General News | Legislation News | Election News | Organizing News
General News
May 2, 2008
We are proud that New Jersey has become the third state in the nation to pass Paid Family Leave Legislation. This is a much needed and long overdue policy for New Jersey’s working families and we hope that other state’s, and eventually the federal government, will pursue and enact this pro-family policy.
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO would like to thank Governor Corzine who signed the bill into law on May 2, 2008, for his long time advocacy, as well as Senate President Codey and Speaker Roberts for posting this legislation. We also would like to thank all the legislators that voted in favor of this bill, as well as the sponsors. In particular, we would like to thank Senator Steve Sweeney and Assemblyman Nelson Albano for their strong leadership and dedication on this issue.
Finally, the New Jersey State AFL-CIO thanks all affiliated local unions that lobbied in support of Paid Family Leave, as well as the members of the New Jersey Partnership for Working Families Coalition. Together, we have achieved a strong victory for the workers of New Jersey.
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April 30, 2008
Today, at the United Auto Workers’ Union Hall in Atlantic City, Mayor Scott Evans signed into law the first-ever smoking ban for a casino town. Mayor Evans was joined by local labor leaders and UAW casino workers who fought for the smoking ban to reduce their exposure to second-hand smoke at work. The new smoking ban will guarantee all Atlantic City casino gaming floors are 100 percent smoke-free, and will go into effect Oct. 15.
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April 26, 2008
U.S. Congressmen Rob Andrews and Frank LoBiondo Join Working Families in Atlantic City Calling For Good Jobs, Safe Jobs, For All
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - The New Jersey State AFL-CIO, Atlantic Cape May Central Labor Council, elected officials, union members, interfaith leaders and community activists gathered at the Workers Memorial Monument on the Boardwalk at Kennedy Plaza, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, to honor the workers who were injured or killed on the job. In New Jersey in 2007, 61 people were killed due to job hazards.
Workers Memorial Day, memorialized every April 28th since 1989, is the day to recognize and honor workers who were injured and killed on the job, here in the U.S. and around the globe. April 28th marks the enactment of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. In cities throughout our State, community and union members are coming together to remember those who've died and been injured at work with memorial services.
Click Here for the Press of Atlantic City Article.
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Legislation News
Election News
April 16, 2008
Voters across New Jersey went to the polls yesterday to elect representatives to their local Boards of Education. School Board members not only play an important role in the education of our children, but also act on issues related to employee contracts and school construction. These issues are of particular interest to New Jersey’s working families represented by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is proud of all the rank-and-file union members who seek election to public office through the Labor Candidates Program. Working in partnership with the Central Labor Councils, Building Trades Councils, and all affiliated unions, 16 union members were elected yesterday, bringing the total number of rank-and-file union members elected to public office since 1997 to 495. Click here for a list of the successful candidates. Read the Whole Article
November 7, 2007
With political campaigning taking a year off in all but three states this year, much of the attention of the labor movement nationwide turned to New Jersey to see what impact labor can have on politics in an off-year election.
CLICK HERE FOR A FULL LIST OF LABOR 2007 WINNERS
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Organizing News
April 28, 2008
The union voice continued to grow stronger this Friday, as workers in the Maintenance Department of the Heldrich Hotel and Conference Center, in New Brunswick, NJ, gained a voice on the job through card-check recognition. By a unanimous vote, the workers, who are employed by Benchmark Hospitality International, formed a union with the Operating Engineers Local 68. We proudly welcome these workers to our labor family!
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April 28, 2008
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is proud to congratulate the graduates of our first, state-wide Organizing Institute (OI), led by AFL-CIO staff and field instructors from New Jersey State AFL-CIO affiliates. The mission of the Organizing Institute is to help build the labor movement primarily through identifying, training and developing organizers from our membership, staff, community, and college campuses across the country. OI participants were given an intensive look at the work of a union organizer over the course of the three day class, held on Friday, April 25 - Sunday, April 27, 2008, at Rutgers University. The training focused on strategic planning, components of a successful campaign, and one-on-one communication skills. Our states' labor movement can expect great things of the recent graduates who are enthusiastic, energetic and armed with skills to help workers fight to form and join unions. We are appreciative of the unions whose organizers taught the class, including CWA Local 1037, Health Professionals and Allied Employees, AFT, Laborers Eastern Regional Organizing Fund, OPEIU Local 153, and the United Auto Workers.
Click Here for the Organzing Institute Photo Gallery.
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April 17, 2008
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ – Union members joined the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, Atlantic Cape May Central Labor Council, elected officials, interfaith leaders and community activists, this evening at City Hall, in support of casino workers who are fighting for their basic right to organize and negotiate fair union contracts. Atlantic City Mayor Scott Evans, State Senator Jim Whalen (D-2), Assemblyman John F. Amodeo (R-2), Atlantic City Council Members, Reverend Reginald Floyd of Christ Worship Center Worldwide, President Charles Wowkanech of the NJ State AFL-CIO, and President Roy Foster of the Atlantic / Cape May Central Labor Council demonstrated their support of the workers by signing on to a petition defending their right to bargain fair contracts.
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