Historically, the AFL-CIO has been closely aligned with the Democratic Party, which emphasizes labor rights, worker protections, collective bargaining, and social safety nets—all of which are priorities for the AFL-CIO and its member unions.
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO has splintered in its support for Democratic candidates, leaving working-class New Jerseyans feeling deeply betrayed.
The disunity is especially frustrating to working people because it originates from the labor unions that are supposed to protect their rights and interests.
AFL-CIO COPE Director John Shea III is registered to vote in Atlantic County as a Republican, a move that signals support for long-standing policies and legislative actions meant to undermine organized labor.
Shea’s association with the GOP represents a clear sign of the union’s weakened dedication to its fundamental mission.
In a decision that has left many union members feeling abandoned, the AFL-CIO endorsed Republican Congressman Christopher Smith for re-election in New Jersey’s 4th district.
Despite his tepid support for labor issues—reflected in his mere 61% lifetime rating on the AFL-CIO Legislative Scorecard—Smith has inexplicably garnered the union’s endorsement.
This endorsement is seen by many as a betrayal, suggesting that minimal support for labor is enough to earn union backing, even as corporate interests continue to erode workers’ rights and protections.
For decades, working-class Americans have been squeezed by economic policies favoring Wall Street and corporate CEOs. Corporate executives have amassed wealth at the expense of labor, crafting rules that benefit the rich and powerful while leaving workers behind.
The AFL-CIO’s mission has been to fight this imbalance, campaigning for corporate accountability, fair wages, and sensible tax policies. Yet, endorsing a Republican with a mediocre labor record flies in the face of these goals, undermining the very workers the union claims to represent.
While the union did endorse President Joe Biden, U.S. Senate nominee Andy Kim, and several incumbent Democratic House members from New Jersey, their support falls short where it matters most.
The AFL-CIO provides significant support to endorsed Democratic candidates during election campaigns. This support may include financial contributions, grassroots mobilization, voter outreach efforts, and messaging on labor-related issues.
In the critical 2nd district, the AFL-CIO chose not to endorse Rep. Jeff Van Drew, and even more egregiously, remained neutral in the hotly contested 7th district race between Republican incumbent Tom Kean, Jr. and Democrat Sue Altman.
By not backing Altman, a strong advocate for workers, the union effectively weakens the fight against anti-labor policies on a national scale.
Altman was excluded from the endorsement list due to her conflicts with the South Jersey Democratic political boss George Norcross and New Jersey AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech.
This internal politicking takes precedence over the collective needs of the working class, leaving many union members feeling sidelined and betrayed.
This weak support for ‘the party of the people’ and the endorsement of candidates who do not champion labor rights mark a tragic betrayal of working-class New Jerseyans.
The AFL-CIO often collaborates with other progressive organizations, advocacy groups, and civil rights movements that share common goals with the Democratic Party but skipping key races is a coalition breaking move that gives anti-worker Republicans a big advantage.
The AFL-CIO’s actions suggest a troubling compromise with the very forces that threaten to dismantle the hard-fought gains of organized labor.
As the political landscape grows increasingly volatile, the union’s disunity and misplaced endorsements are a grievous disservice to the workers who rely on a strong, unified front to protect their livelihoods and ensure economic justice.
In these critical times, when the stakes are higher than ever, the labor movement’s internal divisions and support for Republican candidates pose a direct threat to the very foundation of workers’ rights.
This betrayal not only weakens the labor movement but also jeopardizes the future of working-class Americans, who deserve unwavering support in their fight for fair treatment and economic equality.
While the AFL-CIO’s relationship with Democratic candidates is generally positive and supportive, instances of disagreements in key New Jersey election campaigns may cause tensions or retaliation that harm the people who need these two entities to cooperate.
Organized labor should support those who support workers, and hold those accountable who side with a corporate capitalist agenda at the expense of workers.
Biden regularly professes his love for unions but some of them aren’t ready to commit just yet — among them groups representing truck drivers, firefighters, postal workers, and others that have yet to publicly back the Democrat’s reelection.
Teamsters President Sean O’Brien told reporters President Joe Biden sat down with leaders of the 1.3 million-member International Brotherhood of Teamsters, six weeks after his Republican rival Donald Trump met with the union to seek their endorsement.
The International Association of Fire Fighters was the first union to back Joe Biden in 2020 — effectively doing so even before he entered the crowded Democratic primary—but nearly 14 months after the president launched his re-election campaign, the organization remains on the sidelines.