LMCT Director encourages members to ask about election issues

In the runup to the election, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management and Cooperative Trust Executive Director Pete Ielmini informed union members where they can find reliable election information on the Oct. 30 episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast.

Ielmini spoke with AWF host Ed “Flash” Ferenc about getting out the vote and how social media and corporate media have clouded the line between truth and fiction.

With regards to getting out the vote, Ielmini said the meaning is twofold. First, it is fulfilling your civic duty and voting your entire ballot. He added that union issues are voted on in every election, from president to school board. 

Next, he said getting out the vote means encouraging and helping others to vote. He likened this to the collective nature of unions, where people are stronger when they take action together.

Ielmini then moved on to talking about where voters, specifically union members, can find the most accurate information about candidates.

He said he will never tell a union member who to vote for. By laying out each candidate's policy proposals, past actions and votes and more, union members will see a clear difference in who is working or will work to advance their interests and who will not.

By carrying a union card, Ielmini said members are in a unique position where their organization has the resources and influence to inform members about who is looking out for their interests.

He suggested any union members listening to the podcast who are undecided should go talk to their union officials about the issues. These officials will be able to lay out the differences in policies and what the candidates have been doing with regards to unions. Oftentimes, union issues do not make major headlines and people forget how much they are affected by politics.

You can listen to the full interview here: