Strong Unions + Strong Workers = A Stronger Georgia
Unions are the backbone of America’s middle class and the foundation of strong communities. They help workers earn better wages, secure benefits, protect workplace safety, and build economic stability for families across generations.
For Christian Wise Smith, support for organized labor is personal.
As a child growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, Christian spent time with his uncles at Ironworkers Local 44 — attending union picnics, family celebrations, and community events. Long before he understood politics, he understood the pride, dignity, and stability unions brought to working families. He saw how union jobs helped families buy homes, raise children, and create generational opportunity.
Those experiences shaped his belief that when workers have a voice, communities thrive.
Christian understands the historic role unions have played in securing many of the workplace protections Americans now take for granted: the 40-hour work week, overtime pay, workplace safety protections, pensions, healthcare benefits, and fair wages. He also knows unions continue to provide life-changing career opportunities for young people, veterans, and workers looking for stable pathways into the middle class — especially for those who choose not to attend a four-year college.
As Labor Commissioner, Christian Wise Smith will be a champion for organized labor and collective bargaining rights. He believes Georgia’s workers deserve their own modern-day New Deal — one that rebuilds the middle class, strengthens worker protections, and ensures economic growth reaches everyone, not just those at the top.
As Labor Commissioner, Christian Will Fight For Georgia’s Workers By:
Protecting Workplace Safety
Every worker deserves to come home safe at the end of the day.
Christian will strengthen the Georgia Department of Labor’s worker safety programs and improve reporting systems so workers can safely report unsafe conditions, wage violations, discrimination, and exploitation without fear of retaliation. He believes protections should apply to all workers, regardless of immigration status or background.
Ending Worker Misclassification
Too many employers intentionally misclassify workers as independent contractors to avoid paying benefits, overtime, payroll taxes, and unemployment insurance. This practice hurts workers, responsible businesses, and taxpayers alike.
Christian will crack down on worker misclassification by increasing enforcement, improving investigations, and partnering with agencies and labor organizations to hold bad actors accountable. Ending misclassification will help recover millions of dollars in lost wages and benefits for Georgia workers and their families.
Fighting Wage Theft and Worker Exploitation
Wage theft is theft.
When employers refuse to pay overtime, withhold wages, deny breaks, or exploit vulnerable workers, families suffer. Christian believes workers deserve a Labor Commissioner who will enforce the law and stand up for working people — not corporations cutting corners at workers’ expense.
Christian will prioritize investigations into wage theft and labor violations while working to educate workers about their rights on the job.
Expanding Apprenticeships and Union Career Pathways
He will work alongside unions, apprenticeship programs, and technical colleges to expand pathways into high-paying union careers in construction, manufacturing, clean energy, transportation, healthcare, and skilled trades. These programs allow workers to earn while they learn and help create long-term economic mobility without crushing student debt.
Building a Stronger Middle Class
States with stronger labor protections and higher union participation consistently see higher wages, safer workplaces, and stronger benefits for workers. Christian wants to rebuild Georgia’s middle class by supporting policies that empower workers, strengthen collective bargaining, and create opportunities for working families to thrive.