Legislative Affairs
Governor Murphy Signs ‘Panic Button’ Bill to Protect Hotel Workers from Assaults, Harassment
Posted OnJune 11, 2019 byNew Jersey Passes First Statewide Law Mandating Panic Devices for Hotel Workers
Hundreds of hotel workers, union leaders and elected officials gathered at Harrah’s Resort in Atlantic City today to witness the signing of a bill requiring hotels to equip certain employees with “panic buttons” for their protection against inappropriate conduct by guests.Read More
Senate Passes Panic Button Bill
Posted OnMay 30, 2019 byThe New Jersey State AFL-CIO and Unite Here Local 54 President Bob McDevitt led a delegation of casino and hotel workers today in Trenton to lobby on behalf of S-2986/A-4439—a bill requiring hotels to provide panic buttons to employees for protection from unsafe working conditions, violence, and sexual assault while performing housekeeping duties. We are proud to report that the bill passed unanimously by a vote of 37-0.Read More
Congressman Norcross Signs Protect the Right to Organize Act
Posted OnMay 28, 2019 byEight U.S. Representatives in New Jersey Co-Sponsor Bill to Protect and Strengthen the Collective Power of Workers
Rep. Donald Norcross, a New Jersey State AFL-CIO Labor Candidate, is leading the charge on yet another pro-worker bill. The new bill, the Protect the Right to Organize (PRO) Act of 2019, would modernize the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) and strengthen the collective power of workers to negotiate for better pay and working conditions.Read More
Today in the State House
Posted OnMay 23, 2019 byState Assembly Approves Bills Concerning Prevailing Wages, Health Insurance for Locked Out Workers, Safety Protections for Hotel Employees and Subcontracting of Education Services
The State Assembly today advanced several bills supported by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. We thank Speaker Coughlin for advancing these measures and all sponsors for their leadership. We also thank the members of the Assembly who voted in favor and all the affiliated unions that lobbied in support of these legislative priorities.Read More
Congressman Norcross Pushes for Bipartisan Infrastructure Investments
Posted OnMay 16, 2019 byAs part of Infrastructure Week 2019, Congressman Donald Norcross, Co-Chair of the Congressional Building Trades Caucus, joined building trade leaders at a press conference on Capitol Hill to discuss the need for infrastructure investments.Read More
TODAY IN TRENTON: Senate and Assembly Vote in Favor of Pro-Worker Legislation Concerning Prevailing Wage and Wage Theft
Posted OnMarch 25, 2019 byTwo pro-labor bills supported by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, one concerning the prevailing wage and another seeking to combat wage theft by employers, were favorably voted out of the State Assembly and Senate today. We would like to thank the sponsors of these bills and the State Senate and Assembly members who voted in favor.Read More
New Jersey State AFL-CIO Calls for Support of Pro-Labor Legislation Concerning Prevailing Wages, ‘Wage Theft’ and the Installation of Fire Suppression Systems
Posted OnMarch 22, 2019 byThe New Jersey State AFL-CIO urges members of the NJ State Assembly to support three bills that will be voted on this Monday, March 25, 2019.Read More
Congressman Norcross Ahead of First Minimum Wage Vote in Over a Decade
Posted OnMarch 7, 2019 byBill to Raise the Federal Minimum Wage to $15 Heads to U.S. House Floor
On Wednesday, March 6, the House Committee on Education and Labor advanced a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2024. It cleared the panel in a 28-20 party-line vote.Read More
NJ Labor Movement Celebrates Earned Sick Leave
Posted OnFebruary 26, 2019 byStarting TODAY, Workers Can Use Their Accrued Sick Days
As of today, February 26, 2019, workers who started receiving paid sick leave when the law took effect last October can begin taking advantage of their accrued sick days.
We Did It AGAIN!
Posted OnFebruary 19, 2019 byOrganized Labor Celebrates Gov. Murphy’s Signing of Paid Family Leave Reform Law
Today, Governor Murphy signed into law Paid Family Leave Reform legislation (S-2528: Sweeney/Diegnan/Ruiz & A-3975: Quijano/Giblin/Downey). The bill extends the paid leave period from six weeks to 12 weeks, increases the benefit amount from two-thirds of a claimant’s average weekly wage to 70 percent of that wage with a higher maximum threshold, and expands job protection to businesses with 30 employees or more.Read More