Fiercely opposed by a phalanx of public school advocates, even Gov. Chris Christie’s allies are decidedly tepid about his self-proclaimed “Fairness Formula,” his last-ditch attempt to finish his two terms with a bang, capping his relentless efforts to privatize, expand charters and defund New Jersey’s urban school districts. Although the likelihood of it passing is [...]
"With our state in the throes of knock down, drag out fights surrounding competing and different educational funding philosophies, one area of near certain agreement is that all students deserve a safe and healthy learning environment. Passing temperature control legislation and working with school districts to create common sense plans for addressing this increasingly common [...]
With the average age of New Jersey's public schools at more than 50 years old and with many schools dating back to the turn of the 20th century, we are concerned that custodian privatization will have negative ramifications for the quality of our school facilities. "Investing in schools means investing in the personnel that keep [...]
Right in the shadow of the New Jersey Statehouse, the workers were dry cutting the sidewalk concrete, unwittingly putting themselves and the public in danger. Silica exposure impacts thousands of workers; in New Jersey more than 150,000 work in construction, but those who work with glass, pottery, jewelry and even dentistry might be impacted. Full [...]
EPA should seize the opportunity to act to protect public safety and the environment from toxic chemical disasters. But will it apply the lessons learned in New Jersey? This spring, EPA proposed amending its Risk Management Program (RMP) rule that covers facilities using extraordinarily hazardous substances. The proposed rule exempts 88 percent of the total [...]
Every day 12 people leave but don't come back to their loved ones. Yet, often these personal disasters and tragedies could have been avoided if safety on the job actually was the priority. See the Opinion Piece here
A train derailed and sickened many residents of Paulsboro, exposing residents and emergency responders to a cloud of vinyl chloride, a known carcinogen. It was a terrible illustration of the need for more effective emergency response planning and training. Full Article by Dominick Marino, President, Professional Firefighters Association of NJ & WEC Board Member and [...]
The New Jersey Supreme Court overturned a lower court decision and held that an employee who engages in whistleblowing is protected by the NJ Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), even when the whitsleblowing is part of the employee's regular job duties. Full Article by Andrew Dwyer, an attorney in Newark at The Dwyer Law Firm [...]
Should corporate secrecy come before protection of human lives? That question was raised dramatically by four events recently involving railroad safety, including the deadly Amtrak crash in Philadelphia. Full Article by Dominick Marino, President, Professional Firefighters Association of NJ & WEC Board Member and Debra Coyle McFadden, WEC staff July 5, 2015 - Courier-Post
Under the federal law, the Christie administration must ensure that every county and municipality has an up-to-date emergency response plan that is accessible to the public. Full Article by Jeffrey Moran, Retired Woodbridge Fire Captain and Janice Selinger, WEC Staff April 7, 2015 - Star Ledger