Hoffa Announces Teamsters Endorse Corzine For New Jersey Governor

Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa announced the union’s endorsement of New Jersey incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine in his race for re-election.

“As governor, Jon Corzine has worked hard to ensure the interests of Teamsters and all working men and women in New Jersey were protected,” Hoffa said. “I am proud to announce our support of Gov. Corzine in his re-election and encourage everyone to get out and vote for Jon Corzine on Nov. 3.

Gov. Corzine has a record of standing with Teamsters on issues impacting the working families of New Jersey. He has always honored union contracts, fought to keep workers employed and supports giving workers the rights to form a union through majority sign-up. Under Corzine’s leadership, New Jersey has taken the lead in cracking down on companies that misclassify their workers.

With the current fiscal crisis both nationwide and at the state level, New Jersey can not afford a governor like Corzine’s opponent, Chris Christie, who has said he would weaken regulations on businesses, reduce workers' job protections, and lay off thousands of workers. During a time of unprecedented economic upheaval, Christie has proposed putting workers’ defined-benefit pensions at risk in the stock market by switching to a risky 401(k)-style plan. Christie has even pledged to refuse federal stimulus funds that would create thousands of jobs in New Jersey to help rebuild the state’s infrastructure.

“Gov. Corzine believes that strong unions make New Jersey strong,” said Anthony Artificio, President of Teamsters Joint Council 73. “Chris Christie seems to think unions are the problem, and as governor he would do everything he can to weaken and divide the working people of New Jersey.”

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.