spoke with people back home.
The campaign has become such a major part of my life and my story.
“And my shoes held up! Fortunately, I bought some new high top purple and white tennis shoes with the shocks—they were super comfortable—even on the day I knocked on 103 doors!
“Finally, I came to really appreciate the jobs that our union organizers do. As an MPO, I believe I experienced what it’s like for them. While it’s discouraging to have those doors slammed, there’s also nothing like sharing valuable knowledge and seeing someone start to change their opinion.”
Gama AndradeLike Felicia, Gama Andrade also spent 12 weeks in New Mexico. But while she was in Albuquerque, he was down south in more rural Las Cruces. “Out there, w
e often found ourselves on dirt roads, with long distances between homes. When we approached a house, we learned to check for dogs. Unfortunately, we learned the hard way,” says Gama.
“I got an emergency cell phone call from some of my fellow canvassers one day. ‘Quick! Get in the car and come and get us! We’re cornered by dogs!’ So we rescued them. But even if dogs made a house inaccessible, that didn’t mean they weren’t contacted. We’d mark the address and made sure they got a phone call.”
Gama was encouraged that the people of Las Cruces really appreciate the visits and phone calls. “They were truly surprised that someone cared so much about what they thought that they came all the way from California to meet with them and encourage them to vote.
“I would tell them ‘I’m not doing it for myself. I’m doing it for my family, my friends, my co-workers, my community, and the entire country.’”
Gama Co-Chairs Local 99’s Social, Economic & Global Justice Committee. He’s a cafeteria worker at Murchison Elementary.
Nadia Lizarraga
Politics is Nadia Lizarraga’s blood. As Chairperson of Local 99’s Committee on Political Action, she clearly sees the connection between what we’re fighting for as union members—health care benefits, wages we can live on, the right to have a strong voice on the job—and the power we have as voters. “When I visit campuses to talk to other Local 99 members, I’m talking about what union solidarity means and what political action means and how seamless they really are,” explains Nadia.
Nadia gets involved out of deep concern for the welfare of her community. “Deep inside, I’m a servant. I serve children at work. I serve my family. I love to serve my community. If I find a way to improve my situation, I don’t keep it to myself. I pass it on to anyone who’ll listen. That’s how I feel about our union and why I work hard to spread the power of unity.”
In her role as COPA Chair and MPO, Nadia was key to helping coordinate all of Local 99’s campaign activities last fall: recruiting phone bankers and precinct walkers, hosting debate parties, assisting with regional member strategy meetings, visiting campuses, and getting us “pumped up!” at our Kick-Off and Countdown events here at the local.
“I also encouraged members to reach out with our message—of rebuilding the middle class and how important it is to elect a working families President—to reach out beyond the union to their friends, families, and neighbors.”
Nadia is a Special Education Assistant at Sepulveda Middle School.
Jackie BrownAs a local MPO, Jackie Brown was part of a “dynamic duo” with her cohort Vilma Carrizales (Vilma’s story below). Together
, they spent the end of September through Election Day visiting campuses and talking to members about Obama and encouraging involvement and solidarity in their union.
“I campaigned for change. Change for our union, change for our school districts, change for our country. I know it takes everyone working in unity to make this work,” says Jackie.
“And I spoke to members about contributing to our Local’s political work through COPE (Committee on Political Education) contributions. When I visited LAUSD campuses, I pointed out that these contributions help us elect our bosses. These dollars fund precinct walking for School Board members who value the work of classified employees. This Board has accomplished things like winning health care benefits for cafeteria workers. When I visited Lynwood campuses, I reminded them that because of the new Board Members there who support
Local 99 members, Campus Monitors won union representation and are now bargaining their first contract.
“And I was especially enthusiastic when I talked to Local 99 members about Obama. He was my candidate from day one! Listening to that man is like listening to Kennedy and I knew he was going to be our next President! It was like going to church and listening to a good sermon. It was like he was talking to me: ‘I’m going to help you.’”
Jackie is a Food Services Manager at Rosa Parks Elementary in Lynwood.
Vilma CarrizalesVilma, our Executive Board member for Torrance Unified School District, served as a Local 99 MPO as part of the invincible Jacqueline-Vilma duo. She remembers when she first lear
ned about Local 99. She was a brand new custodian in Torrance. The Steward there was a longtime member whose union experience started in another country where union members were persecuted. He spoke passionately about how here in the U.S. workers had more freedom to get involved and improve their circumstances. That’s all it took. Vilma became a bargaining team member as soon as her probationary period was completed.
“I used to work in restaurants that were not unionized. When I sat in on these negotiations, I saw what a difference having a union made,” she recalls of that first experience at the table.
The same co-worker who first spoke to her about joining Local 99 also approached her about becoming an MPO. “I decided to give it a try and get more involved in my union.”
“To be honest, I was a Hillary supporter at first. But I ended up really liking Obama. I like that he comes from the middle class and knows what kinds of things the middle class struggles with. By being an organizer,
he saw firsthand needs in the community. And he understands how important it is to have a job and to have a union.
“My strategy was to call the members at a campus ahead of time so that they’d be expecting my visit. I’d let the principal know I was coming, too. Usually, I’d sit in the staff cafeteria and then just start conversations. I’d bring union literature, news of what was going on with their job classifications, and I’d bring voter registration forms. I registered a lot of younger members who’d never voted before and told them how important it was for them to let their voice be heard!”