WEC Staff, Author at Work Environment Council

Pandemic v. Schools – National Coalition for Healthier Schools Plan for Safe Reopening

School Buildings and Occupants Can Speed or Slow the Spread of COVID-19 Jul. 9, 2020 / PRZen / SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. -- As pressure mounts for schools to reopen this fall, awareness is growing of the need for specific plans on how schools will not just open, but stay open, by protecting the health of children and their families, teachers, administrators and school staff. By their nature, schools are an environment conducive to the spread of illnesses, including COVID-19. They are densely occupied for long periods and have a well-documented history of deferred maintenance which has resulted in well-known problems with ventilation and indoor air and plumbing, and challenges in cleaning. The virus is not going away. Moreover, the poorest communities hardest hit by COVID-19 also send their children to the poorest schools in the worst condition, making this a supremely challenging health and education equity and rights problem with no quick solution. Over 60 national public health and healthy school leaders joined the Coalition for Healthier Schools today to release a National Call to Action for state health agencies to provide an authoritative School Infection Prevention and Control Plan to all schools to adopt. The current piecemeal approach to no-plan-just-open, will clearly deepen the [...]

By WEC Staff|2020-07-16T15:56:18-04:00July 13th, 2020|Covid-19, Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off

NJEA, Others Want National School Reopening Guideline Consensus

Because no one is really sure what the pandemic will look like in two months, the New Jersey Education Association is one of several groups backing a National Call to Action to raise awareness of the need for infection prevention and control plans with the goal of keeping schools open in the 2020-21 academic year. "The CDC guidelines are a minimum," Steve Beatty, NJEA secretary-treasurer, said in a Thursday afternoon Zoom call. "We're not going to have to be able to rely on state guidelines, and in talking about school districts, there can be no flexibility when it comes to the health and safety of our students and our educators and everyone in those buildings." The National Call to Action asks that public health agencies provide structured plans to protect not only students but the educators who interact with them — and everyone else who interacts with both groups outside of the schools. "As a parent, I should not be put in the position to have to choose between my child's health or attending school," Debra Coyle McFadden, executive director of the NJ Work Environment Council, said. "And as an advocate for worker safety, a worker should not have to choose between [...]

By WEC Staff|2020-07-13T11:51:05-04:00July 13th, 2020|Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off

Will N.J. have enough teachers to reopen schools? Union worried many won’t go back.

School districts have begun to hear from teachers who are requesting to retire early or refusing to return to the classroom during the coronavirus pandemic. Others are asking to teach only from home because they or one of their relatives have health problems. That is raising questions about whether there will be enough certified teachers to teach during the 2020-2021 school year under the state’s new rules limiting the number of students in each classroom, said Steve Beatty, secretary-treasurer of the New Jersey Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union. “That is a real question of whether or not we will physically have enough educators that will return ... That is a growing concern,” Beatty said. The NJEA was among nearly a dozen state and national groups that released a report Thursday, titled “A National Call to Action,” calling on public health agencies to help states come up with more detailed plans to protect students and teachers as schools prepare to reopen. Read More Here

By WEC Staff|2020-07-13T10:34:53-04:00July 13th, 2020|Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off

For The Many NJ Applauds Borrowing Deal to Protect Against Budget Cuts

Earlier today, Governor Murphy and Senate President Sweeney announced a deal that would allow New Jersey to borrow funds from the federal government to balance the state budget. In response to this agreement, members of the For The Many NJ coalition release the following statements: Sheila Reynertson, Senior Policy Analyst, New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP): “This deal is great news for residents of New Jersey and will set the stage for a stronger and more equitable pandemic recovery. Borrowing at this level will ensure that the most important public services and safety net programs will be there for everyone, especially families who are already struggling. Lawmakers must now work to raise revenue by ending Christie-era tax breaks and require that the very wealthiest pay their fair share in taxes like everyone else.... Read the full press release here.

By WEC Staff|2021-03-10T14:26:08-05:00July 10th, 2020|Press Releases, WEC in the News|Comments Off

June 30: Update on the Updates

This week’s topic, Update on the Updates, we checked back in with several of our previous webinar participants for a roundtable discussion. We were joined by Marcia Kleinz, Field representative for Higher Education, NJEA, Barry Kushnir, President, IFPTE Local 194, and Hudson County Central Labor Council and Nancy Miller, membership assistance program coordinator, UFCW Local 1262. They gave updates on the continued challenges COVID-19 presents for their members in higher education, Turnpike toll takers and retail. Nancy discussed UFCW’s ongoing campaign to support Covid 19 Hazard Pay for essential grocery store workers, and encouraged attendees to let management at their local union supermarkets know that they support stores’ continuing hazard pay for workers. We also wished Mike Merrill, PH.D, director at Rutgers LEARN a happy retirement, and heard touching stories about Mike’s career from a few colleagues. Mike stressed the importance of continued labor education and the importance of forums like this to bring workers and community members together to have conversations and learn from each other. Thank you, Professor Merrill and best of luck to you! More than 96 people attended this webinar.

By WEC Staff|2020-09-02T16:36:49-04:00June 30th, 2020|Covid-19 Webinars|Comments Off

Recovery for All: Jersey Renews Releases Roadmap for a Just, Green Recovery to Guide Planning

Jersey Renews, a diverse coalition working toward state-based policy solutions to address climate change, has laid out 10 core principles that must be the foundation for any just, green economic recovery. The report, A Roadmap Toward a Just, Green Recovery, was released and distributed to the co-chairs of Governor Murphy’s Restart and Recovery Advisory Council, which has been tasked with drafting recommendations on what a long-term economic recovery will look like for the state. Twenty five faith, environmental, labor and social justice organizations have endorsed the recommendations, which were crafted based on input from more than twenty partners. The report emphasized that to achieve a just and green recovery, NJ decision-makers must adhere to the following 10 principles: 1) Expand Resources for Public Health 2) Protect Workers and Our Environment 3) Fully Fund and Electrify Our Transit System 4) Build Up Renewables 5) Buy American 6) Develop a Green Workforce 7) Renew Green and Efficient Buildings 8) Restore Healthy Homes 9) Repair Our Infrastructure 10) Invest Money in the Public Good Read the press release here.

By WEC Staff|2020-06-26T15:24:11-04:00June 26th, 2020|WEC in the News|Comments Off

Recovery for All: Jersey Renews Releases Roadmap for a Just, Green Recovery to Guide Planning

Report Centers Recommendations in Ten Areas, Focused on Environment, Workers and Equity Trenton — Jersey Renews, a diverse coalition working toward state-based policy solutions to address climate change, has laid out 10 core principles that must be the foundation for any just, green economic recovery. The report, A Roadmap Toward a Just, Green Recovery, was released and distributed to the co-chairs of Governor Murphy’s Restart and Recovery Advisory Council, which has been tasked with drafting recommendations on what a long-term economic recovery will look like for the state. Twenty five faith, environmental, labor and social justice organizations have endorsed the recommendations, which were crafted based on input from more than twenty partners. Read the full article here.

By WEC Staff|2021-03-10T14:21:03-05:00June 25th, 2020|WEC in the News|Comments Off

June 23: Working Parents Need Child Care: An Update on the Reopening

This week 110 participants joined the discussion focused on access to affordable quality childcare. As child daycare and early childhood programs reopen, we must address the complex issues surrounding capacity, safety, staffing, economic viability, and program effectiveness under new, ever changing guidelines. Debra Lancaster, Executive Director, Rutgers Center for Women and Work co-moderated the following speakers: Meghan Tavormina. President of the New Jersey Association for the Education of Young Children and the Executive Director of the Learning Path in Chatham. Ms. Tavormina highlighted the importance of childcare as our NJ families head back to work and our childcare centers reopen. Meghan spoke about the intense demand for childcare, and the difficulties in providing it. Attendance vs. enrollment pay, maintaining teaching staff due to poor pay and lack of benefits, understanding and meeting reopening guidelines and practicing social distancing while caring for infants and toddlers are just some of the struggle’s providers face. Cynthia Rice, an attorney and Senior Policy Analyst with the Advocates for Children of New Jersey works with local, state, and federal leaders to identify and implement changes that will benefit New Jersey’s children. Ms. Rice spoke of the uncertainty concerning the access and availability of childcare. Cynthia pointed out that [...]

By WEC Staff|2020-09-02T16:35:56-04:00June 23rd, 2020|Covid-19 Webinars|Comments Off

June 16: Public Health, Worker Safety, and Funding Challenges for Public Transportation in a COVID-19 World

This week’s COVID-19 update focused on the NJ public transit system which puts hundreds of thousands of commuters and thousands of transportation workers at risk for sustained, exposure to the coronavirus and other pathogens, and what is needed to reduce risk. We had the opportunity to hear from Nick Sifuentes, Executive Director of Tri-State Transportation Campaign and he spoke about what riders need to feel safe in order to continue to use public transportation and how to help make public transportation as safe and effective as possible during the pandemic. Our second panelist, Orlando Riley, Chairman, Amalgamated Transit Union, NJ State Council gave insight into issues surrounding workers on their over 2000 buses and some of the steps that have been taken to increase protections. These steps have included rear door boarding, digital ticketing, enhanced cleaning, reduced capacity, and masking. We also heard from Jerome Johnson, General Chairman of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transport (SMART) Local 60 (United Transportation Union [UTU]) who spoke to the need for a public campaign to support health and safety on public transportation. More needs to be done to ensure that riders wear masks, as mandated by the Governor’s Executive Order. Mr. Johnson called on NJ Transit, community leaders and the [...]

By WEC Staff|2020-09-02T16:34:57-04:00June 16th, 2020|Covid-19 Webinars|Comments Off

“Big Win for Offshore Wind,” Says Jersey Renews as Murphy Administration Announces Development of New Jersey Wind Port

Trenton – Today, Governor Murphy announced the development of the New Jersey Wind Port, the first port in the country to be built specifically for offshore wind marshalling and manufacturing. The port will be sited in the Lower Alloway Creek area in Salem County on Artificial Island next to the Hope Creek Nuclear Generation site. The project is a significant step to bring an offshore wind supply chain to New Jersey and put our state on a path to a clean energy future. Jersey Renews, a multi-sector coalition of more than 60 labor, environmental, faith and social justice organizations, has advocated for an offshore wind port as an opportunity for New Jersey to reduce statewide emissions and transition to renewable energy sources while creating high-paying, union manufacturing jobs. Read the full article here.

By WEC Staff|2021-03-10T14:15:28-05:00June 16th, 2020|WEC in the News|Comments Off

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