From the Acting Executive Director's Desk
I'm please to welcome Heather Sorge to the WEC staff. Heather is the campaign organizer for the Healthy Schools Now coalition. Prior to joining WEC, Heather worked as a paraprofessional in the Holland Township School district for more than ten years, as well as an Organizational Development consultant with NJEA. Read more about Heather in the story below.
I am also pleased to tell you that WEC has received a Susan Harwood training grant to train workers and employers on preventing workplace violence. By the number, in 2016 417 worker deaths were caused by workplace violence and 26,540 workers had lost-time injury cases. Of that, 65% were women. There's more information about our training initiative, including an upcoming public program in the story below.
Finally, if you haven't done so already, please consider supporting WEC's Annual Awards Dinner on Friday, November 30, 6pm at The College of New Jersey. This is our biggest fundraiser of the year and we count on the generosity of our members to help fund our work.
In Unity,
Debra Coyle McFadden
PS Hurry! The deadline to place an ad for the Awards Dinner is November 2.
PSS And the early bird ticket discount ends October 30.
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2018 WEC Awards Dinner: November 30
Please join us on Friday, November 30, 6pm for the WEC Annual Awards Dinner to be held at the College of New Jersey. This year we honor:
- Rev. Dr. Charles F. Boyer, Pastor, Bethel AME Church in Woodbury and Founder, Salvation and Social Justice
- Dan Fatton, NJ State Director, The Energy Foundation and former WEC Executive Director
- Bernie Gerard, Jr., Vice President, Health Professionals and Allied Employees, AFT/AFL-CIO
- Analilia Mejia, Executive Director, NJ Working Families Alliance
- Rising Star Award: Justis Brown, Paterson student and activist
Please join us in celebrating the achievements of our honorees by either sponsoring the event, placing an ad in the journal (print and online) and/or purchasing tickets. More detail here.
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OP-ED: What Offshore Wind Could Do for the Economy and Jobs in New Jersey
The Offshore Wind industry could be a real pathway to revitalizing the American Dream by creating stability and the promise of upward mobility with in a dynamic and growing industry. Offshore-wind projects call for a diverse, well-trained workforce, relying heavily on advanced manufacturing and skilled labor for construction, installation, operations, and maintenance.
In fact, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, which creates public/private partnerships for financing similarly touted the promise of offshore wind at the "Time for Turbine" event. With its location at the center of the East Coast wind belt, access to major ports, a skilled workforce, and fully committed stakeholders, New Jersey is strategically positioned to be an economic leader in the region's adoption of offshore wind.
Read the full opinion-editorial on NJ Spotlight by John Shinn, Director, United Steelworkers District 4 and Debra Coyle McFadden, Acting Director, WEC.
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Preventing Workplace Violence
Workplace Violence can strike anywhere; no workplace or worker is immune. Nearly 2 million American workers report having been victims of workplace violence each year. Unfortunately, many more cases go unreported.
WEC can provide FREE onsite training to employers and workers on recognizing hazardous conditions that lead to workplace violence, improving workplace prevention programs, and effective workplace violence committees.
Violence Prevention Public Program, Monday, November 19, 2018 from 9 am - 1 pm in Ewing, NJ. For information or to register: Violence Prevention Public Program.
Have questions? Want to schedule a training? Please contact: Cecelia Leto at (609) 882-6100 ext. 308 or via email at cgilliganleto@njwec.org.
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New Jersey + Public Bank
Since 2016, Public Need over Corporate Greed has worked to train more than 1,000 activists and workers in economics and financialization, building a common understanding among ordinary people around who exactly is responsible for our country’s economic and political turmoil, and what we can do to fight back.
We believe that the time has come to make bolder, more progressive demands for economic prosperity. To that end we’re asking you to sign a petition and support the demand for a public bank in New Jersey.
Historically, when our state collects revenue, it has stored that revenue in Wall Street banks, which have little to no interest in investing in our communities or the social good. Instead, the same crooks who have robbed our economy blind use our tax dollars to make risky investments while collecting enormous fees for themselves.
A public bank puts a stop to this vicious cycle by storing state dollars and investing them here. This puts New Jersey dollars to use inside of New Jersey, for the benefit of New Jersey. Help us demonstrate support for this exciting idea, which helps restore control of New Jersey’s economy to its people.
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Welcome Heather Sorge
We'd like to welcome Heather Sorge who just joined the WEC staff. Heather is our campaign organizer for the Healthy Schools Now coalition.
Prior to joining WEC, Heather worked as a paraprofessional in the Holland Township School district for over ten years, as well as an Organizational Development Consultant with the New Jersey Education Association. Sorge has been a strong advocate for New Jersey’s public schools specializing in anti-privatization efforts and campaign promotions. She was an active member of the Holland Township Education Association, Hunterdon County Education Association, and the New Jersey Education Association, serving as her local Legislative Action Team chair, Association Representative, and Grievance Team member in her district.
She has presented at national and regional conferences, facilitating workshops supporting NJEA members professional development. Heather served as a regional lead in the NJEA Summer Fellows programs and is a proud graduate of the NJEA Apprentice Program. She is also an active member of the Holland Township Agriculture Committee. Sorge graduated from Churchman Business School with a degree in Accounting Finance. Welcome aboard, Heather!
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