Political Education

Creating a pro-worker political climate

The primary function of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO Political Education Department is to elect men and women who aggressively strive to pass pro-worker legislation.  

The public leaders we elect to office make decisions that affect our lives. These lawmakers shape the laws that govern us, the taxes we pay and the services our government provides. By taking a lead role in state, municipal and local elections, collectively, the labor movement can elect more pro-union candidates and subsequently create a more pro-worker political climate in the Commonwealth.

COPE - The Committee on Political Education

Because our lawmakers are charged with deciding key issues of importance to all of us, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO recently redefined its endorsement process to ensure that it gives its stamp of approval exclusively to pro-worker candidates. Click
HERE to see the 2009 State Legislative Questionnaire.

COPE includes the 65 members of the Executive Council, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO political and legislative directors and the National AFL-CIO state director. COPE mobilizes and educates union members to vote for candidates who will support workers' rights and social and economic justice issues. COPE only considers those elected leaders with a 75-percent voting record in the state legislature.

COPE's jurisdiction includes:
* Statewide ballot questions
* Candidates for statewide office, Congress and the state legislature.

The department provides:
* Year-round political education programs for union members
* Voter registration training
* Massive get-out-the-vote campaigns across the state
* Campaign literature and research materials, including voting records for all
state legislators and the state congressional delegation.

COPE works with Central Labor Councils and affiliated unions in coordinating labor support for endorsed candidates.

COPEs operation includes:
* Membership communications
* Phone banks
* Voter registration
* Volunteer recruitment
* Participation in campaign rallies and events
* Fundraising

Prior to 1999, the Massachusetts AFL-CIO told legislators in advance which votes it considered labor votes and would affect their labor rating score. The new process is designed for legislators to work more closely with the labor movement. The Massachusetts AFL-CIO also evaluates lawmakers actions beyond House and Senate votes. For example, it recently asked legislators to sign a Right to Organize pledge, indicating that he or she will support area organizing drives. The Massachusetts AFL-CIO credited the ratings of lawmakers who signed the pledge.

COPE Political Roundtable

Join fellow politically active members of the Massachusetts Labor Movement in a discussion on the present and future of labor's political program in the Commonwealth. The Political Education Roundtable is held once a month on the third Thursday of the month from October - November and January - June at the Massachusetts Archives Building in Boston.
  • The next COPE Political Roundtable will be on Thursday February 18th at 1:30pm.  This month’s Political Roundtable will serve as a Candidate Forum for those seeking the Middlesex, Suffolk and Essex Senate seat vacated by Anthony Galluccio. The Primary Election for this seat is on April 13th and there are several Democrats seeking the nomination. As the Labor Movement is increasingly finding itself at odds with many of the Democrats it has helped elect, this will be an opportunity for union members to ask these candidates the tough and important questions on labor’s issues and about what each candidate will and will not do if elected State Senator.
  • Click HERE to read summaries about previous months' discussions.

Endorsement Process

Click HERE to see the 2009 State Legislative Questionnaire.