Georgia Senate Runoff Election Hub
Machinists Union members in Georgia have a critical decision to make on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. The Georgia U.S. Senate runoff elections will determine the balance of power in the Senate—and you can help restore power back to working people.
The IAM is proud to endorse Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock for U.S. Senate. Make sure you make voice heard on Tuesday, Jan. 5
GET READY TO VOTE
MAIL-IN VOTING: Any registered voter in Georgia can vote from home with a mail ballot without an excuse. You can request a ballot for the Jan. 5, 2021 election now.
If you plan to vote by mail, you should request a ballot as soon as possible. Election officials will begin sending out mail ballots to those who requested them on Wednesday, Nov. 18.
Ballots must be returned by mail via the U.S. Postal Service or dropped off in-person (in-person ballot return options vary by county) by the time polls close on Election Day. Military and overseas ballots can be received up to three days after Election Day.
EARLY VOTING: Georgia holds 16 days of early voting prior to every election. In-person early voting for the Jan. 5 runoffs begin on Monday, Dec. 14. Specific locations and hours for in-person early voting in each county have not yet been announced, but will be available at this link.
VOTE ON ELECTION DAY: The last day to vote in the Georgia Senate runoffs, Election Day, is Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021. In-person voting locations and polling sites on Election Day open at 7 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
THE ISSUES: A CLEAR CHOICE FOR MACHINISTS UNION MEMBERS
Machinists Union Endorsed
Ossoff & Warnock on Helping Essential Workers and COVID Relief
– Ossoff has called on Congress to pass a “fast and generous” round of emergency cash relief payments to Americans during the pandemic.
– Ossoff stresses that expanded testing capacity and PPE should be urgent policy priorities.
– Warnock has called for more testing and contact tracing and outlined an economic plan that includes robust testing and contact tracing.
– Warnock has called on Congress to pass more coronavirus stimulus that addresses the needs of workers and extends protections like eviction freezes.
Ossoff & Warnock on Economy & Taxes
– Ossoff supports pushing for “an unprecedented American infrastructure program” and creating job training and employment opportunities for millions of American workers.
– Ossoff supports lowering taxes for all but the wealthiest Americans, giving working families due to relief.
– Warnock supports revoking tax breaks for companies that outsource jobs.
– Warnock has spoken out against tax breaks for the rich and protested the 2017 corporate tax cuts that slashed health care, education, and other programs.
Ossoff & Warnock on Health Care
– Ossoff said he would vote in favor of protections for those with pre-existing conditions.
– Ossoff would pursue a crackdown on price gouging performed by drug companies.
– Warnock said he would support legislation allowing Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices.
– Warnock has urged Georgia’s leaders to reopen the healthcare exchange to ensure Georgians have access to affordable care.
Ossoff & Warnock on Unions
– Ossoff and Warnock support the PRO Act, which would strengthen workers’ right to form unions and collectively bargain.
– Ossoff and Warnock have “committed to walking the picking line with workers and using [their] office to speak out publicly” to support workers’ union efforts.
Ossoff & Warnock on Paid Leave
– Ossoff said that, if elected, he would work to ensure that paid sick leave is provided for all workers.
– Warnock condemned the Trump administration for broadening exemptions that left millions of essential workers without paid leave during the pandemic.
An Anti-Working Family Agenda
Perdue & Loeffler on Helping Essential Workers and COVID Relief
– Perdue helped lead the charge to void a Labor Department rule requiring businesses to record workplace injuries and illnesses.
– Perdue opposed the Heroes Act, which included $13-an-hour premium pay for essential workers and a temporary OSHA emergency standard. Instead, Perdue supported COVID legislation which would have allowed cuts to Social Security and Medicare and slashed federal unemployment payments.
– After a private meeting on the coronavirus crisis, Loeffler dumped millions in stock and bought stock in a teleworking software company, instead of warning Americans about the impending danger.
– Loeffler, Perdue and Senate Republicans adjourned the Senate without passing any stimulus for working families.
Perdue & Loeffler on Economy & Taxes
– Perdue was a corporate executive at Sara Lee where he personally led efforts to expand manufacturing in Asia. As a result, Sara Lee shuttered plants and eliminated jobs in Georgia.
– Perdue voted for the Trump tax cuts for the wealthy and proposed bills to cuts Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.
– Loeffler stated that she supported eliminating payroll taxes for employers.
– Loeffler was found to have helped large banks obtain offshore tax relief after the 2008 financial crisis.
Perdue & Loeffler on Health Care
– Perdue tried to push through a bill that would have resulted in individuals with pre-existing conditions paying higher costs.
– Perdue voted for Trump’s tax cuts, which depleted the trust fund for Medicare.
– Loeffler introduced legislation that would have created short-term plans that fail to cover pre-existing conditions.
Perdue & Loeffler on Unions
– Perdue and Loeffler were co-sponsors of the anti-union national Right To Work Act, which would repeal provisions that permit employers to require employees to join a union as a condition of employment.
Perdue & Loeffler on Paid Leave
– Perdue voted for, and Loeffler co-sponsored an amendment that would have stricken federally mandated sick pay and family leave during the pandemic.