Marquez Brown, Cleveland Regional Director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Ohio Council 8, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to discuss his approach to voter education and the impact that supporting pro-labor candidates could have on the labor movement's future.
AFSCME Ohio Council 8 represents nearly 6,000 public employees in grievance hearings, federal mediations, arbitration cases and matters of collective bargaining. Brown talked about the door-to-door educational efforts he’s participated in around Northeast Ohio and how he approaches his educational efforts. Brown provided context and shared some of his conversations with union members on both sides of the voting spectrum.
Brown said the canvassing efforts are not about making someone vote a specific way. He talked about the importance of educating union members about the purpose of voting. Over time, he said that providing the information has helped to settle some members' concerns about voting.
Finally, Brown discussed the importance of union members supporting pro-labor candidates. He discussed how he approaches conversations around Project 2025 and how it could impact union members. Overall, Brown said topics like Project 2025 have allowed him to discuss the importance of voting for pro-labor candidates, no matter their party affiliation, to the future of the labor movement.
Listen to the show above to learn more about how Brown approaches voter education efforts in Northeast Ohio.