| BERGEN COUNTY CENTRAL TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL, AFL-CIO
LABOR LETTER
March 15, 2007
In this edition
- House Passes Employee Free Choice Act
- "If you think riding New Jersey's toll roads is costly..."
- State Resolution Supporting Employee Free Choice Act
- County Freeholders Pass Resolution Supporting Health Care Workers
- State Workers to Vote on Contract
- UFCW Launches A&P/Pathmark Merger Hotline |
HOUSE PASSES EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT
After 5 long hours of debate, the US House of Representatives passed the Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800) by a vote of 241 - 185 today. This vote signifies is a huge victory for working people all over the country. The Employee Free Choice Act reaffirms and strengthens workers' rights to organize - which is considered a human right by the United Nations.
This bill would amend the current National Labor Relations Act and provide workers with greater protection and imposes stricter penalties on employers who attempt to coerce or intimidate employees when they are trying to form a union. It will also permit a process known as "card check", which allows employees to form unions by getting a majority of cards signed authorizing union representation.
With a National Labor Relations Board that is highly anti-worker (the chairman of the Board comes from one of the largest anti-union law firms), many of the protections under the NLRA are not enforced. Read more.
"IF YOU THINK RIDING NEW JERSEY'S TOLL ROADS IS COSTLY..."
IFPTE Local 194 launched a new billboard campaign to build public support against Governor Corzine's plan to lease or sell the NJ Turnpike. The billboard reads, "If you think riding New Jersey's toll roads is costly, wait until you see what privatization will do." The billboard can be seen between Exit 12 and 13 on the Turnpike. In the upcoming weeks, the union plans to launch more billboards in other parts of the state.
STATE RESOLUTION SUPPORTING EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT
On March 12, a joint resolution (AJR135 and SJR68) was introduced into the NJ Senate and Assembly urging Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. The Senate version is sponsored by Senator Weinberg (D-37). The Assembly version is sponsored by Assemblywoman Vainieri-Huttle (D-37) and Assemblyman Giblin (D-34). Co-sponsors on the Assembly version include Assemblyman Egan (D-17), Assemblywoman Greenstein (D-14) and Assemblyman Johnson (D-37).
COUNTY FREEHOLDERS PASS RESOLUTION SUPPORTING HEALTH CARE WORKERS
At their March 7, 2007 meeting, the Bergen County Board of Chosen Freeholders unanimously passed a resolution supporting health care workers at Emerson Convalescent Center and their right to have a fair and just contract. The union, SEIU Local 1199NJ, and the employer are currently in contract negotiations. According to the union, the workplace is understaffed and the workers are underpaid. Low nursing staff levels correlate with dimished quality care, ultimately harming the elderly residents.
At Emerson Convalescent Center, caregivers who have dedicated over 17 years of service still earn less than $11.00 an hour, which equals an annual salary of approximately $22,800. Based on the statistics from the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development for the fourth quarter of 2005, this is nearly $10,000 below the county average for workers within nursing and residential care facilities.
STATE WORKERS TO VOTE ON CONTRACT
Voting has begun for state workers, members of CWA, to ratify the tentative agreement that was reached with Governor Corzine last month. Ballots for the new contract were mailed March 13 and are due back by March 26. CWA Local 1034, the largest state worker union in New Jersey with about 34,000 members, has mounted a "vote no" campaign with newspaper and radio ads. Other locals including CWA Local 1037 recommends ratification.
UFCW LAUNCHES A&P / PATHMARK MERGER HOTLINE
A&P and Pathmark announced recently that they had reached a merger agreement in which A&P will acquire Pathmark Stores. UFCW Local 1262 represents workers at Pathmark stores throughout Northern NJ. UFCW President Joseph Hansen issued a public statement saying that he "expects all current labor contracts to be honored." The Local has created a hotline for updates on the merger, 1-888-GET-1262.
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