Proposition 32, the anti-worker ballot measure funded by billionaires, has been rejected by California voters.
The margin of defeat was large, with the “No on 32” campaign achieving 56% of the vote.
The down-in-flames defeat of Prop 32 is a tremendous victory for the unions that put their heart and soul into this fight to preserve their political voice, and no union made a greater effort than the members of Local 1245.
“Our members worked incredibly hard on this campaign because they knew how important it is to protect our political voice,” said Jennifer Gray, who coordinated the volunteer effort along with Rick Thompson. “There’s no way we could let the corporations get away with this attempt to gag workers.”
The union’s grassroots effort mobilized hundreds of Local 1245 members. On Oct. 6 the union fielded 89 members walking precincts in 16 locations around the state, with many others volunteering on subsequent weekends. Local 1245 Business Reps coordinated 29 worksite visits by the “No on 32” team and spread the word about Prop 32 at unit meetings.
Local 1245 reached out to its entire membership in California through mailings, e-mail messages and a “town hall” phone call hosted by Business Manager Tom Dalzell that reached about a thousand members, including many who called in with questions and comments.
“Political action is a very small part of what we do as a union, but it is an essential part,” Dalzell said.
“We have used political action to defend Cal-OSHA, to protect overtime pay, and to help resolve collective bargaining disputes with employers. It was very clear that Prop 32 would have paved the way for new attacks on our wages, benefits and working conditions. It had to be stopped, and our members helped stop it,” he said.
Over one thousand Local 1245 members signed cards pledging to get out and vote against Prop 32. Many of them wore buttons, volunteered for canvassing and phone banking, and displayed “No on 32” bumper stickers at work or on their cars.
Nearly 500 members ordered campaign t-shirts featuring “No on 32” messages. The most popular was “Screw You 32.”
California Labor Federation leader Art Pulaski told the Local 1245 Executive Board that Local 1245 fielded more full time member campaign organizers than any other local union in the state. The union’s member recruitment effort was assisted by Local 1245 organizers Fred Ross Jr. and Eileen Purcell.
Most of the major newspapers in the state had slammed Prop 32 for its deceptive wording and its cynical attempt to muzzle workers while giving secretive “SuperPacs” and corporations free rein to spend all they want to exert political power.
Among the chief backers of Prop 32 were the Koch brothers, the billionaire oil tycoons who have financed anti-union initiatives in other states, including the epic clash last year in Wisconsin.
The defeat of Prop 32 by grassroots action has proven once again that united action by workers can overcome the power of corporate money.
Local 1245’s “No on 32” mobilization team met at Weakley Hall on Oct. 24 to finalize plans for the Get Out the Vote (GOTV) campaign for the Nov. 6 election. From left are: Corey Armstrong, Jennifer Gray, Kevin Krummes, Mike Patterson, Jammi Juarez, Fred Ross, Tanny Hurtado, Chris Crossen, Tom Dalzell, Rick Thompson, Lorenso Arciniega, Tony Rojas, Craig Tatum, Rey Mendoza, Eileen Purcell and Justin Casey.