Unions are doing a better job than in years past of communicating their political message to their membership - unless the members are Caucasian male firearm owners.

Internal polling by the AFL-CIO has found that that bloc of union members frequently votes in step with the National Rifle Association (NRA), which usually means that they're out of step with organized labor.

Now, an AFL-CIO Executive Council committee is mulling a plan to appeal to those firearm-owning union voters back by competing with the NRA. The plan, created by Fire Fighters President Harold Schaitberger, would establish the Union Sportsmen of America (USA). Presumably, women would be included, too.

"One of the failures of the Democratic Party, as well as the labor movement, has been that it has ignored this issue that has pushed many of our members away" from pro-worker candidates, Schaitberger told Press Associates. "This issue just resounded, so we have to think outside the box," he said of the proposed sportsmen's group. "We haven't been successful with this group of workers since 1992."

In the 2000 election, labor-backed candidates in the U.S. won more than 60 percent of unionists' votes - unless those unionists were white male firearm owners. Union-backed candidates barely won a majority of union firearm owners' votes, the pollsters found

The Union Sportsmen group would also push the sale of union-made firearm-related products, everything from Colt, Winchester and Remington rifles, to camouflage caps. Right now, the NRA and its marketing operation dominates sales of firearms and related goods.

In Michigan, with a few notable exceptions, Democratic political candidates historically have done a lousy job of courting the votes of gun owners. And unions, especially those in the building trades where gun owners have a major presence, have been ineffective in getting their point across in attempting to reach out to gun-owning members.

And what is the union point of view? Union leaders have historically tended to steer endorsements to candidates who support workers on safety and pocketbook issues. Those candidates are traditionally aligned with the Democratic Party.

A number of workers, however, believe that their safety and way of life are more closely tied to candidates who support a less-intrusive government and Second Amendment rights. Those candidates are traditionally aligned with the Republican Party.

In recent years, the tide has been turning. Michigan Democrats last year started up a hunting and fishing caucus, intended to open the party up to firearm and outdoor enthusiasts, protect lawmakers from having their record on Second Amendment gun rights from being falsely attacked, and to protect the constitutionally protected rights of gun owners.

For the last six years, Michigan Senate Democratic Leader John Cherry has hosted a free hunter safety course for Flint area hunters. (See the front page news briefs). These efforts could help dispel the impression that Dems are anti-gun and anti-Second Amendment.

"The reason we started the hunter safety program was first to teach young people about firearm safety, and help make them familiar with guns," Cherry said. He also said skeet-shooting fundraisers hosted by himself and fellow state Sen. Chris Dingell "demonstrate that Democrats can promote and enjoy outdoor sports, too."

Cherry said one reason Democrats are traditionally linked with being anti-gun is that their districts usually cover urban areas, where firearm ownership isn't so prevalent. He said the great majority of Democrat lawmakers wouldn't do anything to take away Second Amendment rights.

"We're becoming more vocal about not being anti-gun," Cherry said. "I would urge voters who are concerned that their Second Amendment rights might be taken away to look at the individual records of candidates. Look at Republicans' record, too. Get beyond the rhetoric. People who support workers' issues may very well be firearm and outdoor enthusiasts, too. It's a mistake to paint everyone with a broad brush."

- Press Associates contributed to this report.