The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is pleased to inform our affiliates of a new AFL-CIO/Union Plus “Dreams of Jobs and Freedom Scholarship” program to help talented high school seniors from families in need – including union families and those in the community – to help pay for the costs of higher education. The program plans to provide $5,000 scholarships to a minimum of 50 students.

Governor Chris Christie has been recognized as one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world for the second time, but the question remains: what impact has the Governor’s influence had?

The injustice being done to our brothers and sisters at Jersey City Medical Center (JCMC) is abhorrent and union busting at its worst. AFSCME, District 1199J, and IUOE 68 combined represent hundreds of professional, administrative, maintenance, service and emergency personnel at JCMC. Despite the unions’ good-faith bargaining, management has responded by launching a campaign of misinformation and intimidation in coordination with the known union busting firm Yessin & Associates.

“Unions are the problem.” These were the words that Governor Christie used in response to a question posed by a teacher at a recent town hall meeting.

In a handful of communities voters went to the polls on Wednesday, April 16, 2013, to elect members of their Board of Education.  School Boards establish local policy, award construction contracts, establish PLA’s and also act on issues related to employee contracts.  These issues are of particular interest to New Jersey’s working families represented by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO.

Urge Gov. Christie to Sign Early Voting Bill into Law

TRENTON – The New Jersey State AFL-CIO was proud to join for a press tele-town hall meeting with civil rights champion Congressman John Lewis, Congressman Rush Holt, New Jersey State Democratic Chairman and Assemblyman John Wisniewski, State Senator Nia Gill, and Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. Chair Charles Hall, Jr. to urge Governor Christie to sign Early Voting legislation (A-3553) into law which would improve our democratic system and increase civic engagement.

H.R. 1120, an outrageous bill which would essentially shut down the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), passed the House of Representatives today by a vote of 219 to 209. All Democrats along with 10 Republicans voted to stop this blatant attack on workers, while the bulk of Republicans voted to weaken legal protection of workers’ rights.

Right-wing extremists in the House and Senate are pursuing a scheme to shut down the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) – the independent agency that protects workers’ rights – and to rig the system even more in favor of their corporate donors.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO was honored to be selected by the National AFL-CIO to share best practices at the Northeast Regional Conference on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, regarding the formation of labor/community partnerships and advancement of our shared goals. This recognition is a testament to the hard-work of Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc., Chair, Charles Hall, Jr. and the coalition Board of Trustees, and further proof of how we in New Jersey continue to serve as a model for the country when it comes to building programs to strengthen our collective voice.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO joined with over 120 labor and community allies to protest and testify during a Civil Service Commission hearing today to oppose a rule proposal that would undermine Civil Service and make it harder to ensure that public employee promotions are based upon merit and not political favoritism.