Yearly Archives: 2026

June WEConnect 2026

Donate Now Executive Director's Message Today in Trenton the public sector workers are gathering to rally to fight for what is a basic human right - healthcare. Healthcare costs in New Jersey (and around the country) continue to rise, placing increasing financial pressure on families, employers, and public programs. At the same time, many major health insurance and pharmaceutical companies have reported substantial profits in recent years, prompting concerns about affordability and the impact of rising healthcare expenses on consumers. This is a classic example of unchecked corporate greed. Whether the issue is healthcare, housing, education, or workers' rights, unchecked corporate greed remains a common obstacle to achieving social and economic justice. Only through action and staying united can we impact change. Whether it’s through rallies, social media posts, or choosing to spend our hard-earned money with companies that align with our values, every action matters. We must break out of our silos, stand together, and support each other’s causes. The challenges we face are deeply connected. When one group is under attack, all of us are affected. Real progress happens when we recognize our shared interests and work collectively to build a stronger, more equitable future for [...]

By |2026-06-23T10:55:56-04:00June 20th, 2026|WEConnect Newsletter|Comments Off on June WEConnect 2026

Federal Chemical Safety Board Sends Warning on Trump Disaster Policy

Story By Hiroko Tabuchi New York Times, May 14, 2026 For a year now, the Chemical Safety Board, a small independent federal agency that investigates chemical spills and other disasters has faced elimination under President Trump's budget cuts. That hasn't stopped the Board from taking on the Trump administration. Read more here.

By |2026-06-22T21:47:51-04:00May 14th, 2026|Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off on Federal Chemical Safety Board Sends Warning on Trump Disaster Policy

Heat stress affects students AND staff — What to do?

Heat stress affects students AND staff By Dorothy Wigmore a long-time health and safety specialist and WEC consultant. She has worked in Canada, the U.S. and Mozambique, focusing on prevention and worker participation to fix job-related hazards.  It’s hard to ignore the heat-related warnings about the climate emergency in New Jersey: The 2025 New Jersey Scientific Report on Climate Change said the state “continues to warm faster than the rest of the Northeast region and the world.” In 2025, a 30-year analysis found that higher temperatures increase the odds of heat waves in the state, and they’re likely to get more frequent and intense, with less daily cooling. The state’s Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan includes protecting workers. Read the full article in the NJEA Review here. Below are additional resources that are not in the Review article. Resources California Department of Public Health, CDPH health guidance for schools on sports and strenuous activities during extreme heat: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/EPO/Pages/Extreme%20Heat%20Pages/extreme-heat-guidance-for-schools.aspx Center for Climate Integrity, Hotter days, higher costs. Crisis in America’s classrooms: https://coolingcrisis.org/ National Education Association, “It’s getting hot in here: Without air conditioning, students and staff suffer”: https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/its-getting-hot-here-without-air-conditioning-students-and-staff-suffer New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Air source heat pumps: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/air-source-heat-pumps New Jersey Education Association (2021), “Tackle harmful heat with ventilation [...]

By |2026-07-09T13:34:15-04:00April 23rd, 2026|Fact Sheets, Highlights|Comments Off on Heat stress affects students AND staff — What to do?

April WEConnect 2026

Donate Now Executive Director's Message It’s hard to believe it’s already April — it feels like we were just ringing in the new year. The year has already brought major change to New Jersey, with Governor Mikie Sherrill making energy affordability a top priority. Her administration is expanding our solar goals and has announced a new task force on nuclear energy. As energy bills rise, at home and at the pump, we’re all feeling the strain. Now is not the time to pull back from renewable energy. It’s the time to double down and lay the groundwork for a renewable energy future. Below, you’ll find highlights of our recent work: pushing back against dangerous rollbacks that would put workers and communities at risk of chemical disasters, standing with allies to protect funding for the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, and partnering with the Healthy Schools Now coalition to secure funding for public school construction and ensure our schools are free from mercury hazards. I also want to take a moment to thank you for being part of WEC. These are challenging times. As corporate greed rises, environmental protections are threatened, and workers’ rights face ongoing attacks, our collective voice matters [...]

By |2026-07-09T13:18:03-04:00April 13th, 2026|WEConnect Newsletter|Comments Off on April WEConnect 2026

Too hot, poor ventilation, overlooked: Newark’s East Ward students are learning in decades-old buildings

While Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s proposed budget does not add new money to the SDA, Maggie Garbarino, Sherrill’s deputy press secretary, said her administration will follow an existing funding schedule established in 2023 that will add $350 million for school construction projects that have already been started and an additional $50 million for emergency repairs in high-poverty districts this budget cycle. Read more here.

By |2026-07-09T12:20:01-04:00March 31st, 2026|Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off on Too hot, poor ventilation, overlooked: Newark’s East Ward students are learning in decades-old buildings

NJEA Review

New Jersey Public Schools and Asbestos By Dorothy Wigmore a long-time health and safety specialist and WEC consultant. She has worked in Canada, the U.S. and Mozambique, focusing on prevention and worker participation to fix job-related hazards.  New Jersey has many old school buildings. When districts decide to renovate or upgrade them, it’s time for NJEA members to ask about asbestos hazards. That’s a lesson the Wayne Education Association (WEA) learned once renovations started on the oldest of 15 buildings in the district,  the Preakness Early Childhood Center.  Read the full article from the NJEA Review here. Below is a list of additional resources not included in the original article. New Jersey Department of Health Asbestos: https://www.nj.gov/health/ceohs/asbestos/  Hazard Communication Standard: https://www.nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/peosh/peosh-health-standards/hazcom.shtml Indoor air quality standard: https://www.nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/peosh/peosh-health-standards/iaq.shtml; Recording and Reporting Occupational Injuries and Illness Standard: https://www.nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/peosh/peosh-health-standards/record.shtml Right to know: https://www.nj.gov/health/workplacehealthandsafety/right-to-know/ New Jersey Education Association, Health and safety publications: https://www.njea.org/health-safety-publications/ New Jersey Government Records Council, OPRA (Open Public Records Act) for the public: https://www.nj.gov/grc/public/ New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Act (and standards): https://www.nj.gov/labor/safetyandhealth/resources-support/laws-regulations/peoshact.shtml

By |2026-07-09T13:28:10-04:00March 5th, 2026|Fact Sheets|Comments Off on NJEA Review

Health and Safety Protections Against Chemical Emergencies Eliminated and Weakened in New Trump EPA Proposal

Washington, D.C. — Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed to delay, weaken, and dismantle key safeguards against chemical emergencies and disasters, while millions of people nationwide, including children, live daily in harm’s way near industrial chemical facilities. The  latest Trump plan threatens the lives and safety of  the over 177 million Americans who live in worst-case scenario zones near chemical facilities. The proposal increases the likelihood of chemical emergencies and disasters for workers, first responders, and children and families who live within a chemical danger zone,  breaking the administration’s promises to “make America healthy.” Read More here.

By |2026-07-09T12:20:45-04:00February 17th, 2026|Highlights, Uncategorized, WEC in the News|Comments Off on Health and Safety Protections Against Chemical Emergencies Eliminated and Weakened in New Trump EPA Proposal

A $10.5B school construction bond could help fix Newark’s old school buildings

A proposed $10.5 billion state school construction bond could unlock new funding for Newark Public Schools and other school districts in the state to address longstanding needs for new schools and urgent repairs. Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz introduced legislation Thursday that, if approved, would ask voters in November to authorize new state bonds for school construction, expansion, and renovation projects in high-poverty districts as well as others. Read more here.

By |2026-07-09T12:21:11-04:00February 6th, 2026|Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off on A $10.5B school construction bond could help fix Newark’s old school buildings
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