About Us
Our Goals/Objectives
The Time is Now...
The time is ripe and urgently overdue for the working class to rise in unison, display our unity and reclaim our status as the pulse and backbone of this country. America In Solidarity is a grassroots effort of working Americans to focus our country's politics and economics on the necessity of job security, workplace safety, health care, wages and protection of the American worker from the Homeland threat of corporate greed.
An Injury to One is an Injury to All!
To combat our corporate foes, America In Solidarity is going to work with politicians who support our agenda, not those of corporate America. We cannot compete with the corporations dollar for dollar, but by joining forces, America In Solidarity can achieve a political atmosphere friendly to American workers and their families. To achieve this we are creating an army of volunteers who will work with labor-friendly politicians. We will also work to register voters and help educate people on the essential issues that effect America’s working families.
Our Objectives:
1. That all Americans will be entitled to a fair and honest wage, affordable health care coverage, a safe work environment, and protection from corporate greed.
2. Create a political force to stand up to big business and corporate-backed measures that are hostile to American workers.
3. Support and elect politicians who sign our pledge and follow through with worker-friendly votes.
The Origin of America in Solidarity
When contract talks between my union, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, and our employer, the Pacific Maritime Association, reached an impasse last autumn, the PMA reacted by locking out 10,500 longshore workers and creating a national economic crisis. The lockout brought home to the ILWU and 29 port cities on the West Coast the shrinking power of the American worker and the current trend of our government coordinating with corporations, not workers, on how to conduct our national affairs.
As longshore workers from Tacoma’s Local #23 brainstormed ways to settle the dispute and protect our jobs, families, communities and way of life, the idea of "America In Solidarity" started to form. When the dust settled following our contract dispute, we decided this theme was still relevant as our fight still continues as does millions across the country who struggle in the wake of incessant corporate greed and mismanagement and government officials who pander to their every whim.
Sometimes one’s vision is right in front of you, but the ILWU was not the only group of workers under attack in the Puget Sound region. As 2002 came to a close, thousands of Boeing workers were receiving pink slips, the Murrey-American strike touched hundreds of families in Pierce County and the closing of the Tumwater Brewery was devastating to Thurston County. America In Solidarity kicked off in 2003 and we have made an impact ever since.
In my dozens of meetings, people ask me "What is America in Solidarity?"
I tell them this is a theme to reignite the labor movement in America. This isn’t a union/non-union or Democrat/Republican issue because there are politicians on both sides of the aisle with proven track records of friendliness to the average working man. Americans will always differ on issues like gun control, abortions, freedom of speech, but what 99% of us all have in common is that we work to provide a good home for our family, schooling for our children and a good community for us to live and prosper in. Workers are the ones that built the buildings, bridges and cities of our great land, stormed the beaches of Normandy to provide freedom for the world, and made the United States of America the beacon of industry, technology and liberty for all. Unfortunately, many of our politicians have forgotten this or have grown up in a closed system of extreme wealth that never taught them of living from paycheck to paycheck, sweat and dust across the brow or facing a pink slip from unnecessary corporate layoffs.
The corporations will always be able to outspend and outpublicize the common worker, but we are the ones that vote and we must focus our country's politics and economics on the necessity of job security, workplace safety, health care, wages and protection of the American worker from the Homeland threat of corporate greed.
I could write pages and pages on why we need to this, but merely ask yourself:
"Are you one bad quarter from losing your job?
" Do you think your elected politicians are more concerned with your job or the corporations that sponsor them?"
Everyday, "America in Solidarity" seems to grow a little. One more person reads our brochure, sees this website or one of our t-shirts. I hope you agree that it is time the workers of America rise in unison and reshape the way our politics and economics work for the 99% of us, not the elite 1%.
Over the past three years dozens of politicians have signed the America In Solidarity pledge to support working families. In turn, America In Solidarity has donated thousands of volunteer hours in helping elect them. We have conducted phone banks, neighborhood canvassing, built and distributed yard signs and staffed fundraisers. We have also developed a scholarship program honoring former labor leader, historian and activist Ottilie Markholt. Finally, America In Solidarity has proven to be a leader in the community by hosting and sponsoring a series of events including town halls about the war in Iraq, caucus trainings and picnics celebrating May Day and Labor Day.
Check out the rest of our site and see how you can get involved. You can also send me off an email at Todd@americasolidarity.com
In solidarity,
Todd Iverson
Co-founder and President, America In Solidarity
Frequently Asked Questions about America In Solidarity
Is America In Solidarity a non-profit?
We are registered as a charity with the State of Washington and are currently in the process of establishing 501(c)4 status.
What are your objectives?
1. That all Americans will be entitled to a fair and honest wage, affordable health care coverage, a safe work environment, and protection from corporate greed.
2. Create a political force to stand up to big business and corporate-backed measures that are hostile to American workers.
3. Support and elect politicians who sign our pledge and follow through with worker-friendly votes.
4. Educate our fellow citizens on the issues affecting working families.
Do you have paid staff?
Currently America In Solidarity is an all volunteer organization. We are raising funds to hire a full-time staff member to help our organization grow and be more effective.
Can anyone sign the pledge?
Well technically. Established politicians (with a trackable voting record) can contact us if they wish to sign it. We ask those new to politics to fill out our questionaire and send it to us. Our executive board periodically makes decisions on which campaigns we want to help out in.
How do you raise money?
Donations from individuals, unions and other organizations fund most of our operations. We also make money from t-shirt sales (so buy one!) and bbq fundraisers.
Why should I sign up to be a volunteer?
Can you afford those $10,000-a-plate fundraisers? If not, America In Solidarity is about gathering an army of volunteers and collectively we will have a greater voice. We have made a difference in the Puget Sound area of Washington State in helping elect candidates who support working families. Furthermore, we have followed up with lobbying them to vote correctly. As America In Solidarity expands throughout America, and our army grows we can help turn the tide away from corporations to working families in being the focus of government and policies.
As our database of volunteers grows, America In Solidarity will be more powerful and influential is electing the candidates that truly stand up for working families.
What do volunteers do?
America In Solidarity sponsors many phone banks and canvassing walks which allow you to directly help those candidates who have signed our pledge. We also do a lot of behind-the-scenes activities like build and put out yard signs, stuff envelopes and set-up fundraisers. America In Solidarity also sends out emails 2-4 times a month to inform our database of pressing issues and ask you to send a letter or make a call to elected leaders regarding legislation or to write a letter to the editor regarding something affecting working families.
2007 Priorities
2008 Priorities
At its December 2007 Executive Board meeting, America In Solidarity established its key issues to concentrate in 2008. They include:
- Holding corporations accountable toward workers, the environment and local communities
- The elimination of war profiteering while encouraging government support for veterans, including adequate health care for them and their families
- Withdrawal from the World Trade Organization and free trade agreements such as NAFTA and CAFTA
- Establishing a national single payer system for health care
- Increasing living wages and safe working conditions for American families
- Campaign finance reform including clean elections, paper trails at the polls and instant runoff voting
Allies
Fair Trade Committee
Trade agreements have done little for America's working families but send jobs overseas, boost corporate profits and control and increase illegal immigration. America In Solidarity has publicly stated its opposition to the current trend of NAFTA-like trade agreements and have been pushing for fair trade.
If you wish to be part of the fair trae committee, please contact us.
Fair Trade Committee Co-Chairs: Todd Iverson, Mike Jagielski and Gail Ross.
Health Care Committee
Health Care is one of the biggest issues America In Solidarity deals with because it is one of the biggest threats to working families. AIS has worked on local issues and supports a national single-payer system like HR 1200. We have hosted many town halls on the subject. Two health care professionals, Maralyn Kimmerling and Suzette Widdison, sit on our Executive Board.
If you are interested in being part of the Health Care Committee, please contact us.
Health Care Committee Co-Chairs: Suzette Widdison and Marilyn Kimmerling.
Elections Reform Committee
The Elections Reform Committee advises the Executive Board on trends and legislation that affect working families in this area. For the past two years, America In Solidarity has made Elections Reform one of its top priorities as our democracy is at stake with attacks on voting integrity and the growing influence of corporations in our electoral system. Some of the issues we are concerned with include ranked choice voting, public financing of elections (clean elections) and providing a paper trail at the polls.
To become involved with the Committee on Elections Reform, please send us an email.
Committee Co-chairs: Mike Collier, Jeff Richardson and Brianna Richardson