2016 WEC Member Meeting Registration
Why Are Manufacturing Jobs Really Leaving The US?
It’s no secret that many of the international trade deals made by the United States have hurt workers both here and abroad. Several political leaders have targeted deals like NAFTA, and identified them as the source of many labor issues, including diminished safety and environmental regulations, and a horrific race to the bottom for wages. There is more to this story, however, and trade deals which enable international mobility for corporations are only a symptom of a much more sinister problem. In an article originally published on the Huffington Post, Les Leopold, author of Runaway Inequality, investigated the root cause of declining wages, lax labor regulations and fleeing jobs. After an SEC rule change in 1982, hedge fund and private equity investors were incentivized to siphon as much wealth from companies they invest in as possible, so that they could then buy back its stock. This artificially inflates the value of shares and gives hedge managers and private equity managers an instant windfall. “In 1970, before stock buybacks became the norm, the pay gap between the top CEOs and the average worker was $45 to $1. Today it is an incomprehensible $844 to $1. So there’s a co-dependency between [...]
Deadline to Buy Tickets! Honoring Past & Future Leaders
Today is the last day to reserve a ticket to the WEC Annual Awards Dinner & 30th Anniversary Celebration, which will be held this Friday, November 18 at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. Please purchase tickets today We're looking forward to some companionship with friends and allies. We are very excited to recognize the good work of heroes like Jeanne Otersen, Kelly Francis and Jim Young. We're also looking forward to hearing from the two recipients of our new Rising Star Award, Nicole Scott-Harris and Reynalda Cruz. Please help us honor them by attending the event. Buy tickets online now After an intense few days, we are more resolute than ever. Regardless of who holds political office, we remain committed to our mission: safe, secure jobs and a healthy sustainable environment. With the incoming administration, we must be vigilant; we will likely need to mobilize support to protect our existing safeguards and there will be an even greater need for state-based approaches. We'll need your support; whether you choose to join as a member, attend the Awards Dinner, or make a donation, WEC relies upon your generosity to continue our work. join [...]
Get The Lead Out Of N.J. Schools
Over the past year, the nation has watched a tragedy unfold in Flint, Michigan as an entire community's drinking water was contaminated with lead. Sadly, the problem extends well beyond Flint. In nearly 2,000 communities in every state across the country, tests have confirmed lead in the water coming out of residents' taps. In fact, lead is even contaminating drinking water in schools and pre-schools, right here in New Jersey. School is where our children go each day to learn and play. It's time we know exactly what is in their drinking water, and for our state elected leaders to "get the lead out" before it's too late. Full opinion-editorial by Jerell Blakeley, WEC's Healthy Schools Now campaign organizer, Doug O'Malley, Environment New Jersey Director, and Naomi Johnson-LaFleur, Trenton Education Association President, in The Star Ledger, November 11, 2016. Full Op-Ed Healthy Schools Now
New Jersey, Standing Together
The election results on November 9th symbolized a terrible victory for the worst part of ourselves, and the worst parts of our national identity. Those results, which many of us witnessed with increasing despair in the early morning hours, will have immediate, ugly, concrete ramifications for all of us, for our culture, and for our economy. The results will force us to reassess how to protect the progress every single person who is concerned about labor rights, women’s rights, and immigrant rights, has fought for in recent history. This we know, and we should keep talking about it. However, looking forward, and look forward we must, there’s plenty to remain optimistic about right here in New Jersey. Our political landscape is shifting, and the opportunities available for everyone here to fight for positive, progressive, state-based reform are numerous and exciting. This is our opportunity to demonstrate that New Jersey can once again become an innovator, a leader, and that we won’t give in to despair. We are, all of us, going to turn New Jersey into a state that represents the ideals we value, a state that repudiates of the politics of meanness and corporate greed. We’re going to strengthen [...]
Looking Back, As We Look Forward
Like many Americans, I watched the election results in stunned disbelief and quickly sank into sadness and despair, both about the implications for my family personally, concern for those I love and fear for many others I will never know, but who will certainly be impacted by this dramatic turn in the American political landscape. At this point, it's hard not to feel that this is a nightmare result for those of us concerned about worker's rights, environmental and labor law, action on climate change and any other number of issues. It took some time to catch my breath, sort through thoughts and feelings trying to make meaning of it all, and figure out how to even begin expressing a vision for moving forward. I am grateful that Cecelia Gilligan Leto (recipient of the 2016 National COSH Educator Award!) recently shared this video about Tony Mazzocchi. As Tony prophetically said in the video, "I think we know what the solution is, it's power." "The Man Who Hated Work, And Loved Labor: The Life and Times of Tony Mazzocchi," by Les Leopold was the first book I read after being offered the director role here with WEC, [...]
Stand Up to Wall Street
If we want to put an end to Wall Street’s reckless strip mining of our economy, we must build a clear, shared understanding of runaway inequality, and a broad-based movement for fundamental economic justice. In order to help build a strong network of activists ready to take on Wall Street, WEC will be coordinating a series of “Train the Trainer” sessions, in which organizers can come together and discuss how best to take on Wall Street and reduce its influence on our state and federal policy. These sessions, hosted by Les Leopold (director of The Labor Institute & author of Runaway Inequality) will help committed organizers develop the tools necessary to advocate around issues of income inequality and pursue real, substantial solutions. Apply now to be a part of our alliance and help contribute to the conversation about what has happened to our economy and how we can work together to fix it. Apply to Participate Learn More
Conference: Impact of Lead Exposure on Students
On Friday, November 18, before the WEC Annual Awards Dinner, the Center for Health & Wellness at Princeton University and our partners at Isles will be hosting a first-of-its-kind conference, “The Impact of Lead Exposure on our Students: What Schools And Parents Can Do To Help” on the Princeton University campus. The keynote speaker of the conference will be Dr. Ralph Spezio from Rochester NY, a Ted Talk presenter, speaking about his experience with high lead levels in his students. The morning panel will include neuroscientist Dr. Jay Schneider, who will review how even low levels of lead, far below the CDC reference level of 5ug/dL, adversely affects a child’s developing brain; Dr. Ted Lidsky who has assessed over 1000 children for lead in our region; and Dr. Janet Currie of Princeton who will report on her latest research about the relationship of lead levels to student test scores. The next panel will feature Mary Jean Brown, the recently retired chief of the Lead Division at CDC, and author of the CDC report Education Interventions for Children Affected by Lead; and Dr. Vicki Sudhalter, clinical psychologist who specializes in working with children and families affected by lead. Flint pediatrician Dr. Mona [...]
Final Day to Sponsor or Place an Ad
Help WEC recognize the outstanding contributions of our five honorees by placing an ad in the program book or sponsoring the event. The WEC Annual Awards Dinner is our most important fundraiser of the year, and your support is critical to our success. We expect to be joined by at least 150 labor, environmental, community leaders and public officials, representing many thousands of New Jersey workers and residents. Please join us! WEC Annual Awards Dinner & 30th Anniversary Celebration Thursday, November 18, 2016 at The College of New Jersey, 2000 Pennington Road, Ewing, in the Education Building, Room 212. download the invitation and order form. Buy tickets
Temperature Control Petition
For decades, there has been scientific consensus that temperatures above 80 degrees produce harmful physiological effects that decrease work efficiency and output. According to the National Clearinghouse of Facilities, poor thermal conditions have also been shown to negatively impact student and teacher morale and performance. No child should have to deal with extreme classroom temperatures that are not conducive to learning and may pose a serious health risk. The closure of schools because of intemperate weather is a reminder of the significant facility issues that confront all public schools. In an era of increasing temperatures, longer summers, and harsher winters because of climate change, the problem of extreme temperatures in the classroom won't go away anytime soon. In fact, it will likely continue to get worse. It’s imperative that we ensure that classrooms are optimum learning environments. Passage of temperature control legislation would avoid the minute-by-minute waffling that too often occurs when districts are thinking of closing schools because of the weather. It would transform an opaque process and make it more transparent for all constituencies: parents, teachers, principals, administrators and students. Show your support for much needed temperature control legislation by signing our petition! [...]