Congratulations to Brother Robert Lane, IUPAT 711, who was recently selected to fill an unexpired term on the Neptune Township Committee. His appointment marks the 875th victory of the labor candidates program in its 19 year history.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO conducted an experiment in 1997 called the Labor Candidates School that sought to train union members on the ins and outs of campaigning for public office. The results that were achieved over the next 19 years were far beyond anyone’s expectations.

CLICK HERE to see photos from the 20th Annual Labor Candidates School.

More than 600 delegates, representing 1,000 labor unions and one million members and their families, convened at Harrah’s Atlantic City on June 21-22, 2016, for the purpose of officer elections, candidate endorsements and outlining the priorities of the state labor movement. On Tuesday, delegates voted unanimously to reelect President Charles Wowkanech, Secretary-Treasurer Laurel Brennan and all members of the Executive Board.

“The work of this convention is an integral part of our organization’s ongoing success and ensures that working families will continue to have a leading voice on the job and at all levels of government,” stated President Charles Wowkanech. “The bipartisan slate of candidates, unanimously approved by the delegates, all possess the leadership, expertise and values needed to uplift and empower our state’s working families during these challenging economic times.”

CLICK HERE for complete list of endorsement decisions.

More than 100 volunteers representing 16 local unions conducted a 100 percent paperless labor walk on Saturday morning, June 4.

The walk brought out all sectors of the labor movement, who showed their support for union brother Anthony Verrelli, a member of United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 254, who is running for Mercer County Freeholder. The New Jersey State AFL-CIO’s Committee on Political Education (COPE) organized the walk in partnership with the Mercer County Central Labor Council.

Brother Verrelli’s Primary Election is tomorrow, Tuesday, June 7. Polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Not that long ago, it seemed unrealistic to think that labor walks could be completed 100 percent electronically. But, on Saturday, the New Jersey State AFL-CIO’s Committee on Political Education (COPE) achieved that goal when the Mercer County Central Labor Council completed a walk without a single paper packet being distributed!

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO Labor Candidates program is one-of-a-kind, helping to achieve labor representation across every level of New Jersey government since 1997. With each additional victory, working families secure a stronger voice in our democratic process.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO Labor Candidates Program has extended its recent streak of victories with the re-election of union sister Elizabeth Gray to the Garfield Board of Education.

The AFTNJ vice president first won election to the board three years ago after successfully completing the NJ AFL-CIO’s Labor Candidates School.

A former president of AFT Local 3977, Garfield Federation of Teachers, Gray was the highest vote-getter in the April 19 school board election. She had been endorsed by the Bergen County Central Labor Council.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO’s Labor Candidates Program has reached its 869^th election victory with the selection of union sister Dahlia Vertreese of IUOE 68 to the Hillside Board of Education.

Vertreese is a graduate of the 2015 Labor Candidates School who attended the program to learn more about holding elected office.

She is the fourth New Jersey State AFL-CIO Labor Candidate to take the oath of office in the past few weeks and is one of more than 140 union members currently serving on governing bodies from U.S. Congress to local Fire Commission.

The registration deadline to vote in New Jersey’s Primary Election is Tuesday, May 17, 2016.  The Primary Election itself will take place on Tuesday, June 7, 2016.

There has been a great deal of news coverage on the presidential election, but no matter what we hear from the media, we in the labor movement understand that the outcome of any election depends on voters.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO’s Labor Candidates Program has reached a monumental 868 victories with the selection of union brother David Gonzalez to fill an open seat on the Fairfield Township Council in Cumberland County.

Gonzalez, of American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Local 3975, is the third union brother and Labor Candidate School participant to be offered a seat on an elected government body in the past few weeks.