AARP, AFL-CIO Support Paid Family Leave

by: Juan Melli

Mon Nov 19, 2007 at 09:37:45 PM EST

"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.

"No worker should be forced to suffer a financial crisis in order to care for their ill family members."

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."

You've Been WARNed, Governor Corzine

by: evdebs

Fri Nov 02, 2007 at 10:52:35 AM EDT

Tell Gov. Jon Corzine to sign into law this small attempt to help workers hit with mass layoffs in New Jersey communities.

Labor Day, South Jersey Edition

by: Jay Lassiter

Fri Aug 31, 2007 at 01:35:39 PM EDT

Union Labor, Battleship NJ

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. 

Anyway today's event was named in honor of Peter J. McGuire, the patriarch of Labor Day who also founded the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.

(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.

Lautenberg and Menendez on the Employee Free Choice Act

by: JRB

Mon Jul 02, 2007 at 02:45:50 PM EDT

AFL-CIO Welcomes Sen. Obama to Trenton

by: Jay Lassiter

Mon May 14, 2007 at 07:57:51 PM EDT

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 Labor Letter - The Voice of Bergen County's Working Families

by: Bergen County AFL-CIO

Thu Mar 15, 2007 at 05:54:13 PM EDT

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

State Resolution Supporting the Employee Free Choice Act Introduced

by: Bergen County AFL-CIO

Tue Mar 13, 2007 at 03:19:29 PM EDT

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.

Scott Garrett named "Public Enemy" by Americans United for Change

by: Bergen County AFL-CIO

Mon Mar 12, 2007 at 07:29:56 PM EDT

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.

Read more about this at the Amercians United for Change website.

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. 

How did your Representative Vote on The Employee Free Choice Act

by: Bergen County AFL-CIO

Fri Mar 02, 2007 at 12:08:18 PM EST

Congressman Rob Andrews (D-1): Yes
Congressman Frank LoBiondo (R-2): Yes
Congressman Jim Saxton (R-3): Yes
Congressman Chris Smith (R-4): Yes
Congressman Scott Garrett (R-5): No
Congressman Frank Pallone (D-6): Yes
Congressman Mike Ferguson (R-7): Yes
Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-8): Yes
Congressman Steve Rothman (D-9): Yes
Congressman Don Payne (D-10): Yes
Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11):No
Congressman Rush Holt (D-12): Yes
Congressman Albio Sires (D-13): Yes

For more on the Employee Free Choice Act check out the Bergen County AFL-CIO's other post.

House Passes Employee Free Choice Act

by: Bergen County AFL-CIO

Thu Mar 01, 2007 at 05:47:34 PM EST

The Employee Free Choice Act reaffirms and strengthens workers' rights to organize - which is considered a human right by the United Nations. During the debate, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said:

  The right to organize means a better future for them, and for all us.  It means a future that is economically and socially just, a future where the workplace is safe, a future where our retirement is secure.

Letter Opposing Troop Escalation in Iraq

by: Bergen County AFL-CIO

Mon Feb 26, 2007 at 03:16:38 PM EST

Bergen Labor Letter - Voice of Bergen County's Working Families

by: Bergen County AFL-CIO

Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 02:46:45 PM EST

News Round-up and Open Thread for Tuesday, October 24

by: Sharon GR

Tue Oct 24, 2006 at 09:19:44 AM EDT

• Environmental protection commissioner Lisa Jackson yesterday revealed plans to do a complete overhaul of Our Fair State's $60 million cleanup program. Changes will include prioritizing the sites for cleanup, starting a licensing program for environmental consultants, and adopting programs with incentives for cleaning up sites quickly. The department is trying to fix the system after the high-profile closing of a daycare in Gloucester County which was located on contaminated soil.
• Children and Families Commissioner Kevin Ryan reported to the Assembly Human Services Committee yesterday that new child welfare workers are getting their training but re-training existing workers is taking longer. Also, the number of kids in foster care who receive physical and psychological examinations has increased, but an overhaul of the health care system for foster children is needed and will be proposed.
• As expected, the State Senate unanimously approved Associate Justice James Zazzali as Chief Justice of the State Supreme Court yesterday, and Judge Helen Hoens was approved to fill the associate position.
• State Senator Ellen Karcher's bill to curb political contributions from redevelopment contractors and professionals has received bipartisan support. Even with such support the bill may not pass, because of other ethics reform legislation being proposed.
• State Senator Stephen Sweeney has been under fire from labor groups about his proposal to cut the benefits and pay of unionized state workers. Sweeney met with the president of the AFL-CIO earlier this month and has been defending his proposals.
• The Legislative ethics panel met yesterday, selecting Raymond Bramucci as chairman. The panel put off a decision to investigate Wayne Bryant and his "job" at UMDNJ, citing two ongoing criminal investigations by the US and State Attorneys' General offices.
• Rutgers announced yesterday the formation of the Rutgers Energy Institute, which will bring together all energy-focused projects under one banner. The Institute's long-term goal is to help break American dependence on fossil fuels, particularly those from foreign sources.
• Speaking of alternative power sources, more residents of Our Fair State favor the use of offshore wind power than oppose them, and even more are in favor if the turbines are further away. Woo-hoo!
• Viola Thomas-Hughes is feeling little support in her run against Frank LoBiondo. Until last week, she had received no financial support, from Dem organizations in Gloucester and Cumberland counties. In the last week Cape May Democrats and Cumberland County Dem organization have donated, with the Gloucester County Dems promising some as well. Visit her site if you can help, too.
• New Jersey is a tough place for military recruiters; only Connecticut and Rhode Island have lower recruiting percentages. Officials and researchers blame the lack of interaction between military folks and civilians in Our Fair State, while some recruiters directly blame the Iraq war.

Open Thread: What's on your mind today, Blue Jersey?

American hero campaigning for Menendez

by: DottieG

Mon Sep 18, 2006 at 03:35:15 PM EDT

Menendez, of course, was terrific--he always is.  He is so right on the issues that matter--and Junior is so wrong--that it's clear we must make sure he stays in the Senate!

One of the things that struck me at the AFL-CIO conference was that even before Ambassador Wilson entered the room, Senator Menendez said he had brought with him a man whose wife was outed as a CIA agent by Rove & Co.  The audience--several hundred strong--stood up and cheered, even before Senator Menendez had finished his introduction:  they got it right away. 

I hope the Rutgers event got good press and TV coverage, and I hope Joe Wilson continues to campaign for our Democratic candidates.  We need more heroes willing to stand up and speak truth to power! 

News Round-up for Thursday, June 15

by: Sharon GR

Thu Jun 15, 2006 at 08:35:56 AM EDT

• New Quinnipiac poll released this morning: Senator Robert Menendez is leading Tom Kean JUNIOR 43-36%, up from 40-34% in the last Quinnipiac poll done in April. Senator Lautenberg has a 44% approval rate in the poll; Bush, 28% approve while 69% disapprove.
• The Federal Government yesterday filed lawsuits against Attorney General Zulima Farber and other state officials to stop legal procedings aimed at getting Verizon, AT&T and other telephone companies to reveal the extent of their compliance with the NSA's request for phone records without a court order. Farber issued subpeonas to the phone carriers in May; the deadline to respond is today.
• Gov. Corzine campaigned on the creation of an elected state comptroller; now, he says he'd agree to an independent, appointed one. An elected official would require a constitutional ammendment, but an appointed position may not and therefore be easier to achieve.
• At an AFL-CIO convention in Atlantic City yesterday, Corzine said he'd reject State Senator Steve Sweeney's call for $700 million in pay and benefit cuts by state workers. The Senator proposed the cuts as a means to avoid the increase in sales tax. Sweeney is an official with an ironworkers union; building and trade unions have defended his proposal.
• The Governor is optimistic that his budget will be passed by the end of the month, largely intact. (Well, I'm glad he's optimistic, but I'll wait and see what really happens.)
• A report released yesterday by the Association for Children of New Jersey shows that child welfare system in Our Fair State has had "some progress" in protecting children but "still has a long way to go." Any progress in improving our system is a good thing. Unfortunately, there has been no increase in foster homes, despite recruiting drives.
• The Department of Corrections will once again allow prisoners to be interviewed by news media. Interview requests were reviewed on a case-by-case basis until a decision five months ago to cease interviews; the Department plans to return to this policy.
• A national sweep of illegal immigrant gang members, violent criminals and fugitives has netted more than 60 suspects in New Jersey. Many will be deported but some will face criminal charges.
• I keep wondering when they'll fix that obnoxious pothole right in front of my home; unfortunately, it might not be anytime soon. Asphalt prices are up substantially, and the DOT as well as local and county governments are re-evaluating road repair and construction projects in face of rising costs.

Showdown at the State House as Legislators launch website

by: Jason Springer

Thu Jun 08, 2006 at 04:56:01 PM EDT

"It's time for the taxpaying public to get the sad but true facts about runaway state government at their expense," said Sweeney, a Business Agent and Treasurer of Ironworkers Local 399 in Westville.  "Our goal is to create our own citizen army to push our agenda forward beyond traditional means.  We are also taking our case directly to millions of New Jersey taxpayers through our own e-campaign."

The 150 demonstrators attracted state troopers who repeatedly asked them to keep hallways and stairs clear and empty a meeting room jammed with people. The union members complied, but remained incensed.

"This is an unfair attack on middle-class working families," said Carla Katz, the president of Communications Workers of America Local 1034.  When the legislators arrived, the protesters booed and shouted "Shame" and "Shame on Sweeney," a South Jersey ironworker union official.

The Legislators pointed out that according to the Office of Legislative Services, state employee salaries and benefits account for 73.6%, or $4.6 billion, of the state's real operating budget. The benefits alone account for a mind-boggling 40% of total compensation.

Unions are involved on both sides of this battle with the the AFL-CIO issuing a scathing release opposing the plan, prompting responses from the 125,000 member strongBuilding Trades Council President Mullen and the Carpenters Chief Frank Spencer supporting the initiatives and blasting back at the personal attacks on Sweeney in the release. 

“The AFL-CIO’s recent public criticisms of him (Sweeney) are both misguided and quite frankly, uncalled for.  I support Senator Sweeney and his efforts to bring progressive solutions to the budget crisis to the table," said Spencer.