The New Jersey Labor Movement has built the best Labor Candidates Program in the country. Rank-and-file union members have won 782 elections and now represent working families in public offices within the State Senate and Assembly, on County Freeholder Boards, in our towns as Mayors, on township committees and councils, as fire commissioners, and on school boards across the state.
“The AFL candidate school is a valuable experience which helped me win several elections as Mayor and Councilmember in Montclair,” said adjunct professor Bob Russo. “It is critical for union members to run for, win and serve in public office, especially at this time of negative attacks upon the labor movement.” Russo said that he will launch an exploratory committee during the next year to consider running for Governor.
The Labor Candidates School is the cornerstone of this successful political program. Election experts instruct union members about fundraising, research, message development, public speaking, media relations, voter contact, volunteer recruitment, targeting, and get-out-the-vote efforts. Participants are awarded full scholarships by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO.
August 9 & 10, 2014: Rutgers University Continuing Studies Conference Center
Pursuant to the New Jersey State AFL-CIO Labor Candidates Resolution, union members seeking election to public office must secure the support of their local union presiding officer who shall then notify the Central Labor Council and the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. All non-incumbent Labor Candidates are required to graduate from the Labor Candidates School and be reviewed by the Central Labor Council before resources can be earmarked for his/her election campaign. Each union member seeking election or re-election to public office must complete the online Labor Candidates Survey.