Monthly Archives: January 2017

As of January 26, 2017, we believe the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is still exercising their new authority under the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, which amended the outdated (and ineffective) Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA). On Nov. 29, 2016, the EPA named the first ten priority chemicals for assessment. EPA is tasked with evaluating these chemicals to ensure there is not an unreasonable risk of injury to health.  This determination is made without consideration to costs. In determining risk, EPA is required to consider vulnerable populations including: workers, infants, children, pregnant women and the elderly. Although we have already witnessed changes at EPA, we do anticipate that TSCA reform work will continue to move forward. The 2016 reform was passed with bipartisan support. The ten priority chemicals to be evaluated are: 1,4-Dioxane, 1-Bromopropane, Asbestos, Carbon Tetrachloride, Cyclic Aliphatic Bromide Cluster, Methylene Chloride, N-methylpyrrolidone, Pigment Violet 29, Tetrachloroethylene, also known as perchloroethylene, and Trichloroethylene. Don’t recognize any of these chemicals? The Environmental Defense Fund has developed an excellent factsheet on products that contain these chemicals.  And for more information on how TSCA may impact workplaces, see the National Institute for Health Sciences Factsheet. [...]

WEC is excited to have Vivian Chang join us as an intern for this semester, beginning today!       Vivian is a second-year Master in Public Affairs (MPA) candidate at Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School, concentrating in environmental policy. Vivian previously served as an AmeriCorps VISTA addressing public education and volunteerism. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Physics and a Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic Studies from Carnegie Mellon University, with a minor in environmental science. She is excited to work with WEC on pressing environmental and labor issues, and key policy topics for New Jersey. In the coming weeks, Vivian will be assisting us with our campaign to Address Climate Change.

On Jan. 4, 2017, the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued citations for one repeat and two failure-to-abate violations. Kris Hoffman, director of OSHA’s Parsippany Area Office stated: “Our follow-up inspection found that two County Concrete employees were exposed to silica above the permissible limit as they cleaned concrete mixers." In 2013, OSHA cited this company for these same hazards, “Employers must bear the responsibility of fully complying with respiratory protection requirements to protect the safety and health of their workers.” OSHA’s Final Silica Rule took effect on June 23, 2016 OSHA estimates that the rule will save over 600 lives and prevent more than 900 new cases of silicosis each year, once its effects are fully realized. The Final Rule is projected to provide net benefits of about $7.7 billion, annually. This rule will help protect approximately 2.3 million workers who are exposed to respirable crystalline silica in their workplaces, including 2 million construction workers who drill, cut, crush, or grind silica-containing materials such as concrete and stone, and 300,000 workers in general industry operations, such as brick manufacturing, foundries, and hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. Industries have from one to five years to comply with most [...]

Join the Healthy Schools Now coalition for our quarterly meeting on March 7, 2016 at 10 AM in Trenton, NJ. We look forward to continued discussion about how we can work together to ensure a healthy and safe school environment for all of New Jersey's public schools students. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Agenda to be posted soon. Register Healthy Schools Now

Working people can’t seem to get ahead. As we watch the news, engage in our communities, and organize around our respective issues, it becomes more and more apparent that we are operating in a rigged economy, which works for a privileged few. Wall Street’s power and influence continues to thwart progress on our most basic needs, on issues like public health, environmental protection, workers’ rights, and civil rights. The most fundamental component of our democracy, our ability to organize and successfully advocate for our needs, has been undermined. Join us on February 3rd and 4th at the Rutgers Labor Education Center in New Brunswick(50 Labor Center Way) to learn how our economy, and our democracy have been strip-mined by financial institutions. This intensive training will be led by Les Leopold, author of Runaway Inequality and director of The Labor Institute. Join a discussion on direct actions that we can take to address the fundamental inequalities in our system. Space is limited to 20 participants. Apply now for the Public Need over Corporate Greed Trainer Apprenticeship Program and help create an economy that works for everyone.     Learn More Apply Today