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Illinois CAP

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Submitted by Andrea on June 2, 2009 - 1:05pm.

Illinois CAP

What is National CAP?

The Community Action program of the UAW (CAP) is the union’s non-partisan political arm. It is a department of the International Union.
 
It isn’t a political party and it isn’t tied to a political party. It endorses candidates, on the basis of their records and their stand upon issues that affect working Americans. Over the years, CAP Councils have endorsed Democrats, Republicans and Independents.Local and regional political endorsements are made by the UAW’s 160 CAP Councils or by other union bodies action upon CAP Council recommendations. CAP Councils are made up of rank and file union members and retirees.
 
The UAW’s International Executive Board makes the union’s endorsement for president and vice-president following a secret ballot recommendation from each of the nation’s UAW locals.
 
There is a CAP Council working on political issues and candidate research at every level of the UAW and for every level of government in every area of the country where UAW members and retirees work and live.
 
Our Goals
 
The UAW and National CAP Seek programs that provide better education for the young, more security for the elderly, and improved health care for all America.
 
We want fairer tax laws, an end to poverty in our land, equal rights for all, and protection for consumers, safer and more livable cities, protection for the family farmer, improved housing and transportation, and an end to pollution.
 
The union especially seeks programs that will provide for full employment. For those without work, we seek better unemployment compensation.
 
In short, we seek a better America for all America. Political education and political activism make it possible for us to achieve our goals.
 
What CAP does

  • Helps register union members & their families to vote

  • Distributes the voting records of senators & members of Congress and helps union members learn about political issues so they can make informed choices when they vote.

  • Endorses candidates on the basis of their voting records and their programs – not party affiliation.

  • Conducts annual voluntary dollar drives and V-CAP check-off solicitations asking each union member to contribute to UAW V-CAP. Federal law prohibits the use of dues funds as contributions to candidates for federal and some state offices.

  • Contributes to endorsed candidates for the U.S. House and Senate from funds collected in the voluntary dollar drives.

  • Urges all union members and voting-age members of their families to vote.

  • Organizes volunteer political work in states and communities. Most volunteers are union members and their families who put in many hours of work on phone banks and in their neighborhoods. They work to get union members registered to vote. They discuss issues with voters, and they get out the vote on Election Day.

  • Is involved in many local community projects to help bring about a better quality of life where UAW members work and live. 

What YOU can do

  • Take part in CAP programs in your local union, your community and state.

  • Help in voter registration and Get-Out-The-Vote Programs.

  • Participate in the election of CAP endorsed candidates.

  • Give to the UAW V-CAP fund drives or sign up on check-off if your local union has a check-off program.

More IL CAP Links Below: 

 Additonal State CAP Links Below: 

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