Cathy Stanford, Darlene Smith, Assemblywoman (now Sen. elect) Linda Greenstein and Joyce Sagi on election day.

Election Day was tough for a lot of friends of organized labor across the country. However, in New Jersey, the labor movement was able to concentrate its efforts on a few key races to hold the line in two important congressional races and a crucial special election in the state senate. AFT volunteers joined with other union allies to put in a lot of work to support Congressmen Holt and Pallone and even more volunteer hours to boost Linda Greenstein in her campaign for the state senate in district 14. All three were victorious.

AFTNJ volunteers ready to head out to talk to other union members about the importance of the election

It’s a good sign that New Jersey labor could come together to defend true friends in the New Jersey congressional delegation in the midst of a nationwide wave of anti-government, Tea Party-fueled rancor. In addition (and perhaps even more relevant for AFT members), the Greenstein victory in the state senate sends a strong message to the Christie administration and strengthens our hand for the upcoming budget and contract battles at the state level.

Darlene Smith and Joyce Sagi with NJ AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech

Congratulations to AFT labor candidates Domenick Stampone of RVCC and Jon Erickson of Kean for their reelection victories as Haledon Mayor and Highland Park City Council respectively. Anthony DePrince, President of Federation of Educational Service Professionals, Camden County Technical Schools was also elected for a fourth term as a councilman in the Borough of Magnolia by a 2 to 1 margain. DePrince was endorsed by the AFL-CIO South Jersey Central Labor as well as the state AFL-CIO. See a list of 20 AFT elected officials throughout the state at http://www.njaflcio.org/files/njaflcio/COPE/Election%20Victories/LaborCa...

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The New York Times ran a great article about the impact of unions participating in the political process, quoting Mayor Stampone:

Dominick Stampone, the mayor of Haledon, in Passaic County, who belongs to the American Federation of Teachers, said: “They talked about fund-raising, campaign finance reporting, dealing with the media, addressing a room, crafting your message, and also about the core values we believe in, like affordable health care and living wage requirements. They really covered all the bases.”

Program by New Jersey Union Grooms Candidates
By RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑA
Published: October 29, 2010
Read the full article at http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/30/nyregion/30labor.html?_r=2&hp