From the Executive Director's Desk
Congratulations to Governor-elect Phil Murphy and Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver. I am extremely honored that I was asked to serve on the energy and environment committee for Transition 2018, and look forward to working with many allies, including several WEC Board members, to promote energy and environmental policies that are also good for workers.
Thankfully, we've spent several months developing thoughtful policy recommendations for addressing climate change. Please take a moment to review our first six policy briefs on the Jersey Renews website. We believe that strong actions to counter climate change also offer an opportunity to prepare New Jersey for the future. We can reduce emissions, create clean energy, and put people to work.
We're also gearing up for our annual Member Meeting on Monday, December 11, and we are inviting several speakers to highlight additional opportunities for New Jersey in 2018. More on that soon, please save the date!
In the meantime, I hope to see you at our WEC Awards Dinner
on Thursday, November 30.
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WEC Awards Dinner
It's not too late to purchase tickets to join us next Thursday, November 30 to honor and recognize the WEC Award winners. We have a great group of honorees:
- Ken Hoffner
Health & Safety Director, retired, NJ Laborers
- Hetty Rosenstein
Director, NJ CWA
- Assemblyman Tim Eustace
Chairman, Assembly Environment Committee
- Lizette Delgado-Polanco and John Ballantyne
Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters
- Valorie Caffee
Executive Committee, NJ Environmental Justice Alliance
Plus our two Rising Star Award recipients:
- Eric Jones
President, Plainfield Education Association
- Carimer Andujar
President, UndocuRutgers
Special thanks to our sponsors for the 2017 WEC Awards Dinner: New Jersey Education Association, LiUNA! Eastern Region, Carpenters Local 255, IBT Local 877, United Steelworkers District 4, Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters, AFTNJ, New Jersey League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, Professional Firefighters Association of NJ, CWA Local 1032 and CWA Local 1036.
This is our biggest fundraiser of the year. WEC must count on the generosity of our members to help fund our work. Please join us!
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Asbestos in Schools
The Courier-Post recently ran an opinion-editorial co-authored by Marie Blistan, President, New Jersey Education Association and Dan Fatton, WEC executive director, noting the dangers of asbestos in our schools. As they noted in the piece,
"In 2016, following the passage of the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, the move to re-evaluate asbestos began. Last December, asbestos was named as one of 10 priority chemicals first up for evaluation by the agency.
With a new evaluation comes the hope that a final phase-out might be possible. The EPA should take action to protect students, workers, public health and the environment, and make the United States the 56th nation to enact a complete ban on asbestos."
Click here to read the full piece.
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Public Need Over Corporate Greed Training
Public education is under attack, including at higher education institutions; at Rutgers University, tuition is increasing, our professors and campus workers are paid less, and top administrators seem to be the only ones benefiting.
Join WEC, Rutgers United Students Against Sweatshops, and other partners on Saturday, December 9, 2017 to engage in a discussion on economics, financialization, and how financial institutions rob Rutgers University of vital resources – resources which could be better used to maintain/reduce tuition, invest in educational resources, and increase wages and pay for campus workers and faculty. This event is free, but please register to attend.
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CPR Releases Database:
Crimes Against Workers
The Center for Progressive Reform (CPR) has released a first-of-its-kind database, cataloging state criminal prosecutions against companies and individuals whose actions caused a worker's death or serious injury. The Crimes Against Workers database contains information on 75 incidents in 16 states that have led to criminal charges and provides additional related materials. In addition to its search and research capabilities, the database offers users the opportunity to submit additional, relevant information for consideration.
"This is a unique tool for the public, prosecutors, and others working to prevent tragic workplace injuries and deaths," said Matthew Shudtz, CPR's executive director. "Thousands of workers will die on the job this year, and a vast majority of those deaths are avoidable. The threat of criminal charges sends a strong message to scofflaw employers – your own fate is on the line when you put your workers at risk."
“This database is an important tool and one that WEC will utilize as we look at advancing stronger policies in New Jersey to hold employers accountable when their actions lead to worker fatalities,” said Dan Fatton, WEC executive director.
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Clean Energy Forum Recap
On Tuesday, November 14, Jersey Renews partnered with Action Together New Jersey to host Clean Energy Future: A Forum on Opportunities for New Jersey. This panel was chosen to showcase a variety of perspectives on New Jersey’s opportunity to lead on climate. Click here to see the recording of the event.
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WEC Training Program:
PREVENTING EXPOSURE
TO WORKPLACE CHEMICALS
When: Tuesday, November 28, 2017
Time: 9:00AM – 12:30PM (8:30AM Registration)
Location: NJ Work Environment Council
7 Dunmore Avenue, Ewing, NJ 08618
Join us for an interactive workshop as we discuss:
• Assessing chemical hazards and understanding safety data sheets
• OSHA’s HazCom standard
• Identifying safety system failures
At the conclusion of the training, an OSHA representative will be available for questions and answers.
Space is limited. Register today.
For two years in a row, the Hazard Communication Standard (HazCom) 1910.1200 is the second most cited violation on OSHA’s Top 10 list. The sections within the HazCom standard most often violated include implementation of a HazCom program and training, followed by the requirement to maintain Safety Data Sheets.
Employers have a responsibility under OSHA’s HazCom Standard to educate and train employees about the chemicals they work with and how to protect themselves from any potential hazards. The NJ Work Environment Council training may be able to help.
WEC can provide FREE training to employers and workers on recognizing hazardous conditions, preventing exposure to chemicals, OSHA’s HazCom Standard and how it is now aligned with the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and labeling of chemicals, and the importance of effective hazard communications programs.
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