Tom Jacobsen and Herald Ugles never met U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone. They are committed, however, to making sure that his legacy lives on.
The two members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union arrived in Minnesota last Tuesday to help in get-out-the-vote efforts. They are among dozens of union members who arrived in the state in recent weeks, primarily because of the key U.S. Senate race.
Wellstone's death only days after their arrival was a shock. "It's been an emotional rollercoaster," said Jacobsen, a member of ILWU Local 27 in Port Angeles, Wash. "We have gotten to know a lot of people in a very short time."
A total of four ILWU members have been in the state to help with phoning, leafletting and other union activities. They were all recently the victim of a management lockout at West Coast ports, a situation that could threaten the union's survival if the U.S. Senate is taken over by Republicans, they said.
Currently, President Bush is using the Taft-Hartley law to impose an 80-day "cooling-off period." He then would be required to submit a report to Congress, which could impose more onerous laws to limit the ability of union members to exercise their rights.
While they wished they were turning out support for Wellstone, the two longshoremen said they will work hard to elect whoever the labor-endorsed candidate is.
Having witnessed tragedy, "we're more determined than ever," said Ugles, a member of Local 19 in Seattle. "There is no sitting on the fence anymore!"
Tom Jacobsen and Herald Ugles never met U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone. They are committed, however, to making sure that his legacy lives on.
The two members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union arrived in Minnesota last Tuesday to help in get-out-the-vote efforts. They are among dozens of union members who arrived in the state in recent weeks, primarily because of the key U.S. Senate race.
Wellstone’s death only days after their arrival was a shock. “It’s been an emotional rollercoaster,” said Jacobsen, a member of ILWU Local 27 in Port Angeles, Wash. “We have gotten to know a lot of people in a very short time.”
A total of four ILWU members have been in the state to help with phoning, leafletting and other union activities. They were all recently the victim of a management lockout at West Coast ports, a situation that could threaten the union’s survival if the U.S. Senate is taken over by Republicans, they said.
Currently, President Bush is using the Taft-Hartley law to impose an 80-day “cooling-off period.” He then would be required to submit a report to Congress, which could impose more onerous laws to limit the ability of union members to exercise their rights.
While they wished they were turning out support for Wellstone, the two longshoremen said they will work hard to elect whoever the labor-endorsed candidate is.
Having witnessed tragedy, “we’re more determined than ever,” said Ugles, a member of Local 19 in Seattle. “There is no sitting on the fence anymore!”