Labor's New Recruits

The political benefits of this organizing effort became very visible in last week's elections. In Kentucky, labor had battled Republican Gov. Ernie Fletcher over his campaign to pass a right-to-work law in the state Legislature and block an increase in the state's minimum wage. As part of that 2006 fight, Working America went into the state and signed up 40,000 members.

Last week, when Fletcher sought a second term against Democrat Steve Beshear, labor leaders claimed that 350,000 people from union households -- including the Working America contingent -- voted, or about one-third of the overall turnout.

A survey by Peter D. Hart Research Associates found that 77 percent of the regular union household members and 79 percent of the Working America family members voted for Beshear -- who trounced Fletcher in the overall returns as well. The survey found that economic issues stressed by the unions were particularly important influences on these voters -- an indication that the campaign had worked.

A Hart poll of Working America members in the 2006 election found that 74 percent had supported Democratic candidates for the Senate and 73 percent had backed Democratic candidates for the House. In several swing districts, the labor vote clearly made the difference.

Buoyed by such results, labor plans to keep expanding the program. It started in Florida and Missouri and soon added Ohio, Pennsylvania and Minnesota. Now it is operating in Washington, Oregon, Iowa, Michigan and other states as well.

Nussbaum says that the Harvard economists who have called the conference describe it as the fastest-growing labor organization in the country. To her, it is "a well-kept secret."

davidbroder@washpost.com