Highlights

N.J. dodged a bullet in Philly refinery blast. Will we be so lucky next time?

PES explosion on June 21, 2019. Photo credit to NBC Philadelphia. In South Jersey, this year we have a big reason to be grateful. In June, according to a recent report from the U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB), a million residents of South Jersey and Pennsylvania narrowly escaped exposure to hydrofluoric acid, a highly toxic gas, after a preventable series of explosions at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery. When the explosion took place at 4 am, a control system operator immediately hit a switch to move the deadly hydrofluoric acid into a separate drum out of danger. Three other refinery workers fought flames to shut valves supplying fuel to the fire. The reward for these brave workers, all members of United Steelworkers Local 10-1? They lost their jobs, along with over 1,000 others. We’re lucky this disaster did not cause any loss of life. But it’s inexcusable that so many residents were put at risk and so many workers lost their livelihoods due to apparent negligence by company executives — who paid themselves $4.5 million in bonuses just two weeks after the incident. Read the full opinion-editorial piece in the South Jersey Times by Debra Coyle McFadden, WEC Executive Director here. [...]

By |2020-02-24T14:27:34-05:00December 5th, 2019|Highlights, Opinion Pieces|Comments Off on N.J. dodged a bullet in Philly refinery blast. Will we be so lucky next time?

Murphy Establishes “Implementation Board” for Public Banking.

This week, Governor Murphy signed an executive order to create an “implementation board” with the intention of establishing a public bank in New Jersey.  This is an incredible, bold step for the state to take towards economic justice.  Currently, in New Jersey, our tax dollars are kept in private banks. The same private banks responsible for the financial strip mining that has torn our economy apart. These banks then invest our tax dollars in big-money endeavors across the world, rather than New Jersey’s communities. And, of course, they’re always sure skim lots of juicy debt servicing fees off the top. A public bank would give control of our tax dollars back to us. Instead of investing our money wherever the ultra-rich feel they’d like to, our state can invest in affordable college loans, public infrastructure and schools, housing, and non-predatory loans for small businesses.  Congratulations to the New Jersey Education Association and Citizen Action for the work they have put in to make this victory happen. The Work Environment Council is proud to have trained more than 2,000 activists and union rank-and-file members on how Wall Street has strip mined our economy, and on the importance of establishing a public bank [...]

By |2019-11-14T15:36:50-05:00November 14th, 2019|Highlights|Comments Off on Murphy Establishes “Implementation Board” for Public Banking.

PES Refinery Explosion: Deadly Catastrophe Adverted By Quick Action

The US Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released a factual update on the June 21 explosion and fire at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) Refinery in Philadelphia. The update notes that a pipe elbow, which had corroded to about half the thickness of a credit card, appears to have ruptured in the refinery’s alkylation unit, releasing process fluid that included over 5,000 pounds of hydrofluoric acid, or HF. The leaking process fluid formed a large ground-hugging vapor cloud which ignited, causing a massive fire and explosions. Five workers were injured. Thanks to the heroic actions of four employees, Barbara McHugh, Sal Diberardo, Dave Farrell and Sean McElhinney - members of the United Steelworkers (USW) - thisa massive explosion on June 21st at the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES) Refiner in Philadelphia did not turn into a deadly catastrophe. McHugh a control room activated the rapid Acid Deinventory system which dumped HF into a drum away from the fire while Farell, McElhinney and Diberado shut down valves to stop fuel to the fire under firey conditions. All four workers were honored  at a ceremony on September 8 by the Philadelphia Firefighters. "McHugh's actions prevented a much larger and potentially catastrophic release of HF. [...]

By |2020-02-24T14:28:20-05:00October 30th, 2019|Highlights|Comments Off on PES Refinery Explosion: Deadly Catastrophe Adverted By Quick Action

Group Asks: Seven Years After Sandy Are We Ready for the Next Disaster

This week marks the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Sandy. We all remember the fear and anxiety that gripped communities as we faced winds up to 90 miles an hour and sea levels 14 feet higher than normal. The storm claimed  hundreds of lives and cost tens of billions of dollars in New Jersey, New York and up and down the East Coast. Health-related costs in New York and New Jersey alone were more than $3 billion. Is New Jersey ready for the next Sandy?  The oil and chemical industries are important to the New Jersey economy. But we must not lose sight of the health and safety of workers in those industries, or the well-being of residents in surrounding communities. No one knows when the next storm might hit, when flood waters might rise, or when extreme heat might cause a disaster we can’t foresee. That’s why it’s more important than ever that industries that handle hazardous substances operate with full transparency and take steps to prepare for emergencies. Read the full Opinion-Editorial in The Star Ledger from Debra Coyle McFadden, WEC, Executive Director here.

By |2019-10-29T11:40:39-04:00October 29th, 2019|Highlights, Opinion Pieces|Comments Off on Group Asks: Seven Years After Sandy Are We Ready for the Next Disaster

On Sandy Anniversary Labor, Environmental Groups Warn State Officials of Toxic Threat

Seven years after Sandy, are we better prepared for a chemical spill,  fire or explosion if a superstorm hits? TRENTON, NJ—Labor, environmental and community organizations are urging state leaders to plan for toxic chemical spills and other emergencies associated with natural disasters to mark the seventh anniversary of Superstorm Sandy. The worst natural disaster in New Jersey history, Hurricane Sandy wreaked havoc for millions and devastated record numbers of homes, businesses and schools.  Researchers are still evaluating long-term contaminant threats as they examine how Sandy’s deadly conditions spread oil, hazardous materials, and debris across Mid-Atlantic waterways resulting in compromised infrastructure, beach erosion and sediment disturbance on the coasts of New Jersey and New York. Local groups caution if another superstorm like Sandy hits, over 5,000 facilities comprising New Jersey’s multi-billion dollar chemical industry pose a unique threat to the state, which is America’s most densely populated.  Home to two major oil refineries, New Jersey is also a hub for U.S. petroleum distribution.  Thousands of trains carrying millions of gallons of extremely flammable crude oil pass through NJ communities each week traveling 11 counties crossing bridges that, in some cases, are more than 100 years old. According to the New Jersey Work [...]

By |2019-10-28T10:28:14-04:00October 28th, 2019|Highlights, Press Releases|Comments Off on On Sandy Anniversary Labor, Environmental Groups Warn State Officials of Toxic Threat

Seven Years after Hurricane Sandy; Are We Ready for the Next Disaster?

A house in New Jersey destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. This coming October 29th will mark the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Sandy.  We can all remember the fear and anxiety that gripped communities as we faced winds up to 90 miles an hour and sea levels 14 feet higher than normal. The storm claimed  hundreds of lives and cost tens of billions of dollars in New Jersey, New York and up and down the East Coast. Health-related costs in New York and New Jersey alone were more than $3 billion. New Jersey is one of the fastest-warming states in the United States according to a recent analysis in the Washington Post. Temperatures here have increased by a full two degrees Celsius over the past century. That’s more than twice as fast as average in the lower 48 states – and the tipping point at which scientists say the impact of climate change becomes irreversible. Is New Jersey ready for the next Sandy? Our state faces an increased risk of hurricanes and other extreme weather events due to the dynamics of ongoing climate change.  Storms that used to happen once in a century will become commonplace, and we also face [...]

By |2020-02-24T14:28:51-05:00October 21st, 2019|Highlights|Comments Off on Seven Years after Hurricane Sandy; Are We Ready for the Next Disaster?

Murphy Answers Critics, Lays out Plan to Get Lead Out of Schools

As worries over lead in drinking water continue to dominate, Gov. Phil Murphy announced a multi-pronged program Monday to bolster the state’s response to specifically addressing the existence of lead in public schools’ water. The steps announced include: Increasing inspections of school drinking water from the current once every six years to every three years; enhancing enforcement against schools that do not comply with testing protocols; and improving the state’s and the schools’ reporting of water results, including a central database kept by the state. “It’s a whole-of-New-Jersey problem, but it’s one we are here today to strengthen our efforts to overcome,” Murphy said in announcing the steps with Rep. Josh Gottheimer in Bergenfield. Read the full story at NJ Spotlight.

By |2019-10-09T06:09:11-04:00October 9th, 2019|Highlights|Comments Off on Murphy Answers Critics, Lays out Plan to Get Lead Out of Schools

New Jersey Policy Perspective issues new report on EDA as progressive groups announce tax incentive reform agenda

New Jersey advocates, community organizations and workers collectively demanded today that the Legislature pass meaningful reforms to the state’s economic incentives program following the release of a new report that found that New Jersey saw little return on its investments under the failed Economic Opportunity Act of 2013, which expired in June. A broad-based coalition including New Jersey Working Families, New Jersey Citizen Action, New Jersey Policy Perspective, New Jersey Work Environment Council, Workers United and 32BJ SEIU called on Trenton to adopt a series of six evidence-based reforms to its tax incentive program to ensure that future corporate subsidies benefit underserved communities and working families. “Not a dime of tax incentives should be given to any business that cannot, at the very least, guarantee the bodily safety of its employees,” said Brandon Castro of the New Jersey Work Environment Council. “Companies receiving incentives must provide affordable healthcare and assure safe and healthy working conditions. The EDA should also require onsite consultation with the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development for any company in their first year of receiving awards.” Read the full story at InsiderNJ.com.

By |2019-09-27T11:22:15-04:00September 27th, 2019|Highlights|Comments Off on New Jersey Policy Perspective issues new report on EDA as progressive groups announce tax incentive reform agenda

Asw. Pinkin and Asm. Karabinchak Celebrate “National Drive Electric Week” in Edison with Electric Car Show of the Future

Edison, NJ —  Assemblywoman Nancy Pinkin and Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak joined with Environment New Jersey Research & Policy Center and Jersey Renews to take electric car — and the promise of a zero carbon transportation future for New Jersey — for a test drive during National Drive Electric Week. Edison residents tried out cars like the Audi eTron, Chevy Volt, and Tesla Model 3 at Lake Papaianni Park, after local leaders and environmental advocates called for policies that ease the transition to cleaner, greener, electrified vehicle travel in New Jersey. “Electric vehicles are here now, and New Jersey needs to do more to make it easier to plug in,” said Doug O’Malley, director of Environment New Jersey Research & Policy Center. “Electrifying our transportation sector is one of the most critical things we can do to fight air pollution and climate change. By taking steps to improve our EV infrastructure and accelerate the transition to electric transportation, New Jersey can create a roadmap for other states to follow. But we need to provide more resources and funding to communities like Edison to install more EV charging stations around the state.” Climate change is a major threat to New Jersey, with more [...]

By |2019-09-27T11:19:39-04:00September 27th, 2019|Highlights|Comments Off on Asw. Pinkin and Asm. Karabinchak Celebrate “National Drive Electric Week” in Edison with Electric Car Show of the Future

It’s Outrageous that NJ Gives Tax Incentives to Companies that Exploit Workers

The warehouse sector that supports the multibillion dollar e-commerce economy is booming. New Jersey shouldn’t give tax breaks to corporations that exploit the warehouse workers who make it happen. There are major problems with our state’s controversial tax incentive program, administered by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Over the past year, alarming reports of a lack of oversight and a tangled mess of corporate cronyism at the NJEDA have become a symbol for economic and political dysfunction in New Jersey. NJEDA reform must focus on the quality of jobs we incentivize with our limited taxpayer resources – a topic largely missing from the tax incentive debate. Read the full Opinion-Editorial on NJ.com from the Star-Ledger by Alberto Arroyo is the International vice president of Workers United, SEIU. Brandon Castro is the campaign organizer for NJ Work Environment Council.

By |2019-09-19T02:47:34-04:00September 19th, 2019|Highlights, Opinion Pieces|Comments Off on It’s Outrageous that NJ Gives Tax Incentives to Companies that Exploit Workers
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