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General News
June 26, 2008
Vocal Support for Labor Issues & Message of Change Illustrates Strong Contrast with the Anti-Labor McCain / Bush Agenda
Trenton- With over 1 million members, the New Jersey State AFL-CIO today announced its endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for President. The national AFL-CIO also endorsed the Senator earlier in the day.
“If New Jersey’s working families ever needed a change in direction, a change we can believe in, the time is now more than ever,” said New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech. “There is a very clear contrast with the divisive politics of the past, represented by John McCain and George Bush, and the politics of inclusion that embraces social and economic justice for the workers of this state, represented by Senator Obama.”
Senator Obama has earned a 98% AFL-CIO voting record as a U.S. senator, compared to 16% for Senator McCain. More information can be found at www.MeetObama08.com.
Wowkanech continued, “The policy positions offered this year gives voters a very clear choice. Senator Obama has proposed balancing our tax policies to benefit the middle class, whereas McCain will continue the Bush tax cuts for only the wealthiest Americans. Senator Obama supports the Employee Free Choice Act, which will allow workers to freely join a union without employer intimidation and harassment. McCain voted against that bill. Senator Obama has a realistic, affordable health care plan to cover all Americans while McCain’s plan continues the failed polices of the Bush Administration.”
The endorsement of the State Federation follows a unanimous recommendation of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO Executive Board and over 600 delegates who voted in support of the Illinois Senator on June 11, 2008, in Atlantic City at the 27th Annual Constitutional Convention.
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June 25, 2008
On Saturday, May 30th, a scaffold collapse resulted in the death of two North Jersey workers, Stanislaw Bryjak, 55, resident of Elmwood Park, and Henryk Wietecha, 56, of Garfield. A third worker, Creslaw Saniewski, 56, of Passaic was taken to Jersey City Medical Center in serious condition.
Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is looking into the accident, which occurred when the three men were painting a 60-foot tall fuel tank at the International-Matex Tank Terminals. The men were employed by West Virginia Painting & Tank Co., which is based in Clifton. The workers fell from the scaffold after a bolt that connects one of the cables to the suspended structure gave way, causing the vertical platform to drop into a perpendicular position.
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June 21, 2008
Atlantic City - Thousands of casino workers and supporters from New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania – and some from as far away as Maine, Indiana and Michigan -- filled the streets of Atlantic City for more than three hours today.
The spirited demonstration – which included a strong message of support from presidential candidate Barack Obama -- was called to back union members at four of the city’s biggest casinos. Dealers, slot technicians and keno and simulcast employees voted by large majorities to join the UAW starting more than a year ago, but still do not have signed labor agreements.
“You can count on this -- one million union members in New Jersey are going to stand with Atlantic City casino workers until all workers are covered by a union contract,” said New Jersey AFL-CIO President Charlie Wowkanech.
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June 11, 2008
Delegates to the 27th Constitutional Convention Also Announce Congressional Endorsements and Pledge Support for 37 Labor Candidates Seeking Office This November
ATLANTIC CITY - Nearly 700 delegates, representing 1,000 labor unions in New Jersey, convened at the Borgata Hotel to chart the course for New Jersey labor movement over the next four years. Convention delegates voted unanimously to re-elect President Charles Wowkanech, Secretary-Treasurer Laurel Brennan and the entire slate of Vice Presidents.
New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine, U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg, Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development David Socolow, addressed the delegates over the two days of the Convention. Third District Congressional Candidate and State Senator John Adler (D-6) and Seventh District Congressional Candidate and Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-22) pledged their support for working families and received unanimous support from the delegation. The keynote address on Wednesday morning was delivered by AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka, who outlined pathways to achieve passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, nationwide healthcare reform, economic prosperity for all and improving the lives of working families.
This quadrennial Convention included COPE endorsements for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives and rank-and-file union members running for state and local Offices. Click here for a list of candidiates who were endorsed by the New Jersey AFL-CIO earlier today.
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May 27, 2008
The Northeast Regional Summer School for Union Women is pleased to announce its 33rd Annual School: Union Women Taking Back America. The 33rd UALE Northeast Regional Summer School for Union Women is a five-day residential program sponsored by the United Association for Labor Education (UALE), and the Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW). The school brings together union women rank-and-file members, staff and officers to strengthen their knowledge of the American labor movement, understand its present challenges and issues, and develop skills that will prepare them to be more active union members and leaders. This year's school will be hosted by the University of Connecticut, August 3-8 2008, and will be coordinated by Lee Clarke, District Council 37, AFSCME, Mark Sullivan and Ana Ketch, University of Connecticut.
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Legislation News
May 2, 2008
We are proud that New Jersey has become the third state in the nation to pass Paid Family Leave Legislation. This is a much needed and long overdue policy for New Jersey’s working families and we hope that other state’s, and eventually the federal government, will pursue and enact this pro-family policy.
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO would like to thank Governor Corzine who signed the bill into law on May 2, 2008, for his long time advocacy, as well as Senate President Codey and Speaker Roberts for posting this legislation. We also would like to thank all the legislators that voted in favor of this bill, as well as the sponsors. In particular, we would like to thank Senator Steve Sweeney and Assemblyman Nelson Albano for their strong leadership and dedication on this issue.
Finally, the New Jersey State AFL-CIO thanks all affiliated local unions that lobbied in support of Paid Family Leave, as well as the members of the New Jersey Partnership for Working Families Coalition. Together, we have achieved a strong victory for the workers of New Jersey.
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Election News
May 14, 2008
Voters in several New Jersey municipalities went to the polls yesterday to elect members on non-partisan city councils. Working in partnership with the Central Labor Councils, Building Trades Councils, and affiliated unions, 4 out of 5 union members were elected, bringing the total number of rank-and-file union members elected to public office since 1997 to 499.
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is proud of all the rank-and-file union members who seek election to public office through the Labor Candidates Program. Through each union member’s election to public office, the voice of New Jersey’s working families continues to grow stronger. Following is a list of the successful candidates.
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Name
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Union
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Council
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Tana Raymond
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AFT 3997
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Garfield Council
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Edward Conrow
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IAFF S-18
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Vineland Council
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John Moran
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IBEW 351
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Delran Council
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Donna Williams
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OPEIU 153
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Orange Council
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Working together, the voice of working families will continue to be heard at the polls.
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Organizing News
May 15, 2008
Sixty-two workers employed by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office voted to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM). On May 12, 2008, their fist contract was ratified. Even after a successful election, when workers have made their desire for representation clear, employers often still refuse to recognize workers' rights and fail to bargain and reach a fair first contract. The IAM members’ first contract is major victory and will go far toward protecting and improving the work lives of these 62 workers. The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is proud to welcome all of our new brothers and sisters to our union family and thanks all of our affiliates and members, elected officials and community leaders who have supported these workers' in their efforts to win their voice at work. Read the Whole Article
April 28, 2008
The union voice continued to grow stronger this Friday, as workers in the Maintenance Department of the Heldrich Hotel and Conference Center, in New Brunswick, NJ, gained a voice on the job through card-check recognition. By a unanimous vote, the workers, who are employed by Benchmark Hospitality International, formed a union with the Operating Engineers Local 68. We proudly welcome these workers to our labor family!
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April 28, 2008
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is proud to congratulate the graduates of our first, state-wide Organizing Institute (OI), led by AFL-CIO staff and field instructors from New Jersey State AFL-CIO affiliates. The mission of the Organizing Institute is to help build the labor movement primarily through identifying, training and developing organizers from our membership, staff, community, and college campuses across the country. OI participants were given an intensive look at the work of a union organizer over the course of the three day class, held on Friday, April 25 - Sunday, April 27, 2008, at Rutgers University. The training focused on strategic planning, components of a successful campaign, and one-on-one communication skills. Our states' labor movement can expect great things of the recent graduates who are enthusiastic, energetic and armed with skills to help workers fight to form and join unions. We are appreciative of the unions whose organizers taught the class, including CWA Local 1037, Health Professionals and Allied Employees, AFT, Laborers Eastern Regional Organizing Fund, OPEIU Local 153, and the United Auto Workers.
Click Here for the Organzing Institute Photo Gallery.
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