WEC Seeks Industrial Hygiene Consultant
WEC seeks an industrial hygiene (IH) consultant to provide technical assistance on an as needed basis to WEC members. Details here.
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 [...]
We’re part of an emerging voice America should listen to: Young people
Rodents in the cafeteria. Crumbling ceilings. Mold growing in the classroom. Extreme temperatures in excess of 90 degrees. Toxic air quality from poor indoor air ventilation. Concerns about asbestos, lead and other toxins in the walls and pipes. Unfortunately, these are common problems right here in our New Jersey schools. The Healthy Schools Now coalition is committed to addressing these conditions and ensuring healthy school environments for all students. We believe that access to a healthy and safe school environment is essential for receiving a thorough and efficient education. We have fought to make that vision a reality by organizing and advocating for policy changes, demanding improvements for school facilities and issuing recommendations about school facility policies, including advocating for increased bonding for the New Jersey Schools Development Authority. Recently, new voices have caused us to think about broadening our mission. Students expressed fear that what happened in Texas, Florida, and other schools around the country, could happen in their schools. They talked about how easy it was to get into a school. They highlighted how simple it would be to bring a gun into a classroom. Read the full opinion-editorial on NJ.com from the Star-Ledger by Jerell Blakeley, WEC [...]
Job Announcement
New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC) Executive Director Job Announcement and Description Review of applications will begin immediately and end when a candidate is selected. The New Jersey Work Environment Council (WEC) is seeking an Executive Director. This is an exciting and unusual opportunity for someone with the skills, experience, and commitment needed to help build a powerful movement for social change that unites labor, environmental, and community constituencies. Founded in 1986, WEC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit alliance of 70 New Jersey labor, community, and environmental organizations working together for safe, secure jobs and a healthy, sustainable environment. Through organizing, coalition-building, public policy campaigns, education, training, and technical assistance, WEC promotes dialogue, collaboration, and joint action by workers, community members, and environmentalists. While its programmatic efforts are focused in New Jersey, as the first state-based blue-green alliance, WEC has long served as a national model for labor-environmental collaboration. WEC’s public voice is well-informed, creative, and bold. We take on powerful corporate and political interests to serve our mission. Full Job Announcement
Webinar: Introduction to OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standard
For the last two years, the Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) 1910.1200 is the second most cited standard on OSHA’s Top 10 list of violations. The sections within the HazCom standard most often violated include implementation of a HazCom program and training, followed by the requirement to maintain Safety Data Sheets. In 2012, the HazCom standard was updated to align with the international Globally Harmonized System of Classification and labeling of chemicals. Major updates included hazard clarification, labels and safety data sheets. Employers have a responsibility under OSHA’s HazCom Standard to educate and train employees about the chemicals they work with and how to protect themselves from any potential hazards. Please join the NJ Work Environment Council (WEC) on January 30, 12 pm for a webinar on the Introduction on OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard. Please register here. WEC can also provide FREE training to employers and workers on recognizing hazardous conditions, preventing exposure to chemicals, OSHA’s HazCom Standard and how it is now aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and labeling of chemicals, and the importance of effective hazard communications programs. This material was produced under grant SH-31183-SH7 from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, U.S. Department of Labor. [...]
HPAE Runaway Inequality Trainings
Working people can't seem to get ahead. As we watch the news, organize and engage around issues in our communities, it becomes more apparent that we are operating in a rigged economy, which works for a privileged few. Unfortunately, Wall Street's power and influence thwarts progress on our most basic needs, on issues like public health, environmental protection, workers' rights, and civil rights. Join Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE), Public Need over Corporate Greed, and the NJ Work Environment Council to learn about the horrific reality of runaway inequality and how it’s gotten so bad. Engage in a discussion on state based policies that can help us fight back against Wall Street’s influence on our politics and create an economy that values people over profit! Parking will be available at venue. Lunch will be served. Two sessions are being offered, free to attend, but please register! Wednesday, November 15 10am-4pm Labor Education Center 50 Labor Center Way New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Register Saturday, November 18 10am-4pm Labor Education Center 50 Labor Center Way New Brunswick, NJ 08901 Register Download a Flyer
2017 Honorees
WEC is pleased and honored to recognize eight outstanding leaders at our 2017 Awards Dinner. Valorie Caffee, Executive Committee, NJ Environmental Justice Alliance Valorie Caffee worked as WEC’s director of organizing for 13 years, ending her service with the organization in 2009. While employed by WEC, she launched WEC’s Environmental Justice program. Along with WEC colleague Theodore Carrington, she helped 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 co-founding of the NJ Environmental Justice Alliance, NJEJA. She was also appointed as co-chair of Gov-elect Corzine’s Environmental Policy Transition Team. During her tenure with WEC, significant strides were made for environmental justice, including the issuance of New Jersey’s first environmental justice executive order, passage of legislation to reduce the emission of diesel exhaust from school buses and other public buses to decrease the incidence of asthma and other pollution-related ailments; support by WEC for local EJ [...]
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 [...]
2016 WEC Awards Dinner Honoree Bios
WEC is pleased and honored to recognize five outstanding leaders at our 2016 Awards Dinner, which will also serve as our 30th Anniversary Celebration. Colandus “Kelly” Francis, President, Camden County Branch of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Colandus "Kelly" Francis is President of the Camden County Branch of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Kelly was born in Enfield, North Carolina, and lived in Newport News, Virginia until his family moved to Camden, NJ in 1949. He continues to reside in the Parkside areas where his family members have lived for the past 45 years. Kelly is a graduate of Hatch Jr. High and Camden High schools and attended Salem County Community College, Pennsylvania State University and Rutgers University. He worked for 34 years for the U.S. Postal Service and retired as an electronic technician in the field of automation and computer technology in 1989. While with the postal service, he served as a union officer for the American Postal Workers Union, holding various offices including general president. He is currently serving in several volunteer capacities as president of the Camden County NAACP, vice president [...]