International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades (IUJAT) is a federation of 38 national and local labor unions that claims 73,437 members across the automotive, construction, transportation, service, energy, public, and other sectors. ^[1]

First established in 1874 as the International Union of Journey Horseshoers, IUJAT claims to be the oldest labor union in the United States retaining its original charter. ^[2] In 2022, New Jersey’s first unionized marijuana dispensary joined IUJAT. ^{[3] [4]} Each of IUJAT’s 38 national and local unions pay a per capita tax of between $1 and $10 per member to the IUJAT. ^[5]

Connor Shaw is the political director of IUJAT. During the 2016 election, Shaw worked for the David Brock-operated super political action committee (PAC) Correct the Record to support the candidacy of Hillary Clinton (D). Shaw also worked as statewide organizing lead for Alaska on the 2016 presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton and in operations for Ready for Hillary, a political action committee supporting Clinton’s presidential campaign. ^{[6] [7]}

Activities

The International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades (IUJAT) was founded in April 1874 as the International Union of Journey Horseshoers (IUJH). In 2003, IUJH dramatically expanded to include other industries and smaller labor unions, becoming the IUJAT. ^[8] That same year, IUJAT disaffiliated from the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) labor federation and became an independent labor union. ^[9] IUJAT claims to be the oldest union in the United States retaining its original charter ^[10] and its members have a right to vote in their perspective unions for delegates to the IUJAT national convention. ^[11]

As of August 2022, IUJAT is a federation of 38 national and local unions and claims 73,437 members ^[12] across the automotive, construction, transportation, service, energy, public, and other sectors. ^[13] IUJAT also includes the first unionized marijuana dispensary, Cannabis Engineers Extractors and Distributors (CEED) Local 420, which was established to represent cannabis workers in New Jersey. ^{[14] [15]}

IUJAT is affiliated with United Service Workers Union, United Public Service Employees Union, National Organization of Industrial Trade Unions, and Home Healthcare Workers of America. ^[16]

IUJAT opposes right-to-work laws, calling them a “fallacy” that is wrong for workers, business, and the economy. ^[17] The union was also a partner organization of New Jersey’s 2020 Your Future of Work Task Force. ^[18]

Political Activities

Political Action Committee

International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades also operates a political action committee (PAC), the International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades PAC. ^[19] IUJATPAC is a Committee on Political Education (COPE) fund that works to advocate and mobilize IUJAT members on state and local policy issues. ^[20] The PAC files reports with the State of New York Board of Elections. ^[21]

Lobbying and Advocacy

In 2021, IUJAT reported spending $169,806 on political activities and lobbying to the Department of Labor. This included $48,000 to IUJAT’s political actions account; $60,000 to Davidoff Hutcher and Citron LLP for a legislative retainer; and $60,000 to Komjathy and Kean political advisory firm for a legislative retainer in New Jersey. ^[22] In 2020, IUJAT spent $290,548 on political activities and lobbying. ^[23]

In 2021, IUJAT supported tax increases proposed by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) ^[24] and congratulated at least three Democratic Party candidates for winning New Jersey State Senate elections. ^[25]

Funding

International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades is funded by member dues. According to its filings with the U.S. Department of Labor, IUJAT does not track the amount of dues individual members pay to their unions. However, each of IUJAT’s 38 national and local unions pay from $1 to $10 per month for each of their members in per capita tax to the IUJAT. ^[26]

In 2021, IUJAT reported receipts of $9,724,281 and expenses of $9,138,721. ^[27] IUJAT reported receipts of $10,373,346 and expenses of $8,561,642 in 2020. ^[28]

Leadership

Steven R. Elliott, Sr. is the international director of the International Union of Journeymen and Allied Trades. ^{[29] [30]}

Connor Shaw is the political director of IUJAT. In 2020 he was an appointee to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D-NJ)’s Restart and Recovery Advisory Council. He was also a 2018 NYC Fellow with the liberal New Leaders Council (NLC). During the 2016 election, Shaw worked for the David Brock-operated super PAC Correct the Record to support the candidacy of Hillary Clinton (D). Shaw also worked as statewide organizing lead for Alaska on the 2016 presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton and in operations for Ready for Hillary, a political action committee supporting Clinton’s presidential candidacy. ^{[31] [32]}