A MESSAGE FROM JOE GUMP

By Kulmeet Galhotra | Published: October 3, 2008

BROTHERS AND SISTERS

I have taken a brief leave of absence from the Cook County Public Defenders Office to devote full time to our union’s effort to elect Barack Obama the next President of the United States. 

Hopefully, you are now aware of one such endeavor – the “Get on the Bus!” campaign – in which all AFSCME members have been encouraged to travel to neighboring states to educate union families about Barack Obama’s historic campaign and his exemplary labor record. If an out-of-state trip is not realistic for you, I am coordinating efforts locally to recruit volunteers to conduct union household visits or telephone banking on behalf of Barack Obama and Dan Seals (who is running for Congress against incumbent, Mark Kirk, in the 10th District). 

If you would like to take advantage of these opportunities to get involved in this truly transformative election, please contact me immediately to discuss your options. 

Joe Gump

PEOPLE Chair

AFSCME Council 31

Local 3315

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  • Bruce Mosbacher, Executive at Large

    Thanks Joe!!! How should our members contact you?

    Bruce

  • Joe Gump

    Thanks for asking. I can be reached at my temporary offices at the United Auto Workers Regional Headquarters, 680 Barclay Blvd., Lincolnshire, IL 60069,(847) 459-3888 (x4043). If I’m not there, please leave a message and I will return your call promptly. In the meantime, please be advised that we will be doing telephone banking — i.e., contacting our union membership in the 10th Congressional District (where union-endorsed candidate, Dan Seals, is challenging incumbent Mark Kirk) — every evening next week (10/13 – 10/17) from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the UAW Regional Headquarters. For the hardier crew, we will also be walking precincts and visiting union households in the 10th District every Saturday (beginning on 10/11/08 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. meeting at Carol Javens’ Campaign Headquarters — 216 W. University, Arlington Heights, IL) until the election. Although I am reluctant to give out my personal cell phone and email address on the website, if you call me at the number above, I will be happy to give it to you. Again, this election is huge and I predict that its outcome will have a significant impact on unions and your life for years to come. Please call me and get involved. There are only 28 days until election day!!!

  • Joe Gump

    I would like to thank Georgeen Carson (and her teen-age daughter, Liz), Jack Phalen, and retiree, Ira Sheffey, for their support last Saturday, 10/11/08, canvassing parts of the 10th Congressional District on behalf of Barack Obama and Dan Seals. There are still openings available from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, 10/18/08. We will be meeting at the Dist. 141 Machinist Office, 1771 W. Commerce Drive, Elk Grove Village, IL. Please call me at (847) 459-3888 (x4043) if you have any questions or would like to volunteer. Please leave a message if I am not in because I have been in the field quite a bit. Your help continues to be urgently needed. None of us should take comfort with the poll numbers, favorable though they are. A lot can happen in the 19 days before the election.

  • Joe Gump, PEOPLE Chair

    Hello Brothers and Sisters:

    There are just 14 days left before probably the most transformational election of our lifetimes. The Union continues to devote enormous resources to impact the outcome of that election. As you know, I am devoting full time to representing AFSCME members in that effort. It is not too late for you to join the fray. Specifically, on Saturday, October 25th and November 1st, between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., we will be canvassing precincts in the 10th Congressional District on behalf of our endorsed candidates, Barack Obama and Dan Seals. Going to all union households in this area, we are encouraging our members to support these candidates and to vote early. We will be starting at Carol Javens’ Campaign Headquarters at 216 W. University in Arlington Heights. I am also recruiting members to work on election day, November 4th. We will be doing a major Get Out the Vote effort. This will include telephoning members or going to their homes if they have previously indicated a desire to vote for our candidates. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO DO THIS WORK!!! If you can assist from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., you will be compensated $75.00. This is obviously not about the money, however, and any time you can spare on this County holiday would be appreciated. Call me at (847) 609-3560 to let me know your availability. We are running out of time and the need is urgent!

  • Joe Gump, PEOPLE Chair

    Dear Sisters and Brothers:

    I have returned from my leave of absence and am back at my day job — Assistant Public Defender, Rolling Meadows. Before I forget, I would like to thank several members of our office who heeded my call and worked for the union on behalf of Barack Obama (our President-elect) and Dan Seals (who unfortunately lost in his race to unseat Mark Kirk in the 10th Congressional District) on election day. Those members are: APDs Kathy Ward, Monica Johnson, and Hilary James; and Kathy Pepper, one of our administrative assistants in RLM. I would also like to thank the numerous members of our union who broke with their normal routines and volunteered their time and considerable talents to work on other local campaigns or who travelled to battleground states to canvass voters, get out the vote on election day, and monitor polling places to ensure that every vote was cast and counted. The effort of each of our union members, their families, and friends contributed to the unprecedented and historic nature of this election and its outcome, the benefits of which we will reap for years to come. For all those who participated, congratulations and thank-you for a job well done. Please consider applying that same energy and devotion to our current effort to negotiate a new, fair, and just Collective Bargaining Agreement. Also, everyone is encouraged to sign up for the Local’s MVP program (please contact me or a steward at your worksite to learn more) to ensure our political might into the future. Thank-you all again!!!

    In solidarity,

    Joe Gump
    PEOPLE Chair
    AFSCME Local 3315
    (847) 818-2485

  • ananomous

    How about Jack Phelan and Georgeen Carson?