Joined By Mayor Cory Booker, Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Furloughed Government Worker from AFGE

This morning, the New Jersey State AFL-CIO joined Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Senate President Stephen Sweeney, and furloughed government workers from AFGE at the State House to call on lawmakers to pass a clean continuing resolution to fund the government and stop the senseless attacks on working families.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO recently testified before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to support the PSE&G Energy Strong Program, a five-year $3.9 billion program that will fund important upgrades to our state’s energy infrastructure and result in a more reliable energy grid during times of crisis.

State Federation Officers to join with Newark Mayor Cory Booker and Senate President Stephen Sweeney for Trenton Press Conference on October 10, 2013

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is a founding partner of the nonpartisan grassroots coalition Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. which is leading a statewide “Raise the Wage” campaign to achieve voter approval of Ballot Question #2 on Election Day November 5th.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO kicked off this morning with a packed fundraiser in support of Senator Barbara Buono at Mastori’s Diner in Bordentown. The room was full of energy and the level of enthusiasm was phenomenal.

The amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to prepare for an election is truly astounding. This year, with two major elections on the way and the all-important minimum wage question on the November 5th ballot, Labor 2013 volunteers and staff have been working around the clock every day to build walk packets for our entire state and develop customized flyers and materials for our local unions and Central Labor Councils.

Congratulations to the Essex-West Hudson CLC for securing one of only twenty $5,000 grants which were available through the national AFL-CIO’s Adopt-a-School Program. These funds will be dedicated to Newark’s Miller Street School to help educate young people on the vital connection between workers’ rights and civil rights. The grant also encourages the labor council to begin an ongoing partnership with the school in order to bring the academic concepts of the labor movement into the classroom.

As a reminder, the deadline to register to vote in the Special U.S. Senate Election is Wednesday, September, 25, 2013. CLICK HERE to download a voter registration form.

On Election Day, just 49 days away, voters will have the power to increase the state minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.25 an hour and include an annual cost of living adjustment by voting “Yes” on Ballot Question #2.

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.