Washington ? It’s a striking cover on the union magazine: Katherine Harris with a sour expression on her face. Below her photo in bold yellow are the words, “Don’t Vote.”

The International Association of Machinists is hoping to use the former Florida secretary of state to stir emotions and energize its members, just one of labor’s tactics to get workers to the polls on Election Day.

The labor unions also are bombarding their members with thousands of phone calls, visits, fliers and mailings about issues that range from corporate greed to their own Social Security in an effort to get them to turn out for Democrats on Nov. 5.

Harris, who angered Democrats during the 2000 presidential election recount, is seeking votes herself this year as a candidate for the House. But Thomas Buffenbarger, president of the machinists association, sees her as a symbol.

“So go vote on Nov. 5,” he says in the magazine. “Better yet, drag a friend, a family member or a fellow worker along with you. You will be surprised how powerful you will feel having wiped the sneer off Katherine Harris’ face.”

Led by labor’s umbrella organization, the AFL-CIO, unions have steadily increased their Election Day participation, representing 26 percent of voters in 2000, up from 19 percent in 1992. They hope for an even higher turnout this year as Democrats fight to keep control of the Senate and to take over the House.

Because health and worker issues often are handled at the state level and because statehouse control will be important in the 2004 presidential elections labor also is more involved than usual in turnout efforts for the 36 governorships that are up for election.

In 2000, labor helped put Democrats over the top in races in states including Michigan, Minnesota and Missouri.

Corporate greed is the major campaign issue the AFL-CIO has been pushing to energize union members. The collapse of Enron Corp. and WorldCom Inc. and the toll on the thousands of laid-off workers who lost retirement savings at the expense of corporate executives are subjects that hit home with workers, said John Sweeney, AFL-CIO president.

The fall issue of the International Association of Machinists' magazine features former Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris. The association is using many methods to encourage members to vote Nov. 5.