(The Center Square) – The role of unions in Georgia’s workforce was the center of a debate between the candidates for labor commissioner.
Republican incumbent Barbara Rivera Holmes questioned her Democratic opponent, Nikki Porcher, about her support from unions, calling them “big labor bosses,” during a debate sponsored by the Atlanta Press Club.
“When you say, ‘big labor bosses,’ I think you are referring to our union movements, union workers here in the state that allow that we have safe workplaces, fair wages and other actual support that workers need every day that they are not getting from the current Department of Labor,” Porcher said. “So yes, I do support unions.”
When asked if she thought the people in charge of unions were “bad people,” Holmes said workers have the freedom to choose.
“There’s an important role for unions in our state but our right to work laws protect worker freedoms and that’s what allows us to be the top state for business, the top state for talent,” Holmes said.
Holmes was appointed labor commissioner by Gov. Brian Kemp in March 2025, filling the term of Bruce Thompson, who passed away in November 2024. Porcher is an Air Force veteran who worked as a public school teacher.
The election comes at a time when Georgia’s labor force grew to 5.5 million workers, according to September statistics released by the department on Thursday. The state’s unemployment rate ticked up to 3.3% from 3.2% in August.
The number of jobs dropped by 500 in September to 4,983,000 and is down 200 over the year, the department said.
Holmes touted record labor force participation and said Georgia’s economy is very strong. Porcher said she didn’t trust the statistics.
“I have been traveling in this state … and Georgia workers are telling me they cannot find jobs, they cannot get help from the Department of Labor and the system is just not in place like it should be,” Porcher said.
The candidates were asked about the state’s unemployment system, which was built in the 1980s. A 2022 audit found delays in timely payments during the pandemic, when the unemployment rate was as high as 12.5%. Holmes said the department is “aggressively” modernizing the system. In a November 2025 release, Holmes said the project would be completed in fall 2026. Porcher said that has not happened.
“We need to make sure that we’re being honest with Georgia workers, so if another crisis does hit, we need to have transparency,” Porcher said.
Holmes said the department is updating the technology.
“We are optimizing our team members and we’re continuing to move this department forward, so that it moves at the speed of business, and so that workers can have their benefits, the resources that they rely on from the Georgia Department of Labor reliably and efficiently,” Holmes said.
Porcher said she would ask Georgia lawmakers to increase the minimum wage. Georgia’s minimum wage is $5.15 an hour, but the state is required to follow the federal guideline of $7.25 an hour.
“We should not have to fight for a living wage in this state and as labor commissioner, I would be an advocate to make sure that happens,” Porcher said.
Holmes did not address the minimum wage during the debate. In an interview with the Marietta Daily Journal, she said “it makes sense” to establish it so that it’s on par with the federal government’s rate.
Early in-person voting runs through Oct. 30. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.