Today, residents, community, labor, and environmental leaders gathered at a federal listening session to push the Obama administration to take bold steps to reduce the danger posed to millions of people by high-risk chemical facilities in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. See the Press Release here
An art exhibit on the Statehouse steps exposes the shameful conditions in some New Jersey public schools. The exhibit is titled "A Blind Eye: The Immorality of Inaction," and highlights the shocking result that four years of delayed repairs, renovations and construction have had on our public schools and the students who attend them. View the booklet and photos from the exhibit. See the Press Release here
New Jersey jobs and millions of residents are still at risk from toxic chemical disaster - five years after the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) under former Gov. Jon Corzine adopted rules to implement the NJ Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act that were supposed to drastically reduce that risk. Report: Failure to Act: New Jersey Jobs and Communities are Still at Risk from Toxic Chemical Disasters See the Press Release here
Given last week's two deadly chemical plant explosions in Louisiana, not to mention April's fatal explosion at a fertilizer storage facility in West, Texas, new federal legislation tightening chemical plant safety and security is needed, the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (National COSH) said today. See the Press Release here
WEC Director Rick Engler issued the following statement on learning of the death of U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg: "Frank Lautenberg was a powerful champion in our state and nation whose interest was always to protect the health and safety of workers, people, and the public. See the Press Release here
Labor-environment coalition representatives delivered thousands of petition signatures to Senate President Sweeney's office asking him to post SCR 59, the resolution to repeal the NJ Department of Environmental Protection's waiver rule, for a vote. See the Press Release here
Appellants oppose ruling, anticipate appeal The 28 environmental and labor organizations promised to keep fighting despite the ruling by the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey to uphold the NJ Department of Environmental Protection's Waiver Rule. The groups issued the following joint statement: "We are greatly disappointed by the ruling issued by the Appellate Court today, and believe the rule should be overturned. Despite the Court's ruling and the slow trickle of waiver applications submitted thus far, the rule, once finalized, will open the floodgates to wash away environmental protections and represents an overreach of executive power." See the Press Release here
WEC has issued critical information with links to resources on how workers and residents can avoid illnesses and injuries during hurricane cleanup and recovery activities. We urge you to prominently reprint the fact sheet in your print and online editions. The list was compiled from federal and state government sources. All links were checked for accuracy. WEC Factsheet - Hurricane Recovery: Resources for Protecting Workers & Residents See the Press Release here
Coalition asks Legislature to stop Governor Christie's Pay-to-Play Policies A coalition of labor and environmental organizations held a mock auction of environmental waivers today in front of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to demonstrate how Governor Christie is selling New Jersey's health and environment to benefit big corporations and developers. The coalition is calling on the State Legislature to override the rule through legislative action. DEP will begin accepting applications for regulatory waivers today. "Governor Christie is auctioning off our health and environment to highest bidder," said Denise Patel, Project Coordinator for the NJ Work Environment Council, a labor-environment coalition. "Big corporations and wealthy campaign contributors will benefit, and the rest of us will lose out. The waiver rule creates an unprecedented concentration of power in the executive branch. The DEP Commissioner, a political appointee, will be able to write off our communities with a stroke of a pen in favor of developers and polluters. We are calling on the State Legislature to stand up for New Jersey's workers and communities." Watch the video here View pictures from the event here See the Press Release here