2018 - Page 3 of 3 - Work Environment Council

Bloomfield Mayor Venezia Joins Mayors of other Earned Sick Day Towns to Call for Statewide Action

Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia joined the mayors of Jersey City, Montclair, Newark, Passaic, Morristown, and Plainfield, to call for statewide legislative action to extend coverage to all New Jersey workers; Each of these municipalities have earned sick day policies in place. "Ensuring that all workers in New Jersey have access to earned sick days is a common sense policy to guarantee working families have options when a breadwinner needs time to recover from an illness or injury; allowing workers time off to recover while sick also protects the rest of us by keeping germs out of the workplace," said Dan Fatton, executive director for New Jersey Work Environment Council. Read the full story on TAP into Bloomfield.

By Debra Coyle|2018-03-02T12:30:36-05:00February 26th, 2018|Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off

Murphy’s Turn to Fix the Sickening Conditions of N.J.’s Urban Schools

Entire school districts are shutting down due to mold contamination and fears of asbestos exposure. Students are unable to drink from water fountains due to worries about high lead levels. Classroom temperatures reach triple digits in the spring and are freezing cold in the winter. A middle school shut down for months because of a collapsed roof. Districts comprised of a dozen schools constructed when horse and buggies ruled the roads. We aren't describing schools in a developing country. These conditions exist right here in New Jersey. Throughout our state, both in our state's poorer urban districts and in property tax strapped suburban towns, school buildings are crumbling and remain in desperate need of repair. Read the full opinion-editorial in the Star-Ledger by Elizabeth Smith, executive director of Statewide Education Organizing Committee and Jerell Blakeley, the Healthy Schools Now campaign organizer for the New Jersey Work Environment Council.

By Debra Coyle|2018-02-12T11:54:57-05:00February 12th, 2018|Highlights, Opinion Pieces|Comments Off

Transit Equity Rally

Transit Equity Rally: Workers & Community Members Demand Electrification of Transportation to Preserve our Climate and Create Jobs Jersey City, NJ – Dozens of people gathered at City Hall on Tuesday, February 6 to show support for the electrification of New Jersey’s transportation system. The event, organized by Jersey Renews in partnership with the Amalgamated Transit Union, brought together a diverse assembly of speakers to address how electrified public transportation can reduce air pollution, promote healthier communities, create jobs, and address climate change. "Jersey City stands with Jersey Renews and the Amalgamated Transit Union in their mission to promote the electrification of transportation," said Mayor Fulop. "On a local level, we are actively finding ways to reduce pollution, and I am proud to announce that we are beginning the process of installing electric vehicle charging stations and transitioning our municipal fleet to electric power. Together, we will continue to find ways to reduce our carbon footprint and build cleaner, healthier communities throughout New Jersey." "Gasoline powered vehicles are harmful to our environment and our health, especially in dense urban areas like Jersey City. Dangerous levels of pollution from cars, trucks, and buses on busy roads and highways make thousands of New Jerseyans sick [...]

By WEC Staff|2018-02-20T12:20:34-05:00February 6th, 2018|Highlights, Press Releases|Comments Off

Take on Wall Street? Apply for our Training!

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 the 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 May 31st and June 1st, at NJEA Headquarters in Trenton (180 W. State Street) to learn how our economy, and our democracy, have been strip-mined by financial institutions. This intensive training will involve materials developed by WEC and Les Leopold, author of Runaway Inequality and director of The Labor Institute. We’ve already trained 65 educators, who are working across Jersey to share this content within their organizations, spreading the word to fellow activists. Join the 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 [...]

By WEC Staff|2018-04-30T15:31:20-04:00January 25th, 2018|Highlights|Comments Off

Job Posting: Freelance Writer

Free-lance writer for monthly labor union magazine The New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC) seeks a free-lance writer to conceptualize, research and compose ten 1,000-word byline articles a year on school health and safety issues for the New Jersey Education Association’s NJEA Review. You will be expected to spend approximately 12 hours per article. Pay is $500 per article. Articles will be due for review one week before the end of the month from February to April 2018 and then July 2018 through April 2019 and so on for each school year. You will need to interview WEC staff, NJEA UniServ field representatives, NJEA local association officers and members, and WEC industrial hygiene consultants to conceptualize and research the articles. Internet research may also be needed. Preference given to individuals who have written for or about labor unions and union activism and organizing. See past articles online here. Submit letter of interest, resume, and two applicable writing samples to [email protected] by close of business January 31, 2017. No calls. For more information about WEC, please go to www.njwec.org.

By Debra Coyle|2018-01-17T11:22:34-05:00January 17th, 2018|Highlights, Job Postings|Comments Off

Yearly Archives: 2018

Bloomfield Mayor Venezia Joins Mayors of other Earned Sick Day Towns to Call for Statewide Action

Murphy’s Turn to Fix the Sickening Conditions of N.J.’s Urban Schools

Transit Equity Rally

Take on Wall Street? Apply for our Training!

Job Posting: Freelance Writer