On Thursday, March 18, 2010, union members and community allies will join together at Owen Grundy Park in Jersey City to demand good jobs now. America needs 11 million jobs and big Wall Street banks should pay to rebuild jobs and the economy they helped destroy.
The rally will be held from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Owen Grundy Park at Exchange Place in the heart of Jersey City's financial district, right across the Hudson River from Wall Street.
Let us know you'll be there to fight for good jobs. Register here.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and other union leaders will pay a visit to New Jersey tomorrow, accompanying Corzine as he goes on an Election Day get-out-the-vote bus tour. In addition, union member-to-member outreach tomorrow will involve 15,000 volunteers reaching out to some 225,000 union household voters through 500 phone banks, door-to-door canvassing and 125 worksite leafleting visits. This final push builds on several weeks of volunteer effort by union members educating other union members about Corzine, Christie and the stakes in tomorrow's election.
I plan to be in Cherry Hill when Governor Corzine holds a meet and greet with labor before they head out to get out the vote.
Vice President Joe Biden is expected to campaign for Gov. Jon Corzine at a union event in Atlantic City next week, it was announced today.
Biden will appear alongside the Democratic governor at the New Jersey State AFL-CIO Legislative Conference at the Borgata on Wednesday, according to Corzine's campaign.
The Governor will need a good turnout from union voters. Here's more about the appearance:
Biden and Corzine are scheduled to address more than 600 union members between 9 a.m. and noon, Oct. 7. Other speakers then and Oct. 6 will rally members for the governor and the 70 candidates endorsed by the union.
Biden joined Corzine as he kicked off his campaign back in June. Here is some video of that appearance:
Glad to hear Rep. Pallone talk about a public option in our health care system. Also, don't miss the fact that the congressman's now twittering (read through to the end). So are we. -- promoted by Rosi
We're working hard in our drive to "Make Health Care Work For New Jersey." Last Thursday, I was in Trenton with my good friend, AFL-CIO President Charlie Wowkanech, where we heard from working families confronted with America's broken health care system. Their stories really hammered home how, now more than ever, we need comprehensive health reform.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Congressman John Adler attended the Southern New Jersey AFL-CIO Central Labor Council Meeting tonight at the Boathouse in Pennsauken.
Adler talked about the pride he had in helping to pass the Ledbetter Fair pay act and SCHIP legislation. He talked about the need for the stimulus package.
The Majority Leader recounted his path to Congress talking about how Labor has stood with the Democrats even when the Democrats weren't necessarily able to deliver because they shared a common belief. He stressed how impressed he has been with Congressman Adler. Hoyer then talked about the Free Choice legislation pointing out that the House had passed it in 2006, but it couldn't get through the Senate. He said the Congress would keep fighting for working families and thanks them for the continued support:
"We would like to negotiate a salary freeze as opposed to turning to more difficult issues, although ones that we believe we can deal with, and those are furloughs and layoffs," Corzine said. "Layoffs are a very complicated process, take five or six months to actually get into place and are extraordinarily disruptive, but if necessary we can go there."
The unions didn't like the threats and vowed to fight:
"Although we will always work with the governor to find ways to both raise revenues and save money, we are not going to reopen our contracts. Those contracts were based on the principle of mutual sacrifice, with workers agreeing to make increased contributions to the cost of health care and pensions, in return for modest wage increases," said Sheryl Gordon, executive director of AFSCME union Council 1.
"We will not reopen the contract," said Hetty Rosenstein, CWA's New Jersey director. "Of course we worry about layoffs, but it would be such a bad and terrible thing to do to workers during a recession, it just doesn't make any sense. We're so understaffed, and there's a greater need for public services right now."
Rae Roeder, president of CWA union Local 1033, said Corzine hasn't shown the public any substantial proof in his first three years in office of how he trimmed government spending on things such as paid consultants and private firms.
"Bottom line, no governor is going to threaten myself or any of the workers. We're tired of his threats and the innuendos and everything else. When the governor said, 'This is the way it is, or else' -- or else, mister, or else maybe you ought to pack up your bag over your failed policies over the last four years and go. Maybe that's what you should do," Roeder said.
State workers negotiated in good faith for changes in their last contract, but it's looking like everyone is going to feel the pain of the budget ax. People can argue back and forth about the poor decisions that put us in this situation, but it's where we stand. In a case of no desirable options, many people may find themselves asking which is worse: wage freezes or layoffs? There are plenty of people on the unemployment rolls who would gladly have settled for a wage freeze. With revenues continuing to tumble and our structural problems still in place, this may be the best offer they get.
In 2007, more than 4,000 casino dealers and slot technicians at four Atlantic City casinos put there jobs on the line to form a union with the United Auto Workers, and were victorious in gaining a Voice At Work. One year later, these workers are still without a contract.
On June 21, please join the Bergen County Central Trades and Labor Council, AFL-CIO, New Jersey State AFL-CIO, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, and our union brothers and sisters from throughout the Northeast region of the U.S., as we march through Atlantic City to remind the casino owners that Atlantic City is, and will always be, a union city!
The Bergen and Hudson County Central Labor Councils will be providing free transportation to the rally. We will be departing from the Meadowlands Sports Complex Parking Lot Y (Located Northwest of the Race Track) at 9:00 am.
Join the Bergen County Central Trades and Labor Council, AFL-CIO at 7:00 pm on Friday, February 1 as we host a special screening of the award winning documentary Sicko at Englewood Public Library located at 31 Engle St in Englewood, NJ. This screening is part of the AFL-CIO's campaign to fight for a unique American plan for secure, high-quality health care for all.
This is important. The Senate committee vote is on Monday, so contact your legislators today, especially if you're represented by Senators Redd, Ruiz, Stack, or Cunningham. Promoted from the diaries. -- Juan
Last year, Family Leave Insurance almost became a reality in New Jersey. While the bill failed to pass last legislative session, this is the farthest it had moved through the legislative process since it was first introduced in 1992. Let's keep up the momentum to pass this important bill.
On Monday, January 28, the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee will hold hearings on Family Leave Insurance (S786). Please take a moment to send the members of the committee a letter asking them support Family Leave Insurance. This is the first step to passing this critical piece of legislation.
The following is a letter to the editor that appeared in the Dec 6 issue of the Bergen Record from Bergen CLC President Charlie Mattson regarding Paid Family Leave Insurance.
Misinformation on family leave
Regarding "Business community shunning family leave deal" (Business, Page B-1, Nov. 28):
The misinformation by the business community on paid family leave is astounding. This bill does not give workers any extra rights or privileges; it only adds a financial component to an already existing law. The Family and Medical Leave Act states that a covered employer must grant an eligible employee up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave to care for a sick loved one, a newborn child or a newly adopted child.
Join the Bergen County Central Trades and Labor Council, AFL-CIO in our support for Paid Family Leave Insurance Legislation (S-2249/A3812). The bill is currently stuck in the Assembly Labor Committee and is still not scheduled on their agenda.
Support from a coalition of organizations could boost New Jersey's chances to become the third state granting workers paid family leave. The AARP became the latest group to join the New Jersey Partnership for Working Families - a coalition of over 60 organizations supporting paid family leave:
"AARP's 2006 study on caregivers showed that providing better supports for family caregivers is essential to the well-being of our health care system, our long-term care system and our economy," said Marilyn Askin, Chief Legislative Advocate for AARP New Jersey.
Phyllis Salowe Kaye, Executive director of NJ Citizen Action, summarized why family leave is so important:
"No worker should be forced to suffer a financial crisis in order to care for their ill family members."
The legislation would allow employees to collect up to about $500/week for up to 10 weeks. Given the fierce opposition from within the business community, one might think this would impose an added financial burden on them. But the entire program would be paid for by a small deduction from worker's paychecks.
The only real burden is that the company would be required to keep the position open for when they return to work, but Senator Sweeney - a sponsor of the legislation - has "already agreed to allow businesses with less than 50 employees to tell workers taking leave that they wouldn't be guaranteed to keep their job after the leave. "
We'll give AFL-CIO president Charlie Wowkanech the last word:
"New Jersey workers have overwhelmingly declared their willingness to contribute to this program in return for the security of knowing that they will be able to be there for a loved one in their time of need without fear of financial disaster...Furthermore, the experiences of both California and Washington with this policy have proven that this program not only has no negative impact on business, but leads to a healthier work environment and therefore increased productivity."
If you're loving this supersized three-day weekend, you know who to thank: Union Labor. That's what I did this morning at the South Jersey AFL-CIO's scholarship breakfast held on board the venerable Battleship NJ at the Camden waterfront.
In addition to Governor Corzine, it was a who's who of South Jersey democratic politics: Adler, Andrews, Roberts, Sweeney, among others. But the highlight of the morning was the presentation of twenty-nine scholarships to college students with a Union affiliation.
As I watched the twenty-nine of 'em walk up to receive their $1ooo (each) award, I was reminded just how far the Labor movement has come since that first Labor Day back in the 1880's when the fight was for the very basics. Like working conditions that didn't jeopardize life and limb.
(I just read his story and it's a fascinating tutorial about the early history of the Labor movement. He was laid to rest in Pennsauken so the local connection is a strong one.)
Today was not without some controversy, but hopefully even the protesters got to take a tour of the Battleship, which now serves as a floating museum. And forgive the shameless plug, but the Battleship NJ tour was awesome. If you ever get the chance, you must check it out. Come for the history, come for the view of Philly, come for the flight simulator!
Follow the flip for some of today's pics, including that flight simulator I just mentioned.
The AFL-CIO put up these videos of Senators Lautenberg and Menendez during the debate on the Employee Free Choice Act, which passed successfully has the majority's support, but not enough to reach cloture.
I have nothing against people getting rich, but our economy is only as strong as the middle class. As president I won't just pass laws that favor workers, I'll use my "bully pulpit" to be a friend to working men and women.
--Sen. Obama, click to enlarge
Senator Barack Obama was in Trenton today, part of the "Working Families Vote '08" campaign launched earlier this year by the AFL-CIO.
The campaign -- which looks to engage rank and file members in Labor's endorsement process -- is a series of town hall-style forums with each of the Democratic presidential candidates in different cities throughout the nation.
(The campaign culminates in August with a multi-candidate forum in Chicago. The AFL-CIO's endorsement will follow shortly thereafter.)
How lucky are we to get Senator Obama here in the Garden State? Several NJ Union members each got a chance to talk to the the Senator about what's on their mind.
A steelworker asked Obama how he might handle future trade negotiations.
Obama said he'd start by enforcing trade policy against counties like China for example, which manipulates its currency.
This not only makes Chinese goods artificially cheaper on the export market, it also puts American imports out of reach for most Chinese consumers. God knows if we had 1.2 billion Chinese buying American-made good, that would be a helluva lot of manufacturing jobs, huh?
Obama's observations on healthcare were compelling. Reminding the audience that only 5 cents of every health care dollar (all 2 trillion of 'em) is spent on preventative care, he wondered how this would be better allocated if so many people weren't uninsured to begin with.
Access to affordable health care would keep many from having to rely on the emergency room for their primary medical care, he noted. Chances are by that point, patients are a lot more expensive to treat. Which is money wasted.
By the end of the forum, Obama had hit all the right notes on issues like healthcare, retirement security, and good jobs with freedom to form unions.
Judging from the crowd's reply, Obama was a huge hit. I counted several rousing ovations. I even got goosebumps a few times.
All in all, Sen. Obama looked sharp and well-rested. His connection to the audience was apparent and I suspect when he and his campaign look back on today's event, they'll be very satisfied indeed.
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
On Monday, March 12, a joint resolution (AJR135 and SJR68) was introduced into the Senate and Assembly urging Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.
The Senate version is sponsored by Senator Loretta Weinberg (D37). The Assembly version is sponsored by Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri-Huttle (D37) and Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin (D34). Co-sponsors on the Assembly version include Assemblyman Joseph Egan (D17), Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein (D14), and Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D37).
The The enactment of the "Employee Free Choice Act" would safeguard a worker's ability to make their own decision concerning certain workplace abuses; preserve workers' freedom to form a union; provide for first contract mediation and arbitration; and establish meaningful penalties for employer violations of workers' rights.
This week, Americans United for Change (AUC) named the 18 members of the House as "Public Enemies" for their "full frontal, unapologetic assault on the middle class agenda" of the new Congress. It really does not come much as a surprise that our Congressman from NJ's 5th District was one of those 18 "Public Enemies".
These 18, says AUC, committed dangerous acts against the middle class by voting against raising the federal minimum wage and against the Employee Free Choice Act. Half of the 18 even voted against the College Student Relief Act, which will cut college loan interests rates to make a college education more affordable for middle class students and families. Garrett was the only Congressman from NJ who voted against it. (Click here to see the votes).
The other 17 public enemies are - Michelle Bachmann (MN-6), Marilyn Musgrave (CO-4), Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1), Steve King (IA-5), Bill Sali (ID-1), Brian Bilbray (CA-50), John Doolittle (CA-4), Roy Blunt (MO-7), Roscoe Bartlett (MD-6), Steve Chabot (OH-1), Tom Davis (VA-11), Thelma Drake (VA-2), Vernon Ehlers (MI-3), Mike Rogers (MI-8), Dean Heller (NV-2), Jon Porter (NV-3) and Peter Roskam (IL-6).
While more than 18 Republicans voted against both the minimum wage increase and the Employee Free Choice Act in the House, these 18 were selected as public enemies of the middle class because they either come from districts where these issues have gained added resonance because of the growing disparity between the wages of workers and corporate executives or because they had been identified as persuadable on these issues.
Americans United for Change was founded in 2005 and worked with a coalition of groups, including the AFL-CIO, to defeat President Bush's drive to privatize Social Security.
Join the Bergen County Central Trades and Labor Council, AFL-CIO at 7:00 pm on Friday, February 1 as we host a special screening of the award winning documentary Sicko at Englewood Public Library located at 31 Engle St in Englewood, NJ. This screening is part of the AFL-CIO's campaign to fight for a unique American plan for secure, high-quality health care for all.
