Encourage Commuters to Vote “Yes” On Ballot Question #2

Tomorrow is Election Day. Polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and we urge everyone who casts a ballot to please vote “Yes” on Ballot Question #2 to raise the minimum wage. This election is unique in that New Jersey residents have the power to vote for an increase in the minimum wage and will have the final say on this critical state policy. Therefore, it is vitally important that you make your voice heard on Tuesday, November 5th.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is a founding partner of the nonpartisan grassroots coalition Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. which is leading a statewide “Raise the Wage” campaign to achieve voter approval of Ballot Question #2 on Election Day November 5th.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO kicked off this morning with a packed fundraiser in support of Senator Barbara Buono at Mastori’s Diner in Bordentown. The room was full of energy and the level of enthusiasm was phenomenal.

The amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to prepare for an election is truly astounding. This year, with two major elections on the way and the all-important minimum wage question on the November 5th ballot, Labor 2013 volunteers and staff have been working around the clock every day to build walk packets for our entire state and develop customized flyers and materials for our local unions and Central Labor Councils.

As a reminder, the deadline to register to vote in the Special U.S. Senate Election is Wednesday, September, 25, 2013. CLICK HERE to download a voter registration form.

Over the weekend, 28 rank-and-file union members representing 23 local unions from across all sectors of the labor movement gathered for a two-day immersion course where they learned the nuts and bolts of building, coordinating, and winning an election campaign. Students are running for offices from the local to state level and received expert instruction in subjects such as volunteer recruitment, fundraising, campaign planning, campaign research, public speaking, targeting, voter contact, get-out-the-vote, resource management, message development, and media relations, and digital strategies.

TRENTON – The New Jersey State AFL-CIO issued the following statement regarding Governor Christie’s veto of the early voting bill.

In a handful of communities voters went to the polls on Wednesday, April 16, 2013, to elect members of their Board of Education.  School Boards establish local policy, award construction contracts, establish PLA’s and also act on issues related to employee contracts.  These issues are of particular interest to New Jersey’s working families represented by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO.

Urge Gov. Christie to Sign Early Voting Bill into Law

TRENTON – The New Jersey State AFL-CIO was proud to join for a press tele-town hall meeting with civil rights champion Congressman John Lewis, Congressman Rush Holt, New Jersey State Democratic Chairman and Assemblyman John Wisniewski, State Senator Nia Gill, and Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. Chair Charles Hall, Jr. to urge Governor Christie to sign Early Voting legislation (A-3553) into law which would improve our democratic system and increase civic engagement.

Hundreds of Community Members Register to Vote in Trenton and Newark

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO was proud to support two successful voter registration drives this week in partnership with Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc.

The van’s first stop this week was the Trenton Library on April 4, 2013, where we were greeted with an overwhelming response. Libraries are a community’s beacon of knowledge and opportunity, and our voter registration team provided a natural complement as we provided an education on critical state issues such as this year’s minimum wage ballot question and the opportunity to register to vote and make our voices heard.