Just in case Philadelphia union electricians need something to listen to on the exercise treadmill, their union, Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, has them covered.
As part of its support for Barack Obama, the union said it has shipped out nearly 5,000 MP3 players — complete with ear buds — to its entire membership.
The hour-long audio commentary includes speeches by John Doughtery, Local 98’s business manager; Patrick Gillespie, head of the Philadelphia Building Trades Council and Patrick Eiding, president of the Central Philadelphia AFL-CIO Labor Council.
In addition to that stirring line-up, listeners can hear comments by area politicians and excerpts from Senator Obama’s acceptance speech at the 2008 Democratic convention.
The union says that part of the goal of the MP3 strategy is to overcome the concerns of any of the union’s white members who remain leery of voting for a black man.
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dumbest thing i've ever heard of from the dumbest union in town— rabbit23- Yeah I'm sure they will listen to those speeches and they will make a world of difference in thier voting choice. Hey all you guys paying those union dues aren't you happy about the way the Union is spending your money and thier time? What a joke.— LivinLovinLife
- Union members used to be lock-step with their leaders, but not any more.— UnionMilkmen
- It is actually a really great thing. It touches on issues that are important to working Americans. They want the members to get out and vote especially with the state the ecomony is in right now and it wants them to know which candidate will fight for unions and not against them. I guess rabbit23 is just jealous that this union is the best around and we all know it. And LivinLovinLife you must be a scab!!!!!— NS
- What a crock, Bactrack Obanana will make everyone equal, serfs. (Look it up) Trickle up poverty.— LJM
- Right, so lets elect McCain and stay on the track we are now. Brilliant!— NS
Comment removed.
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Thomas Fitzgerald joined The Philadelphia Inquirer in 2000, and has covered Harrisburg as well as city, state and national politics for the newspaper. He was a “boy on the bus” in the 2004 presidential campaign and during primary contests in 2000 and 1996.
Nathan Gorenstein has covered politics and government in the city, state and nation for the Inquirer. He's worked in the city hall bureau, had a stint on the business desk, and once covered the suburbs. After serving as assistant regional editor, he was named editor of the "Politics" web site.
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