NEWARK - The Labor Movement mobilized on the streets of Newark this evening under the auspices of the AFL-CIO, with a big show of muscle by the Laborers and the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council.

"This week we will begin our labor walks, a full labor program, to drive out the vote," Charles Wowkanech, president of the New Jersey AFL-CIO, told InsiderNJ, in the shadow of City Hall where crowds of union workers gathered.

The AFL-CIO backs Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill in the fast-intensifying governor's contest.

After today’s jobs report showed the U.S. economy losing jobs for the first time in over four years, Sherrill released the following statement, “Today’s jobs report shows what I have been hearing all across the state — [President Donald] Trump’s tariffs are wrecking our economy and paralyzing Jersey's small businesses."

Wowkanech acknowledged the Bureau of Labor Statistics report that the labor market added only 22,000 jobs, as the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.3%.

"I think there's a lot of uncertainty and obviously here in New Jersey Trump is polling very low, which is a good thing for us in this cycle," said the AFL-CIO Prez. "I'm sure we're going to take full advantage of that."

As for Sherrill, who has a 100% AFL-CIO voting record, "She's earned our support," Wowkanech said.

The crowd was animated as the labor leader took the microphone from Essex County's own Tom Giblin, longtime business manager of the International Union of Operating Engineers, AFL–CIO, Local 68.

"Today's the day to remember all the people that went before us, who fought to give us the terms and conditions we have today," Wowkanech said. "It's now our job that the conditions and terms continue to improve for the next generation of workers."