WEC Continues to Provide Paid COVID-19 Training through the Summer

WEC's COVID-19 training educates high-risk workers to identify and report unsafe conditions that could lead to COVID-19 exposure on the job. The training includes new curriculum to increase our understanding of the COVID-19 vaccines, and learn ways to cope with the pandemic. Eligible New Jersey workers will receive a stipend of $15 an hour to attend this two-hour training. We are using a new curriculum, so those who attended a COVID-19 training session in late 2020 can apply for a stipend. (See requirements on registration page.)

Upcoming Trainings
WEC can also provide worksite specific training AND training in Spanish. Contact Cecelia Leto at cgilliganleto@njwec.org or Walter Diaz at wdiaz@njwec.org.

• Wednesday, July 7, 1:00pm - 3:00pm - Violence Prevention Training Join us as we discuss workplace violence prevention strategies, identifying safety system failures in the workplace, and OSHA and NJ state regulations that address workplace violence.  Click here for more information.
• Monday, July 12, 9:30am - 11:00am - Preventing Exposure to Workplace Chemicals 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. Join us as we discuss OSHA's HazCom standard and assessing chemical hazards and understanding safety data sheets. Click here for more information.

Photo Credit: CSB.gov

Take 2: EPA Looks to Strengthen Chemical Safety Rules

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding virtual public listening session as a first step to consider improvements to the Clean Air Act Risk Management Program (RMP). 

Improvements should better address the impacts of climate change on facility safety and protect communities from chemical accidents, including vulnerable and overburdened communities living near RMP facilities.

As you may recall, WEC and our partners in the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters, worked for years on the Obama Chemical Safety Rule, which was quickly rolled back when President Trump took office. This is our second bite at the apple.

TAKE ACTION: Make Your VOICE HEARD

Sign up TODAY to testify at the virtual public hearing on July 8 @ 4pm. You can register here. You will have three minutes to testify. If you are interested, and would like help with talking points, contact Debra Coyle McFadden at dcoyle@njwec.org. You can testify as an individual or on behalf of an organization.

The message is simple – we need stronger chemical rules that will PREVENT chemical disasters.  

For more information, contact Debra Coyle McFadden at dcoyle@njwec.org.

Paterson EA Continues Fight For Safe & Healthy School Conditions

This month 900 of Paterson’s 29,000 students returned to unhealthy school buildings, buildings that Paterson school administration repeatedly maintained were safe for in-person learning. 

The Paterson Education Association (PEA) teachers' union has argued for months that antiquated, poorly maintained, ventilation systems would put students and staff members at even greater risk during the pandemic. Upon their return, staff and students were greeted with dead rodents, cockroaches, filthy water, mold, broken air conditioners, and unsanitary, filthy conditions in addition to those ventilation issues. You can view photos of the conditions here. 

Paterson school buildings are in severe need of modernization and as one of the 31 NJ Schools Development Authority (SDA) districts they are a prime example of why SDA funding must be reauthorized by our state legislature immediately.

And, to learn how the SDA and other state organizations can bond sustainably and democratically, read this piece by Paterson Schools' Nikki Baker and WEC's Brandon Castro. 

Post-Covid safety protocols require upgraded and functioning HVAC systems as well as upgraded electrical systems, something this district sorely lacks.  Mold remediation and major building repairs are also crises issues faced daily. PEA health and safety inspections found that in nearly all of its 56 worksites, some level of disrepair was found. 

Upgrades and proper maintenance are vital for safe working conditions for education staff and  safe learning environments for students. Paterson EA, NJEA, WEC and partners will continue to advocate to ensure that these issues are rectified. You can read NJEA’s recent op-ed here.

San Francisco moving closer to a Public Bank- so why not New Jersey?

This month, San Francisco took another step towards divesting from Wall Street and investing in its people, when their Board of Supervisors approved an ordinance that will establish a business plan for setting up a public bank. 

This comes at a time when New Jersey’s budget process has become undemocratic, our state agencies must borrow from Wall Street to repair our schools in NJ’s most exploited communities, and Wall Street continues to exploit our economy and extract wealth from our most valuable resources. 

Public banking is a way to both democratize New Jersey’s economy and to divest from the Wall Street firms that exploit us. 

Let state leadership know that we want a public bank for the public good! 
Tell us your story about debt in your community, or how a public bank can help you! Send us a 30 second video or your story in writing to publicneed@njwec.org!