TRENTON, N.J., July 21, 2020 – The New Jersey State AFL-CIO today announced endorsements for U.S. President, U.S. Senator and 12 U.S. Representatives from New Jersey, and 48 rank-and-file union members running for county and local offices throughout the state.
The endorsements for the 2020 General Election were made during a meeting of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO Executive Board and were guided by recommendations from New Jersey’s Central Labor Councils. The state labor federation represents 1,000 labor unions and 1 million members.
“This year’s endorsed candidates understand the incredible stress that working families are under,” said Charles Wowkanech, President of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. “They will work tirelessly so that New Jersey’s middle class benefits from the restoration of jobs and creation of new ones in safe workplaces, protected from infection and injury. These candidates will advocate for skills training and effective education, affordable and plentiful health care, and a secure retirement.
“This already was going to be the most significant election for labor in a lifetime,” Wowkanech said. “The anti-worker federal response to the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic and its economic impact has been a disgrace.
“The administration has denied our frontline heroes workplace protections from infection and overwork in every sector of labor,” Wowkanech continued. “And in only one week, tens of thousands of workers thrown out of their jobs by COVID-19 – through no fault of their own – are going to lose hard-earned federal unemployment benefits that keep a roof over their heads and food on their tables.
“We are proud to mobilize our members statewide to secure across-the-board victories for these pro-worker candidates,” Wowkanech said. “America may seem divided, but we in the New Jersey labor movement stand united to get our voice heard. The recovery must benefit everyone, not just the corporate interests. These candidates are the people who can make it happen.”
“These candidates will protect our most vulnerable essential workers,” said Laurel Brennan, Secretary-Treasurer of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. “These candidates share our values of solidarity and they will represent working families through the guiding principles of the labor movement.”