Sheet Metal union backs Mikie Sherrill

The New Jersey State Council of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers, which has five local unions and more than 10,000 members, has endorsed Mikie Sherrill for governor, a move that begins the process of labor unions that endorsed other Democratic candidates in the primary to coalesce behind the party’s nominee.

The state council had endorsed Steve Sweeney for the Democratic nomination, and SMART-TD Local 60, the union for active and retired New Jersey Transit conductors, was an early supporter of Steve Fulop.

“We need a leader in Trenton who will be a steadfast advocate for unions and who understands the need to build the highly skilled workforce of the future right here in New Jersey,” said New Jersey State Council of SMART President Joseph Demark, Jr.  “Mikie has a strong track record of standing up for organized labor while investing in the kind of apprenticeship programs and infrastructure investments that we need to build the next generation of workers and to power our economy. We know she will bring that same focus and commitment to the state house as governor.”

Demark is also the president and business manager of Sheet Metal Workers Local 25 and a vice president of the New Jersey State Building & Construction Trades Council.

A four-term congresswoman and granddaughter of a union worker, Sherrill said she will work alongside New Jersey’s SMART council to “expand apprenticeship programs, protect collective bargaining rights, and fight for fair wages and working conditions” as governor.

Sherrill faces former Republican Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli in the general election.

In 2017 and 2021, the union backed Democrat Phil Murphy in the New Jersey governor’s race.