Prevailing wage and project labor agreement bills also advance
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO thanks and commends the New Jersey State Senate for passing S-2476 – Cost of Living Adjustment in Workers Compensation to Dependents of Essential Workers Who Died of COVID-19.
The bill, which passed the Senate by a vote of 38-1 on Monday, June 15, is sponsored by Sens. Troy Singleton, D-7th District, and Dawn Marie Addiego, D-8th District, and brought up for a vote by Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney, D-3rd District. Only Sen. Michael J. Doherty, R-23rd District, voted no.
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO thanks the sponsors and the Senate president for their leadership in supporting this compassionate pro-labor legislation.
The Assembly version of the bill, A-3998, is sponsored by Assemblywoman Carol A. Murphy, D-7th District, and Assemblymen Thomas P. Giblin, D-34th District, and Anthony S. Verrelli, D-15th District. It currently is under review by the Assembly Labor Committee, and we respectfully urge the entire Assembly to enact this critical legislation as soon as possible.
Two other pro-labor bills advanced on June 15, having been favorably released by the Assembly Labor Committee.
A-805, ensuring that a skilled workforce is paid the prevailing wage while employed as contractors at chemical or manufacturing plants, is sponsored by Assemblyman Verrelli. Voting in favor of advancing it were Assembly members Houghtaling, D-11th District; Sumter, D-35th District; Egan, D-17th District; Verrelli; Moriarty, D-4th District; and Mazzeo, D-2nd District. Voting against were Assembly members Scharfenberger, R-13th District; Space, R-24th District; and Catalano, R-10th District.
A-2607, which expands the permissible use of project labor agreements (PLAs) beyond contracts for building-based public works projects, is sponsored by Assemblymen Wayne P. DeAngelo, D-14th District, Joseph V. Egan, D-17th District, and Giblin and Verrelli. Voting in favor were Assembly members Space, Houghtaling, Sumter, Egan, Verrelli, Moriarty and Mazzeo. Assembly members Scharfenberger and Catalano abstained.
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO thanks the Labor Committee for advancing these important measures and respectfully asks the entire Assembly to pass these soon.