New Jersey Refinery Concerns Echo Safety Issues in Texas
The Work Environment Council, and the local Teamsters union said they intend to sue the city of Linden because it will not disclose its emergency response plan. The public's right to information about chemical hazards and the plans that address them, mandated by Congress in 1986, has since been undermined by sweeping anti-terrorism laws enacted by states across the nation. See the article in the Houston Chronicle here.
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 [...]
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. [...]
Healthy Schools Now Coalition Meeting
On September 20, more than 25 representatives from diverse labor, educational and community organizations assembled at NJEA headquarters in Trenton, NJ for the inaugural Healthy Schools Now coalition meeting of the 2016-17 academic year. Coalition meeting participants enjoyed a presentation on Governor Christie’s proposed school funding formula from Education Law Center’s managing director Theresa Luhm, and a presentation on rethinking educational environments from NJ Environmental Justice Alliance’s campaign organizer Nicole Scott-Harris. Both presentations are available online here. Healthy Schools Now coalition members had a robust conversation on the next steps in the fight for healthy and school schools for all [...]
@Issue: State of the Union on Labor Day 2016
Do yourself a favor and skip halfway down this article, right past the nonsense from Americans for Prosperity, to read the responses to some questions on the state of unions from our executive director, Dan Fatton, in honor of Labor Day.
With DNC nearby, Officials talk Camden Investment
As Democrats from across the country gather in Philadelphia this week for the Democratic National Convention, U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-Cherry Hill) spent the better half of Monday morning across the Delaware River in Camden at an event highlighting the city's recent infrastructure investments. See the Article here