Union members in Maryland were threatened with punishment if they didn't campaign for Democratic candidates or volunteer as poll watchers, according to an email obtained exclusively by Fox News. The email was sent to members of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, requesting volunteers to walk in a parade with Democratic Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulksi and Gov. Martin O'Malley.
Their participation was also requested on Nov. 2 to work election polls.
"I have been informed by our representative, Jim Bestpitch, if we do not participate in the above activities; Jim advised he would see that our Election Day Holiday would be negotiated out of our contract," wrote Mike Pyles, president of Union 553 in the city of Cumberland.
The email has some union members wondering if they are being extorted, but Bestpitch told Fox News that was not case.
"That was miscommunicated wrong," Bestpitch said. "The way the email was worded - it was wrong."
