New York City Labor Unions Come Together to Launch Election Protection Labor Coalition in “Our Voice. Our Vote. Our Democracy.”

On Thursday, affiliated unions of the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO including 32BJ SEIU, 1199SEIU, NYSNA, CWA District 1, CWA Local 1180, PSC/CUNY, DC 37 AFSCME, UAW Region 9A, LIUNA Eastern Region, APWU New York Metro Area Postal Union Local 10, AFM Local 802, IUPAT DC9, Local Union No. 3, IBEW, UFCW Local 1500, IATSE Local One, RWDSU, OPEIU Local 153, and the Hotel & Gaming Trades Council gathered in front of the Farley Post Office to announce a new election protection labor coalition to defend their members’ right to vote. In the face of the Trump administration’s attacks on democracy, labor unions are taking proactive measures to protect the right to vote, encourage participation in elections, and ensure that every ballot is counted. Approximately 1000 union members from different industries participated in the event.

The Trump administration has already taken several actions to disrupt elections and to undermine the rights of voters. From stifling protected speech and dissent, to disenfranchising voters, to manipulating the law and defying the courts to stay in power, this administration is repeatedly and continually attacking our democracy and the rights of working people. The administration is already sowing doubt about the November midterm election results and is trying to suppress the votes of working-class voters across the country. In response, labor leaders in New York are standing together in solidarity to ensure that working people are educated and prepared to protect their voice and their vote in any eventuality.

Collectively, labor unions have turned out thousands of workers for get out the vote (GOTV) efforts, made tens of thousands of GOTV calls, and knocked on thousands of doors. In anticipation of election sabotage, unions have hosted dozens of know-your-rights trainings, have organized hundreds of poll-watchers, and have created rapid-response networks. Taking cues from Minneapolis and other cities where the administration has unleashed terror, they are organizing an emergency worker summit to educate and train members. And in the event that the administration takes unlawful or authoritarian action, labor unions are also preparing for different forms of mass mobilization, mass labor actions, and whatever it takes to protect our democracy. Read more here, and watch video from the rally here!