Yearly Archives: 2014

Chemical Safety Should be Required, Not Just Requested

All of us have become used to seeing news reports of people killed because of a chemical explosion or fire. Or they're left out of work or homeless because of a toxic spill. Or left without drinking water because of a massive chemical leak. But a key part of the story is often lost amid the human tragedy. In nearly all cases, the damage to families and communities was preventable. Full Article by John Shinn, Director, United Steelworkers District 4 & WEC Board Member and Jeff Tittel, Director, NJ Sierra Club & WEC Board Member June 3, 2014 - The Star Ledger

By |2014-06-03T19:29:00-04:00June 3rd, 2014|Opinion Pieces|Comments Off on Chemical Safety Should be Required, Not Just Requested

Firms Like Secaucus-based Children’s Place Need Better Response to Bangladesh Tragedy

It's easy for giant corporations like the Secaucus-based clothing company, Children's Place, to talk the talk of "social responsibility" and caring about children and families. But it often takes public pressure to get them to actually walk the walk. Until a year ago, clothes for The Children's Place were produced in a factory at Rana Plaza, an eight-story building in Savar, Bangladesh. Workers there helped generate the $53 million in net profits that the company pocketed last year. Full Article by John Pajak, Vice President, Teamsters Local 877 & WEC President May 25, 2014 - The Jersey Journal

By |2014-05-25T19:31:00-04:00May 25th, 2014|Opinion Pieces|Comments Off on Firms Like Secaucus-based Children’s Place Need Better Response to Bangladesh Tragedy

Polluting Our Air, Water, and Politics

This winter saw families in Paulsboro and many other towns across America worrying about two kinds of pollution. Full Article by Debra McFadden, Assistant Director, WEC and Doug O'Malley, Executive Director, Environment NJ and WEC board member. May 4, 2014 - The South Jersey Times

By |2014-05-04T19:32:00-04:00May 4th, 2014|Opinion Pieces|Comments Off on Polluting Our Air, Water, and Politics

Disasters Show Need for Stronger Safeguards

Here in New Jersey, huge sums of money will have to be spent to clean up the Passaic River, one of the most contaminated stretches of water in the world. Toxicants in the river include dioxin, a chemical suspected of causing cancer. It was dumped in the water by a manufacturer of Agent Orange during the war in Vietnam. Full Article by John Pajak, Vice President, Teamsters Local 877 & WEC President and Amy Goldsmith. Director, NJ Clean Water Action & WEC Board member. April 25, 2014 - The Star Ledger

By |2014-04-25T20:22:00-04:00April 25th, 2014|Opinion Pieces|Comments Off on Disasters Show Need for Stronger Safeguards

Victim of Bangladesh factory collapse in demonstration at Secaucus Retailer

A garment worker who was trapped in the rubble of a collapsed Bangladesh factory last year joined about four-dozen labor activists Friday in urging Secaucus-based The Children's Place to increase its payments to victims of the disaster that killed more than 1,100 people. See Article Here View the video from the demonstration.

By |2014-04-12T01:16:00-04:00April 12th, 2014|WEC in the News|Comments Off on Victim of Bangladesh factory collapse in demonstration at Secaucus Retailer

NJ has Chance to Provide Better Schools and Jobs

New Jersey has the 38th-worst unemployment rate in the nation, and for construction workers the jobless rate is even worse. At the same time, thousands of school children, their teachers and other staff face serious health and safety hazards and poor learning conditions in buildings that may be more than a hundred years old. Full Article by Troy Singleton, Assemblyman District 7 and Avery Grant, member, Long Branch Board of Education and Vice President, WEC March 18, 2014 - The Star Ledger

By |2014-03-18T20:23:00-04:00March 18th, 2014|Opinion Pieces|Comments Off on NJ has Chance to Provide Better Schools and Jobs

Community, Public Health, and Labor Leaders Urge Federal Agencies to Prevent Chemical Disasters at Newark Hearing

Today, residents, community, labor, and environmental leaders gathered at a federal listening session to push the Obama administration to take bold steps to reduce the danger posed to millions of people by high-risk chemical facilities in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. See the Press Release here

By |2014-02-27T18:40:00-05:00February 27th, 2014|Press Releases|Comments Off on Community, Public Health, and Labor Leaders Urge Federal Agencies to Prevent Chemical Disasters at Newark Hearing

Plan to Build New Trenton Central High School Shows Power of Public Pressure

The recent announcement that Trenton Central High School (TCHS) will be rebuilt is the latest proof of the old saying that "if the people lead, the leaders will follow." Indeed, that has been the case in New Jersey when it comes to providing our children and education staff with modern, productive learning and teaching environments free of serious health and safety hazards. Full Article by Mo Kinberg, Campaign Organizer, WEC and Mike Goodman, President, Trenton Central High School/Chambers Campus Parent Teacher Association February 18, 2014 - Times of Trenton

By |2014-02-18T21:24:00-05:00February 18th, 2014|Opinion Pieces|Comments Off on Plan to Build New Trenton Central High School Shows Power of Public Pressure
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