2026 Kentucky AFL-CIO State Legislative Candidate Questionnaire

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Instructions: Please select Support, Oppose, or Other for each question. Use the "Other" line to provide a brief explanation of your position. This questionnaire is required for candidates without a legislative voting history to be considered for endorsement by the Kentucky State AFL-CIO's Committee On Political Education (COPE).

Title
Office Sought
District Number
Party
Some affiliated unions' PAC funds require this information in order to make contributions.
Private Sector Collective Bargaining: Do you support the right of workers to organize and bargain collectively in the private sector?
Public Sector Collective Bargaining: Do you support the right of public employees (teachers, first responders, and state workers) to bargain collectively?
"Right-to-Work" Repeal Do you support efforts to REPEAL existing "right-to-work" laws in Kentucky?
Banning "Captive Audience" Meetings Will you support legislation to ban mandatory employer-sponsored meetings where workers are disciplined for refusing to listen to an employer's political or religious opinions?
Employer Neutrality Will you urge employers to remain neutral in organizing campaigns and not interfere with a worker's right to be free from fear, harassment, or retaliation?
Voluntary Recognition: Will you urge employers to voluntarily recognize unions when a majority of workers choose to organize?
Child Labor Exploitation: Will you oppose legislation that seeks to loosen Kentucky child labor statutes or allow minors to work in hazardous environments?
Youth Educational Protections: Will you oppose measures that increase allowable work hours for minors in a way that interferes with their primary education?
Workplace Safety Standards (KY OSH): Do you support maintaining Kentucky-specific OSHA standards that are more stringent than minimum federal requirements?
Agency Funding and Authority: Will you support adequate funding and enforcement authority for state agencies responsible for enforcing wage, hour, and workplace safety laws?
"Local Community Wage" Requirements: Do you support a "Local Community Wage Act" (formerly prevailing wage) to ensure state-funded projects pay a local, community-based standard wage?
Pay Equity: Do you support legislation designed to end pay discrimination against women in Kentucky?
Human Operators in Autonomous Vehicles: Will you support legislation requiring a trained human safety operator to be physically present in any autonomous commercial vehicle?
Algorithmic Transparency: Do you support requiring employers to disclose the use of AI or automated systems in hiring, monitoring, or evaluating employees?
Human Oversight of Disciplinary AI: Do you support legislation ensuring that all workplace disciplinary matters involve human adjudication rather than being decided solely by automated systems?
Combatting Worker Misclassification: Do you support legislation to hold employers accountable for misclassifying employees as "independent contractors" to avoid taxes and benefits?
Banning "Stay-or-Pay" (TRAPs): Do you support a ban on "Training Repayment Agreement Provisions" that force workers to pay back "training costs" if they quit their jobs?
Defending Public Education Funds: Do you oppose private school vouchers and other schemes intended to divert taxpayer dollars from public schools to private schools?
Defined Benefit Pensions: Do you support maintaining Defined Benefit Pension Plans for public sector workers over defined contribution (401k-style) plans?
Healthcare Access: Do you support health care reform that guarantees affordable coverage for all Kentuckians?
Unemployment Insurance Benefits: Do you oppose any law reducing unemployment insurance benefits for out-of-work Kentuckians?
"Buy Kentucky" Procurement: Do you support a policy requiring state and local governments to prioritize Kentucky-made goods and services for public projects?
Corporate Accountability: Do you support legislation to hold corporations that receive state incentives accountable for providing living wages and benefits?
Union Printing Pledge: Do you pledge to have your campaign literature and other printed materials produced and printed by union printers and organized labor?
Endorsement Transparency: Do you pledge to openly announce your labor union endorsements?
Organization Branding: If endorsed, will you require a logo from our organization to advertise on your social media platforms and campaign materials?