We are proud to announce that Terry O’Neill, the National Organization for Women (NOW) President, will also be joining us during the October 3rd “Raise the Wage” campaign fundraiser along with Newark Mayor Cory Booker. President O’Neill is a champion of women’s rights and social justice as well as a major proponent of uniting the efforts of the labor movement with its community partners having served on the national AFL-CIO’s “Community Partnership and Grassroots Power Committee”. The minimum wage is one of the many policy issues that exemplify the importance of labor and community allies working together.

This past January, Governor Christie decided to conditionally veto a minimum wage bill which would have increased our state’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.50 an hour with an annual cost of living adjustment. In doing so, he turned his back on workers who are struggling to keep their heads above water, and he squandered a great opportunity to boost our state economy through increased consumer spending.

Yesterday evening, delegates to the 2013 AFL-CIO Convention elected the three top officers of the national AFL-CIO. The leadership team includes President Richard Trumka, Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler, and newly elected Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO proudly congratulates Harold Daggett, President of the International Longshoremen’s Association, who was unaniomusly elected to serve on the national AFL-CIO Executive Council during the third day of the AFL-CIO 2013 Convention.

The union movement has long understood that the building of diverse progressive coalitions is critical to virtually every aspect of labor’s mission whether it is workplace organizing, issue advocacy or the overall fight for social and economic justice.

As we head into Labor Day, we would like your help promoting the ‘Raise the Wage’ campaign. Please promote the campaign on your local union website. Just follow these two easy steps:

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is proud to renew its support for the United Way in 2013 and looks forward to continuing to promote services which strengthen families and the community in New Jersey.

Today, the state released a statement which certified the minimum wage increase as Ballot Question #2. This question will appear on the November 5, 2013 ballot and will give New Jersey voters the power to amend the State Constitution to raise the minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.25 per hour and require an annual cost of living adjustment.