AFL-CIO dispatches 32,000 anti-McConnell mailers

Organized labor is stepping up its efforts in Kentucky’s U.S. Senate race this week, as the AFL-CIO is firing off a mailer denouncing incumbent U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s record on economic issues.

In what is being identified as the start of the AFL-CIO’s final push in Kentucky, 32,000 mailers will go out to union households and AFL-CIO members today. Two different pieces are being dispatched as part of the effort.

The first claims McConnell (R-Louisville) “stands with lobbyists, not with us,” and criticizes to the four-term senator’s opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act – a union-favored bill that would remove an employer’s ability to demand a secret ballot election for union certification when a majority of employees have signed union cards.

The piece also argues McConnell “takes millions from special interests” by pointing to his acceptance of campaign contributions from energy companies. The mailer finally suggests McConnell “blocks health insurance” for children, pointing to his 2007 vote against re-authorization of the Children’s Health Insurance Program.

The second mailer –- distributed by Working America, an AFL-CIO affiliate –- echoes those charges and adds on a criticism of McConnell’s 1993 vote in favor for NAFTA.

“On the issues that matter most to Kentucky families, Mitch McConnell makes all the wrong choices,” the mailer reads.

The mailers make no direct reference to Louisville businessman Bruce Lunsford, the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee endorsed by most major labor organizations in Kentucky.

Kentucky labor organizations are stepping up their efforts in opposition to McConnell. Last week, labor union members conducted a canvass in Louisville on behalf of Lunsford.

“Throughout his 24 years as U.S. senator, Mitch McConnell has demonstrated again and again that he stands against Kentucky’s working families,” said Kentucky’s AFL-CIO President Bill Londrigan in a statement. “Before union members and working people go to the polls this November, we're going to make sure they have all the facts about his abysmal record, beginning with this mail piece explaining his strong opposition to health care benefits for uninsured children and votes for massive tax breaks for Big Oil.”

A spokesman from the AFL-CIO said Saturday canvasses would continue until election day along with a phone banking effort.