State Green Party Press Release

Morrill for Governor - Pennsylvania Green Party

Morrill Disappointed at AFL-CIO Endorsement of Rendell, vows to seek support of unions and rank-and-file.

Morrill for Governor
P.O. Box 7571
Reading, PA 19601
570- 372-0503
http://www.michaelmorrill.org

NEWS RELEASE
Contact: Eric Prindle 215-559-2290

(HARRISBURG, PA)-Michael Morrill, the Green Party nominee for governor, expressed his disappointment in today's expected announcement by the Pennsylvania Federation of the AFL-CIO that it will endorse Edward Rendell for governor. In a written statement, Morrill pointed out the clear differences between his record of union organizing and Rendell's history of fighting against workers and organized labor.

Morrill's statement:
"I am severely disappointed in the decision of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO to endorse Edward Rendell for governor of Pennsylvania. Mr. Rendell has a proven record of hurting the interests of working families while Mayor of Philadelphia. He has made clear his anti-labor bias by choosing to work for the union-busting law firm of Ballard, Spahr, et al. Anti-union forces have recognized Rendell as an ally and have poured millions of dollars into his campaign coffers.

"During the Democratic primary campaign, President William George and other AFL-CIO officials vociferously opposed Rendell on the above mentioned grounds. Now they have fallen into the trap of endorsing Rendell simply because they fear the election of Republican Michael Fisher. We have encouraged Pennsylvanians to vote their hopes and not their fears. This is a message that resonated with voters across the state, especially with rank and file union members. Unfortunately, this message has not been heeded by the leadership of the PA AFL-CIO.

"While I am disappointed in the AFL-CIO decision, I am not bowed. Vicki Smedley and I are the only union members running for governor and lieutenant governor. We have already gotten one union endorsement (AFSCME Local 1723). We are in discussion with a number of other unions and we anticipate further endorsements in the coming weeks. In addition, we already have dozens of union activists who have formed Labor for Morrill, an ad hoc group that will work to mobilize rank and file members to vote for the Morrill/Smedley team.

"I respect the work that President George and the constituent unions of the AFL-CIO do on a daily basis to protect and expand the rights of workers in Pennsylvania. However, I must respectfully and forcefully disagree with their decision to endorse Mr. Rendell when I am a clearly superior candidate on worker's issues. I look forward to the day when unions make their endorsements based on the issues and not on a 'lesser of two evils' philosophy. I will work tirelessly to make sure that this is the last time that fear overcomes the democratic hopes and aspirations of workers."

Morrill is a founding member of the National Union of Professional Organizers and is a former member of AFSCME and the Teamsters. Vicki Smedley is a member of the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

Morrill is currently out of state working on a union organizing drive.

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The following chart was sent to unions around Pennsylvania, as well as to the leadership of the AFL-CIO.

Labor for Morrill

P.O. Box 7571
Reading, PA 19601
570- 372-0503
http://www.michaelmorrill.org
Chairs: Donna Cramer (Erie), Anne Feeney (Pittsburgh), John Hogan (Philadelphia)

Which candidate for governor will stand with PA's working families?

Experience

Has been a union member?
Morrill-Yes. Morrill has been a member of AFSCME and the Teamsters. Vicki
Smedley is currently a member of PSEA.
Rendell-No
Fisher-No

Has been a union organizer?
Morrill-Yes. Morrill has worked as a consultant for a number of unions,
including the Glass Molders (2001) and the American Federation of Government
Employees (2002)
Rendell-No
Fisher-No

Has taught at Penn State's Union Academy?
Morrill-Yes. Morrill has taught organizing at Penn State Berks.
Rendell-No
Fisher-No

Has organized around working families' issues?
Morrill-Yes. Morrill has been the executive director of the PA Consumer
Action Network (PCAN) for four years. PCAN has joined with labor in fighting
for working people on innumerable issues. Morrill also has been the
coordinator of the PA Fair Trade Campaign, the coalition that has fought Fast
Track, MAI, the WTO, FTAA and other "free trade" schemes.
Rendell-No
Fisher-No

Has created community/labor coalitions?
Morrill-Yes. Morrill has created coalitions on campaign finance reform, fair
trade, health care and others. Morrill was the lead organizer for Unity
2000, the major march and rally at the Republican National Convention that
attracted tens of thousands of participants representing a coalition of over
200 organizations.
Rendell-No
Fisher-No

Sample of Top Labor Issues

Supports a minimum wage for PA workers?
Morrill-Yes. Morrill has forcefully and frequently advocated for a minimum
wage of $11.00 an hour.
Rendell-No
Fisher-No

Supports universal health care for PA?
Morrill-Yes. Morrill has called for the creation of a consortium of
northeastern states to manage a multi-state single payer health care system.
Rendell-No
Fisher-No

Supports legislation to ban forced overtime in PA?
Morrill-Yes.
Rendell-No
Fisher-No

Supports scheduled COLAs for retirees?
Morrill-Yes.
Rendell-No
Fisher-No

Supports a fair contract for PA State Store workers?
Morrill-Yes. Morrill has marched UFCW workers in support of a fair PLCB
contract.
Rendell-?
Fisher-No

Supports AFL-CIO's Blueprint for Economic Recovery?
Morrill-Yes.
Rendell-No
Fisher-No

Opposes balancing the state budget on the backs of workers?
Morrill-Yes.
Rendell-No
Fisher-No

Opposes the privatization of public services?
Morrill-Yes. Morrill calls privatization "the confiscation of public
resources to benefit corporate coffers."
Rendell-No
Fisher-No

Opposes Act 57, which reduced workers' comp benefits?
Morrill-Yes.
Rendell-No
Fisher-No

Opposes NAFTA and FTAA?
Morrill-Yes. Morrill has been a leader in opposing NAFTA and has published
reports on its devastating effects.
Rendell-No
Fisher-No