Events Archives - Work Environment Council

New Labor and NJ Work Environment Council Organize March to Honor Workers Killed, Sick and Injured on the Job

New Brunswick, New Jersey: More than 300 hundred members and supporters of New Labor, the New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC), and allied organizations, collectively demanding “Safe Workplaces for All,” marched in New Brunswick on April 24, 2022 to honor workers who have been killed or become sick or injured on the job. The march, with coffins, handmade signs and chants to remember fallen workers, began and ended at New Labor headquarters in downtown New Brunswick. It is one of many events taking place around the country and around the globe as part of Workers’ Memorial Day, which brings together workers, families, unions, and allies to honor those affected by unsafe working conditions and to advocate for better protections in the workplace. “At least 57 New Jersey workers lost their lives in 2021 and will never come home to their families again,” said Debra Coyle, executive director of WEC. “Many more died from COVID-19 after exposure to COVID in the workplace, but most of those fatalities are not being tracked or documented.” Fatalities from sudden workplace trauma in New Jersey in 2021 included workers who were killed from carbon monoxide poisoning, blunt force to the head and neck, heat exhaustion and [...]

By Brandon S. Castro|2022-04-29T09:25:14-04:00April 29th, 2022|Events, Press Releases|Comments Off

A People’s Hearing for a Public Bank

On January 24, 2022, labor leaders, environmentalists, community advocates, and workers came together to demand Governor Murphy keep his campaign promise and create a public bank that invests our tax dollars in us. Gov. Murphy pledged support for a public bank during his 2014 campaign and appointed an “implementation board” in 2019 which was tasked with holding public hearings. To date, no such hearings have taken place. Speakers discussed problems the bank could be used to solve and addressed concerns that the state’s implementation board has not proposed any public facing plan that resembles a public bank. New Jersey, the 11th most populous U.S. state with nearly 9 million people, collects billions of dollars in tax revenue from individuals and businesses every year. Most of that money is sent out of state to Wall Street and other locations. Corporate financial institutions charge high interest on loans to New Jersey schools, transit agencies, road commissions, and other public entities. The current model of outsourcing New Jersey’s financial needs to big banks – mostly based in New York – has led to an accumulated $6 trillion worth of public debt owed to out-of-state financial institutions. By contrast, in North Dakota – the only [...]

By Brandon S. Castro|2022-01-27T11:29:24-05:00January 26th, 2022|Events|Comments Off

A Public Bank for New Jersey!

This month we kicked off WEC’s demand for Public Banking for New Jersey in a webinar that centered the voices of organizers, activists, workers and experts. We heard from Trina Scordo, executive director at New Jersey Communities United, Beverly Brown Ruggia, Financial Justice organizer at New Jersey Communities United, and Julie Plotkin, Associate Director of Education and Evaluation Research at the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) on why a democratically operated, publicly owned bank committed to investing in the public good is critical for their members’ success. We also heard directly from workers on the ground, including: Nikki Baker, an educational professional in the Paterson public school district, who spoke to unacceptable conditions in the district’s school buildings, and the need for serious capital investment to fix these issues, including severe mold problems, and HVAC and air circulation which makes the building particularly dangerous during the COVID pandemic. Ivan Wei, who spoke to his family's struggles as small business owners of color in New Jersey, including consistent neglect or exploitation from big banks, making it near impossible to open an account or gain access to a non-predatory line of credit. Ivan highlighted that community banks and credit unions, the kind a [...]

By Brandon S. Castro|2021-03-24T11:31:30-04:00March 24th, 2021|Act Now, Events, Highlights|Comments Off

2018 Awards Dinner

The New Jersey Work Environment Council holds its major fundraiser, an awards dinner, each year. We look forward to being joined by labor, environmental, community leaders and public officials, representing many thousands of New Jersey workers and residents. The event will be held on Friday, November 30, 2018, 6:00 pm at The College of New Jersey, 2000 Pennington Road, Ewing, in the Education Building, Room 212. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine, and a buffet dinner, with ample time to network and mingle with friends. WEC relies on the generosity of our members to help fund our mission: working for safe, secure jobs and a healthy, sustainable environment. Dinner Invitation & Order Form Rev. Dr. Charles F. Boyer Pastor, Bethel AME Church in Woodbury and Founder, Salvation and Social Justice The Reverend Dr. Charles Franklin Boyer is a third generation African Methodist Episcopal Preacher. He is the pastor of Bethel AME Church in Woodbury, NJ, the founder of Salvation and Social Justice, and the co-convener of The NJ Black Multi-Faith Alliance, The NJ Prophetic Agenda, and the United Black Agenda. He leads various boards, initiatives and committees. He earned a Bachelorette of Science and Master’s in Business Administration from [...]

By Debra Coyle|2018-11-16T15:00:16-05:00September 6th, 2018|Events, Highlights, Uncategorized|Comments Off

2018 Workers Memorial Day

Workers' Memorial Day is a time to remember those who died on the job or suffered workplace injuries, while raising awareness to prevent future illnesses, injuries and deaths. Respect for health and safety is respect for ALL workers. From opposing gun violence in our schools to the very real impact climate change is already having on workers and communities, we need to make sure that worker health and safety rights are guaranteed to all, in all workplaces. This year, we renew our commitment to fight for safe jobs for all! ¡SOS! Save Our Safeguards! ¡Salvar Nuestras Salvaguardas! Sunday, April 22 1:00 PM Anshe Emeth 222 Livingston Ave. New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Rain OR Shine! 2017 Pictures Source: National Council for Occupational Safety and Health In the United States, more than 100,000 workers die every year from long-term occupational disease and traumatic incidents on the job. These deaths are preventable. Read the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health report, Preventable Deaths 2016. PAST Media Coverage April 25, 2016 Home News Tribune Hundreds Rally for Safe Working Conditions The rally and spirited march focused on the demand for respect, including safe work and a [...]

By WEC Staff|2018-03-19T17:17:40-04:00March 19th, 2018|Events, Highlights|Comments Off

2017 WEC Awards Dinner

The New Jersey Work Environment Council holds its major fundraiser, an awards dinner, each year. We look forward to being joined by labor, environmental, community leaders and public officials, representing many thousands of New Jersey workers and residents. The event will be held on Thursday, November 30, 2017 at The College of New Jersey, 2000 Pennington Road, Ewing, in the Education Building, Room 212. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine, and a buffet dinner, with ample time provided to network and mingle with friends. WEC relies on the generosity of our members to help fund our mission: working for safe, secure jobs and a healthy, sustainable environment. download the invitation and order form. Buy tickets 2017 HONOREES Valorie Caffee worked as WEC’s director of organizing for 13 years; she launched WEC’s Environmental Justice program, helping raise awareness about and support for this critical issue by making presentations at community and union meetings, meetings of other environmental organizations, faith-based organizations, conferences, schools, and workshops around the state and in other states as well. This work led to Valorie being appointed as chair of the Environmental Justice Advisory Council to the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, a position she held from 2002 to 2016, and her [...]

By WEC Staff|2017-10-23T13:57:25-04:00September 22nd, 2017|Events, Highlights|Comments Off

2017 Workers’ Memorial Day
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2017 Workers’ Memorial Day

Events, Highlights

2017 Workers’ Memorial Day

Workers' Memorial Day is a time to remember those who died on the job or suffered workplace injuries, while raising awareness to prevent future illnesses, injuries and deaths. Respect for health and safety is respect for ALL workers. Especially now, we need to stand together and demand safe workplaces, and the right to organize. We reject the unsafe and unconstitutional idea that two (or even one) regulations should be removed to implement new safeguards. Join us to demand safe workplaces for all! ¡SOS! Save Our Safeguards! ¡Salvar Nuestras Salvaguardas! Sunday, April 23 1:00 PM Anshe Emeth 222 Livingston Ave. New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Rain OR Shine! Source: National Council for Occupational Safety and Health In the United States, more than 100,000 workers die every year from long-term occupational disease and traumatic incidents on the job. These deaths are preventable. Read the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health report, Preventable Deaths 2016. Please click here for more photos from the 2016 rally. Please click here for more photos from the 2016 march. 2016 Pictures 2016 Media Coverage April 25, 2016 Home News Tribune Hundreds Rally for Safe Working Conditions The rally and [...]

By WEC Staff|2017-03-07T00:22:50-05:00March 7th, 2017|Events, Highlights|Comments Off

2016 WEC Annual Membership Meeting
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2016 WEC Annual Membership Meeting

Events, Highlights

2016 WEC Annual Membership Meeting

Monday, December 5 12:30 p.m. NJEA Headquarters 180 West State Street Trenton, NJ Lunch will be served. FREE for WEC members, but please register! Plans for 2017 & Beyond including a panel discussion: Preparing for the Future Addressing Climate Change in New Jersey New Jersey Sea Level Rise Report Marjorie Kaplan, New Jersey Climate Adaptation Alliance Climate Resiliency for Urban Communities Nicole Scott Harris, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance Sandy's Impact on Lives in New Jersey Amanda Devecka-Rinear, New Jersey Organizing Project Building the Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles Pamela Frank, ChargEVC Register Membership

By WEC Staff|2016-11-29T14:14:32-05:00November 22nd, 2016|Events, Highlights|Comments Off

WEC Annual Awards Dinner & 30th Anniversary Celebration
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WEC Annual Awards Dinner & 30th Anniversary Celebration

Events, Highlights

WEC Annual Awards Dinner & 30th Anniversary Celebration

The New Jersey Work Environment Council holds its major fundraiser, an awards dinner, each year. 2016 is our 30th anniversary year and we were grateful to be joined by more than 125 labor, environmental, community leaders and public officials, representing many thousands of New Jersey workers and residents. The event was held on Friday, November 18, 2016 at The College of New Jersey, 2000 Pennington Road, Ewing, in the Education Building, Room 212. Attendees enjoyed hors d'oeuvres, beer, wine, and a buffet dinner, with ample time provided to network and mingle with friends. WEC relies on the generosity of our members to help fund our mission: working for safe, secure jobs and a healthy, sustainable environment. Thank you to everyone that joined us! download the invitation and order form. Buy tickets 2016 HONOREES Colandus "Kelly" Francis is President of the Camden County Branch of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He is currently serving in several volunteer capacities as vice president of the Camden City Taxpayers Association, vice chairman of Parkside Business and Community in Partnership, member of the Camden City Early Childhood Advisory Council, member of Superior Count Sensitivity and Cultural [...]

By Debra Coyle|2016-11-23T10:22:29-05:00August 23rd, 2016|Events, Highlights|Comments Off

2016 Workers’ Memorial Day Rally & March
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2016 Workers’ Memorial Day Rally & March

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2016 Workers’ Memorial Day Rally & March

Workers' Memorial Day is a time to remember those who died on the job or suffered workplace injuries, while raising awareness to prevent future illnesses, injuries and deaths. Pictures from the event Media Coverage April 25, 2016 Home News Tribune Hundreds Rally for Safe Working Conditions The rally and spirited march focused on the demand for respect, including safe work and a living wage. New Labor and the New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC) helped organize the event, which included 35 other organizations as endorsers. April 26, 2015 Erin Pentenko/The Daily Targum New Brunswick Residents March to Remember Workers Injured during Jobs A computer rack fell on one man, crushing his legs under thousands of pounds and killing him. An angry patient attacked and stabbed a caseworker, nearly killing her before the woman's coworkers stepped in. Press Release Hundreds of Workers and Allies Rally and March to Demand Safe Working Conditions On Sunday, April 24th, hundreds of workers from community organizations, unions, and faith-based groups rallied in New Brunswick, NJ to observe Workers' Memorial Day, an internationally recognized event held annually to commemorate those who have been killed or injured on the job and to renew the fight for safe [...]

By WEC Staff|2017-03-06T23:42:15-05:00April 25th, 2015|Events|Comments Off