October 22, 2018

Weekends aren’t for sleeping in once election season comes around—especially this year’s midterm election.

Dozens of UUP members have given up parts of their weekend to canvass for pro-education, pro-union candidates running for federal, statewide and local office.

The effort continued Oct. 20 and 21 in Buffalo, Cortland and Troy, places where UUP members went door-to-door to talk about issues important to educators and why they should vote for union-endorsed candidates that will fight for them in Albany and Washington, D.C.

UUP President Fred Kowal, along with UUP Secretary-Treasurer Jeri O’Bryan-Losee and Membership Development Officer Tom Hoey knocked on doors of fellow NYSUT members to encourage them to vote for NYSUT-endorsed candidates Antonio Delgado, who is running for Congress, and Aaron Gladd, who is running for New York State Senate.

Hoey, above, right, listens as NYSUT retiree David Anderson, center, talks with Albany Common Council Member Owusu Anane, far left, and UAlbany student Kenny Barrela.

Below, Hoey, right, Kowal, second row, third from left, and O'Bryan-Losee, second row, fourth from left, pose with volunteers who canvassed in Troy for 19th Congressional District candidate Antonio Delgado. Delgado, a Democrat, is in a tight race with U.S. Rep. John Faso, a Republican.

“This year’s elections are so important,” Kowal said. “We need to be talking to voters about the issues they care about and getting people to the polls on Nov. 6.”

Still time to help!

There are still two weeks until Election Day, which means there are many more opportunities to get involved.

On Wednesday, Oct. 24, UUP is hosting a phone bank from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at UUP headquarters in Latham. To volunteer, contact Celine Mell at 518-640-6600, ext. 643 or via email at cmell@uupmail.org.

Other campaign/canvassing events for NYSUT and NY AFL-CIO-endorsed candidates are slated across the state. They are:

• Saturday, Oct. 27: Aaron Gladd (NY Senate District 43), Tedra Cobb (21st Congressional District) and Carrie Woerner (NY 113 Assembly District), 9 a.m.-noon. Meet at Woerner’s campaign office, 267 Broadway, Saratoga. Contact: Randy Gunther, 518-213-6000, ext. 6618.
• Monday, Oct. 29: Dana Balter (24th Congressional Disrict) Town Hall, 6:30 p.m. Marano Campus Center 132, SUNY Oswego, Oswego.

UUP is also actively campaigning for these candidates: Anthony Brindisi (22nd Congressional District); Antonio Delgado (19th Congressional District); and >Nate McMurray (27th Congressional District). You can find and volunteer for canvassing/campaign events by clicking on the candidates' names.

You can find NYSUT’s list of endorsements HERE, and the New York State AFL-CIO’s list of endorsements HERE.