Bernie is doing something new — aiding unions by using his email lists to bring people out to support strikers:
Thousands of workers from the University of California waged a one-day strike Thursday and found some unexpected allies out on their picket lines.
In an unusual move for a presidential candidate, the campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) sent out targeted text messages and emails to its supporters in California a day ahead of the strike, urging them to join workers as they rallied against the university system in a labor dispute.
“Tens of thousands of workers in the University of California system are standing up this Thursday to stop the outsourcing and privatization of union jobs,” the email said. “We are hoping you can join these workers tomorrow.”
The note included an RSVP link and an address for a local picket.
HuffPo: Bernie Sanders Used His Campaign Data To Drive Turnout On Strike Picket Lines.
And the union said it helped according to John de los Angeles, a spokesperson for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299.
“I deployed a press team across the state and was in contact with them,” de los Angeles said. “They were sending me pictures of random supporters out on the line because they had received an email or text from the Bernie campaign. That happened all over the place.”
Here is an email sent out [in March] by Bernie in support of another labor action:
More examples of how this is a movement, and not just a candidate.
Not me, Us
Update I: The link above goes to the campaign site. This link is to the BERN groups page on Act Blue. All donations go to the campaign via Act Blue. Nobody takes anything, although you should leave a tip for Act Blue. If you believe in unions, throw in $10 or $27, if you have the money. If you don’t, just recommend the post.
BERN at Act Blue
