Raising the Wage Critical to Women’s fight for Social Justice and Economic Opportunity

TRENTON – Dozens of women leaders from labor and community groups joined with state, county, and local elected officials at the State House today to support raising New Jersey’s minimum wage and to commemorate Women’s Equality Day – the day the 19th Amendment was certified, granting women the right to vote. Speakers explained how approving the minimum wage ballot question would advance the fight for women’s equality in New Jersey and help to close the opportunity gap for thousands of women in the state who struggle to make ends meet in minimum wage jobs. Out of all minimum wage workers in New Jersey, approximately 60% of them are women.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO congratulates our union brother and President of the Retail Wholesale & Department Store Union (RWDSU) Stuart Appelbaum on his election as a member of the DNC Executive Committee from the Eastern Region. President Appelbaum’s election to this prestigious position is a win for all working families who will be able to count on him to bring key labor issues to the forefront of our national Democratic Party.

Announces Endorsement of Joseph Lagana for Assembly in District 38

TRENTON – The New Jersey State AFL-CIO Executive Board voted unanimously today to endorse Newark Mayor Cory Booker for U.S. Senate and Paramus Council President Joseph Lagana for Assembly in District 38.

Over the weekend, 28 rank-and-file union members representing 23 local unions from across all sectors of the labor movement gathered for a two-day immersion course where they learned the nuts and bolts of building, coordinating, and winning an election campaign. Students are running for offices from the local to state level and received expert instruction in subjects such as volunteer recruitment, fundraising, campaign planning, campaign research, public speaking, targeting, voter contact, get-out-the-vote, resource management, message development, and media relations, and digital strategies.

Congratulations to the RNs and LPNs of JNESO District Council 1, IUOE / AFL-CIO, on the ratification of a first contract with Bishop McCarthy Residence in Vineland. Over 40 Registered Nurses and Licensed Practical Nurses voted overwhelmingly to ratify the three-year agreement bargained by JNESO District Council 1.

For the first time in more than a decade, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is now fully staffed with five members and the Board can once again function to protect workers’ rights and enforce our nation’s labor laws. The U.S. Senate’s confirmation of the President’s nominees, Nancy Schiffer and Kent Hirozawa, ends several months of obstruction by the right wing to stop the Board from functioning and marks a major win for working families.

With 8.7% unemployment and a net property tax spike of nearly 20% during Christie’s first three years in office, New Jerseyans need to take a close hard look at which candidates in the upcoming election represent their values and are going to fight on behalf of all working families.

By Charles Wowkanech

Gov. Christie likes to claim he hasn't raised taxes. But the burden on New Jersey's working families has gone up during his time in office. What gives?

While the U.S. Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill on June 27, 2013, with bipartisan support, the effort to create a roadmap to citizenship has come to a screeching halt in the Republican controlled House, and further action is not expected until after the August Congressional recess.

The Right Wing’s refusal to confirm nominees to the NLRB National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) means that there is no functioning body to uphold U.S. Labor laws. Under these conditions, employers can willfully violate labor laws without any consequence. This has been the case for the last year and a half, and business groups could not be any happier.