Building from a core of committed activists

Young is among a core of 1,000 labor council activists who recruit volunteers and generate turnout for political campaigns, union organizing drives and rallies with community and faith-based groups. In 1998, the Denver labor council board agreed on a member mobilization strategy built on a committed base of activists -- and it's worked. Today, from among the 85,000 Denver-area members, 1,000 are key activist and 100 are representatives of locals who communicate through monthly council meetings as well as by e-mail and monthly political newsletters. Coming from 45 affiliated locals -- up from only 14 in 1998 -- the activists have transformed Denver into a union city.

Leslie Moody, labor council president, says the labor council board that came together in 1998 represented union activists and staff from all levels -- organizers, local political chairs, some local presidents -- who are open to trying new tactics. "People from different Denver unions were willing to come together with different perspectives and strengths."

In November 2000, labor council activists, working with the Colorado AFL-CIO, were key to winning six of eight state senate races in the metropolitan area. Activists visiting worksites and making home visits educated fellow union members about the importance of electing legislators who support a working families agenda. This work included electing worker friendly members to the state senate to ensure the legislature would not pass a so-called right to work law - which the anti-worker legislature was poised to do. That same bedrock of activists tuned out at the state capitol last February to celebrate their candidates taking office.