Realizing that the Friedrichs case is no more than a special interest attack on all workers’ rights, Building Trades leaders called for solidarity in the face of the latest threat to our livelihoods.

Deep Foods, Inc., the leading Indian food manufacturer in the U.S. based in Union, NJ, has taken a page out of the union buster’s playbook, launching a shameful campaign of intimidation and deception against its workers seeking to join RWDSU Local 262.

While most of Deep Foods’ 239 employees, including 49 warehouse workers, expressed an interest in forming a union, the company has resolved to fight the organizing drive every step of the way. Management is using stall tactics, spreading misinformation, and unjustly fired two employees for supporting the union. Not surprisingly, the company’s unscrupulous behavior is devastating to those workers who simply want to exercise their right to a voice on the job.

New Jersey State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Laurel Brennan made a strong case that “a union contract is the greatest pay equalizer” during an event announcing new state legislation to help close the gender wage gap for women.

Laurel was among the invited speakers at the event hosted by Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Democratic Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg. It was held to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which was signed by President Obama to give women who were paid unfairly more time to seek a remedy.

New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech issued the following statement on the State Investment Council’s 2015 Annual Report:

“It’s outrageous that hundreds of millions of dollars in pension funds fly out the door each year and into the hands of wealthy outside money managers. New Jersey’s retired public workers receive a $26,000 per year pension on average, so the only people getting rich off our pension system are the fund managers reaping obscene fees and bonuses,” says Wowkanech.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO congratulates RWDSU Local 108 on a sweeping organizing victory in the City of Newark where 30 drivers employed by Gateway voted unanimously to have Local 108 as their union representative.

Christie Tells It Like He Wants It to Be.

Gov. Christie didn’t let facts get in the way during this month’s State-of-the-State speech. While he devoted 11-and-a-half minutes to union bashing, we deconstruct the lies and “Tell It Like It Really Is” in just over a minute. Please watch, then share:

Dr. Martin Luther King gave his life for civil rights and social justice. He dreamed of a society in which men and women are judged by their actions, treated equally and with respect, and given an opportunity to attain the American Dream.

Dr. King was a champion of workers’ rights. The final civil disobedience campaign of his life was waged in solidarity with sanitation workers in Memphis, Tenn., who asked for his help during a long strike for job safety, better wages and benefits and recognition of their union.

Despite the governor’s sound bites, bullying and rhetoric, the fact remains that New Jersey is in far worse shape today than when he was sworn in six years ago. While the governor wags a finger of blame at unions, the reality is that he is responsible for this mess. His failed policies mean that families are working harder and bringing home less than at any time in recent history. The only ones moving up the economic ladder are those already on the top rungs. Why would anyone vote for a failed state official to run the whole country?

Gov. Christie paused his floundering presidential campaign to deliver his annual State of the State address on Tuesday, January 12, 2016. He’s been out of state so much – all or part of 261 days last year – campaigning in New Hampshire and Iowa that it’s hard to imagine that our governor knows, or cares, how the working families back home are really doing: