WEC Staff, Author at Work Environment Council

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 [...]

By WEC Staff|2016-11-03T00:52:53-04:00November 3rd, 2016|Highlights|Comments Off

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

By WEC Staff|2016-11-02T19:09:47-04:00November 2nd, 2016|Highlights|Comments Off

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! [...]

By WEC Staff|2017-06-13T22:21:08-04:00November 2nd, 2016|Petitions|Comments Off

Intern with WEC

Are you interested in working with a progressive organization to advance labor and environmental policies in New Jersey? The NJ Work Environment Council (WEC), an alliance of 70 labor, environmental, and community organizations, working for safe, secure jobs and a healthy, sustainable environment, provides regular internship opportunities. Interns will assist with the following WEC led campaigns: Healthy Schools Now: To demand that all New Jersey children and school employees learn and work in safe, modern school buildings. Public Need Over Corporate Greed: To educate thousands of activists about the effects of Wall Street’s financial strip mining on our economy and empower them to take action on a state-based policy agenda. Addressing Climate Change: To push for meaningful energy and climate policy changes in New Jersey. Respect Our Right to Know: To ensure our right to know about rail car hazards; safer alternatives at industrial facilities; the real names of chemicals; and municipal and county emergency response plans. Preventing Chemical Disasters: To strengthen Federal chemical safety and security laws to incorporate safer chemicals and processes where feasible. Internship work includes interacting with labor, environmental, and community organizations and other allies. There will also be opportunities to assist with research, training programs, actions, [...]

By WEC Staff|2016-10-28T05:03:00-04:00October 28th, 2016|Job Postings|Comments Off

WEC, Environment NJ, Legislative Leaders & Allies Endorse Bill Mandating Testing & Remediation of Lead in School Drinking Water

Asw. Maher-Muoio and Sen. Turner Sponsored Legislation is Crucial Legislative Fix to Lead in School Drinking Water With recent reports of lead in the water supplies of schools in the local and national media spotlight, the need for broad legislative solutions is sadly more pressing than ever. The NJ Work Environment Council, Environment New Jersey and allies strongly endorse A-3539/S-2082, model legislation that will require public and non-public schools to test for and remediate lead in drinking water, and disclose test results in a proactive, transparent manner. Joined on the steps of Trenton’s Grace A. Dunn Middle School by the bills’ prime sponsors Assemblywoman Elizabeth Maher-Mouio (D-Mercer) and Senator Shirley Turner (D-Mercer), a diverse group of community representatives and dedicated activists spoke about the need to support this much needed legislation. “Lead poisoning is insidious because it is cumulative, irreversible and leads to a lifetime of developmental and physical disabilities,” said Assemblywoman Maher-Muoio (D-Mercer, Hunterdon). “In the simplest of terms, we need to be doing more to protect New Jersey’s children from lead. We need to test, and currently, New Jersey schools and daycare centers aren’t required to check their drinking water for elevated levels of lead.” “It’s imperative that we [...]

By WEC Staff|2016-10-19T03:01:51-04:00October 19th, 2016|Press Releases|Comments Off

Notice of intent given to file lawsuit against Linden

The New Jersey Work Environment Council, along with Teamsters Local 877, has put the city of Linden on notice, stating that they will file suit against the city on behalf of workers at the Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery and Watco Crude Rail Terminal, both located in Linden. The NJWEC and the Teamsters claim that Linden Mayor Derek Armstead has failed to provide the public with a current Emergency Response Plan in the event of a chemical fire, explosion, or toxic emergency. The NJWEC and the union said in a statement that Armstead is violating federal law that requires public access to local emergency response plan in Linden. John Pajak, president of Teamsters Local 877 and WEC Board member told LocalSource in an email that Linden officials are simply ignoring the public’s right to safety information. “City officials obviously believe that they can just ignore the public’s legal right to information about our own safety, Pajak said. “It is egregious that the workers at these facilities can’t access the ERP. The town and the facility are woefully unprepared with man and machine to deal with a catastrophic event.” See the article in the Union News Daily here

By WEC Staff|2016-10-17T02:58:31-04:00October 17th, 2016|WEC in the News|Comments Off

Urban schools need more than buildings

Fiercely opposed by a phalanx of public school advocates, even Gov. Chris Christie’s allies are decidedly tepid about his self-proclaimed “Fairness Formula,” his last-ditch attempt to finish his two terms with a bang, capping his relentless efforts to privatize, expand charters and defund New Jersey’s urban school districts. Although the likelihood of it passing is nil by most accounts, recent developments surrounding a new Camden High School highlight the absurdity and contradictions of the governor’s dubious school funding formula idea. The governor’s recent public announcement highlighting his implicit support of the state’s obligation to build schools in SDA districts directly contradicts the foundational arguments for his “Fairness Formula.” Full opinion-editorial by Jerell Blakeley, WEC campaign organizer online The Daily News, October 12, 2016

By WEC Staff|2016-10-12T16:44:34-04:00October 12th, 2016|Highlights, Opinion Pieces|Comments Off

WEC and Teamsters Local 877 Put the City of Linden on Notice: Stop Endangering Residents and Violating Federal Law

Mayor Derek Armstead of the City of Linden, NJ has failed to carry out his legal responsibility under federal law for ensuring that the public has access to an up-to-date Emergency Response Plan (ERP) in the event of a chemical fire, explosion or other toxic emergency. Today, Teamsters Local 877 and NJ Work Environment Council (WEC) filed the required 60-day notice of the intent to file suit against the city of Linden for violating federal law. Under Section 326 of Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act (EPCRA) citizens have the authority to file civil actions against violators of EPCRA. Since February 2014, WEC and Teamsters Local 877, representing chemical and terminal workers at the Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery and Watco Crude Rail Terminal, located in Linden, have repeatedly requested access to Linden’s ERP and have been denied on multiple occasions. The most recent denial occurred on June 29, 2016. Linden continues to keep community members and workers at industrial facilities within its’ municipal borders in the dark. This is despite both the US Environmental Protection Agency and NJ State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) issuing documents in 2015 regarding the legal obligation to publicly disclose ERPs and the importance of [...]

By WEC Staff|2016-10-05T15:39:55-04:00October 5th, 2016|Highlights, Press Releases|Comments Off

Environmental Justice Climate Policy Event

WEC recently partnered with Greenfaith, Environment New Jersey, and the New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance to host a lunch and learn at the Ironbound Community Corporation in Newark. More than 35 grassroots leaders participated in the meeting and ensuing discussion. Aaron Jones of 32BJ SEIU gave an overview of the NY Renews initiative, a broad-based coalition effort in New York striving to tackle the climate and inequality crises head-on. To view Mr. Jones' presentation, please click here. Dr. Nicky Sheats presented on the environmental justice concerns with carbon trading and provided insights on the Clean Power Plan. To view Dr. Sheats' presentation, slides, please click here. For more information about WEC's work on climate change policy, or to be notified about future events, please contact Dan Fatton at dfatton@njwec.org.

By WEC Staff|2016-09-27T21:18:21-04:00September 27th, 2016|Highlights, WEC in the News|Comments Off

WEC Launches Campaign to Address Runaway Inequality

For Immediate Release, September 26, 2016 The New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC) is pleased to announce our new campaign to address Runaway Inequality. In partnership with The Labor Institute, NJEA and New Jersey Policy Perspective, WEC is launching a campaign aimed at addressing and reversing the outsized influence of corporations and ending the financial strip mining of our economy by Wall Street firms. WEC has hired Brandon Castro as campaign organizer, and plans to partner with Les Leopold, author of the book, Runaway Inequality, and director of The Labor Institute. The goal is to coordinate a large education initiative to train thousands of activists to help confront corporate power in New Jersey. Brandon Castro most recently worked as a campaign organizer for several student groups including United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS), the nation’s largest youth-led labor campaign organization, which advocates for economic justice in partnership with worker and community organizations. For USAS, Castro worked in direct solidarity with workers, putting pressure on garment manufacturers to sign international health and safety accords and to allow independent monitoring organizations to inspect factories. Brandon also previously served as an intern for WEC, assisting with the Respect Our Right to Know campaign, health and [...]

By WEC Staff|2016-09-26T16:42:09-04:00September 26th, 2016|Press Releases|Comments Off

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