Labor’s Electoral Foot Soldiers Earn Right To Give Some Commands

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http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/13872/labors_foot_soldiers_earn_right_to_give_some_commands/

As every election day approaches, an army of union members and staff sets to work: running phone banks, registering voters, knocking on the doors of union households, leafletting work sites, distributing yard signs and performing countless other tasks in the ground war for labor-endorsed candidates.

It's a relatively thankless job. These foot soldiers often provide the crucial margin for victory but rarely get much credit, except for perhaps a throwaway line in a victory speech. Regardless, there are still thousands of willing grunts in the trenches fighting for--usually--some of the most progressive candidates on the ballot.

This year the troops get a new reward: a chance to play general-for-a-day (ok, more like political director for a few minutes).

In a new twist to the AFL-CIO's national political operation, union members can accumulate points for the electoral work they've done. They then exchange them not for a tote bag, key-chain or T-shirt, but for the opportunity to strategically direct the campaign of any AFL-CIO-endorsed candidate or initiative.