New Jersey State AFL-CIO Thanks Joe Egan for Two Decades of Leadership
Legislation Providing Job Protection for
Paid Family Leave Beneficiaries Advances
Workers Compensation Reform Legislation Also Released from Committee
For almost two decades, Assemblyman and IBEW Local 456 Business Manager Joe Egan has held the gavel as Chairman of the Assembly Labor Committee. Today was most likely the last meeting of the Labor Committee under his Chairmanship and the New Jersey State AFL-CIO expressed their gratitude at the hearing. Assemblyman Egan will be dearly missed when he retires in early January, 2024. New Jersey is a better state and its workforce is stronger due to his efforts. Thank you Joe!
The Assembly Labor Committee released three pro-labor bills at today’s hearing. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin attended the hearing and expressed his strong support for A-5166 (Quijano / Reynolds-Jackson) which was released 8-1. The New Jersey State AFL-CIO testified in support of the bill which greatly enhances job protection for workers that utilize the paid family leave program. Voting in favor were Assemblymembers Atkins (D-20), Sampson (D-31), Egan (D-17), Verrelli (D-15), Swift (R-2), Catalano (R-10) and Moriarty (D-4). The only member voting against the bill was Parker Space (R-24).
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO will be working to move this bill to the Governor’s desk during the “lame duck” session and respectfully asks the State Senate to advance the bill as well.
Also advancing out of committee were two bills improving the workers’ compensation system.
A-161 (Wirths / Calabrese / Space) improves coverage for volunteer and professional public safety and law enforcement personnel. The bill was released unanimously.
A-5659 (Verrelli) streamlines the bureaucratic maze that often results in workers being unfairly treated by insurance companies and makes adjustments to legal representation for injured workers. The bill was released along party lines with all Democrats supporting and all Republicans opposing.
We thank the Assemblymembers that voted in favor of these bills and the sponsors for their leadership.