Labor 2010 Volunteer Spotlight: Steve Raatikka

Steve Raatikka knows that member to member contact during election time is crucial to winning elections. Steve is a dedicated labor volunteer with the East Central Area Labor Council out of St. Cloud, and Minnesota AFL-CIO General Board member.

Last Saturday on the One Nation Day (October 2), I had the chance to go doorknocking with him for Mark Dayton and Tarryl Clark in St. Cloud. We talked about how important it is to reach out to other union members so we can elect labor friendly elected officials.

A business representative for Sheetmetal Workers Local #10, Steve began his labor activism back in 1998 and has been going strong ever since. Doorknocking is his favorite way to interact with members because of the satisfaction he gets of connecting to union members and their families.

The power of the personal conversation and connection is unparalleled. Steve tells a story of when he was knocking in Crosby in 2008, and met a retired union couple at the door. The wife stared out from the screen door at Steve. She threw her head back and yelled to her husband, “Hey it’s the union folks! You’ve got to come and talk to them.” The couple had never had a union member doorknock their house before and was very appreciative of the conversation. The point that touched Steve was when the man held his arms out wide, and looked from side to side and said, “Everything we have is thanks to the union.”

Just as everything the couple in Crosby has is built upon solid union membership, everything that Minnesota has is built on the middle class. Steve recognizes and acknowledges this. That’s why he supports Mark Dayton for governor. He knows that the governor sets the tone for the state and that Mark Dayton will protect and create jobs to get Minnesotans back to work.

Steve also supports Tarryl Clark for Congress person of the 6th District. “Tarryl Clark is a good candidate. She represents the working people. Michele Bachmann is a soundbyte and the designated person to spit out lies from the fear factory of the GOP. She represents corporate interests, and that is not what the 6th District is about.”

“The fight to maintain workers’ rights is constant. To paraphrase a Neil Young album, the ‘anti-union labor establishment never sleeps,’” Steve says.

Volunteering your time in the Labor 2010 efforts are the best way to make sure we get elected officials who will fight for the middle class.

Follow Steve’s example. Volunteer today to support candidates that will fight for the union member and the working class.