Q&A with Our Revolution President Nina Turner

(This article first appeared in the March-April 2018 issue of the American Postal Worker magazine) 

Our Revolution formed in the wake of Senator Bernie Sanders’ ground-breaking presidential campaign. The American Postal Worker spoke with its President, former Ohio State Senator Nina Turner about the organization’s future goals. 

Q: What is Our Revolution?

A: “Our Revolution is an organization that is building progressive, grassroots movements all across the country, in a way that reminds people that the political power is in our hands. In order to create a strong democracy, people have to be engaged.

“As of February, we have 540 groups all across the country and seven are international. Our work involves taking on progressive issues; for example, Fight for $15 or Medicare for All, voting rights, gender rights, women’s rights, all of those progressive issues that we refer to as the People’s Platform.”

Q: What does Our Revolution hope to accomplish?

A: “We are fighting for issues that make a real difference in the lives of people. We know it’s vitally important not only to have the right issues, but also to have candidates who care about those issues and push them through public policy.”

Q: What other issues are you focusing on?

A: “Wealth inequality is the number one issue that comes up when I’m traveling across the country speaking with our local groups. So many people work so hard and are not able to make ends meet.

“We are also working with a number of organizations to get money out of politics. That is a big deal, far too many elected officials are bought off by special interests.”

Q: How do you envision uniting workers across the political spectrum?

A: “We’re uniting workers by speaking to what we have in common. We cannot think of ourselves as Democrat, Republican, Green Party, Libertarian, but instead think of ourselves as working-class folks who have power and together we can bring powerful changes to our communities and our nation.

“Far too many elected officials don’t care about labor issues and there has been a push in this country to take away collective bargaining rights. The only way to make this democracy strong is to make sure as many people as possible participate in it.”

Q: How does Labor for Our Revolution work into the overall plan moving forward?

A: “Labor for Our Revolution, and our Board Chair, former Communications Workers of America President Larry Cohen, keep us in touch and engaged with issues that mean most to the House of Labor. The only way we are going to create a progressive America is to have that cross-pollination between labor, civically-minded organizations, and organizations like Our Revolution.”

Q: What role do you see ballot initiatives and referendums playing in the 2018 elections?

A: “HUGE. Citizens, especially in states that have the right to have a referendum [in elections], can make their voices known and that voice speaks a policy into existence. The power of referendum is to have the ability to put issues on the table, a powerful tool.”

Q: What is Our Revolution’s position on the public Postal Service?

A: “It’s the DNA of America. You do a great job. Absolutely, without a doubt, we support our postal workers. Postal workers serve the greater good for all in this country.”

Q: How can APWU members and supporters get involved?

A:“Go to our website, OurRevolution.com, and join a group. If there’s not one in your area, make one. Find us on Facebook and Twitter. No matter which action you choose, please get involved.

“The only way that we are going to transform this nation is if we have everyday citizens – the working- class, all across the country – get involved.”