Today, the Star-Ledger – New Jersey’s largest newspaper – published an editorial in support of an earned sick leave law in New Jersey. Such a policy would require that employers allow their workers to earn a limited number of paid sick days to use in case they or their children get sick.

Dozens of volunteers from community organizations trained over this weekend to prepare for what will be the most comprehensive public empowerment/citizenship campaign in our state’s history. (CLICK HERE for pictures.) This initiative, called “One Pathway, Many Voices, Stronger Communities,” will assist thousands of immigrants in New Jersey, who meet the eligibility standards, walk through the process to apply for U.S. citizenship and explain how they can register to vote and exercise this most quintessential right of becoming an American citizen. In addition, the campaign will provide assistance with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) application as well as legal guidance on wage and hour issues, public notary, and other educational services all at no cost.

Last night, the Middlesex/Somerset Central Labor Council, hosted the first of many labor/community grassroots meetings, bringing together local leaders and activists from the labor movement and progressive community groups. This event provided an initial opportunity for like-minded progressive organizations to meet with one another and discuss how we can advance our shared policy goals together. Participants were also fortunate to have the opportunity to speak with the many local elected officials in attendance, who we are counting on to carry the message of working families to the State Legislature and their respective governing bodies.

TRENTON – Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. (WFUNJ) was honored by the New Jersey State Senate today with a ceremonial resolution, commending the coalition for leading a statewide grassroots education campaign to raise the minimum wage in New Jersey from $7.25 to $8.25 per hour plus an annual cost of living adjustment.

Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. is dedicated to uplifting our state’s working families by standing up for decent jobs which provide a middle class standard of living and strengthen our communities. That is why WFUNJ Executive Director Edward Correa testified at today’s NJ Turnpike Commissioners meeting to oppose privatization of hundreds of jobs on the NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. We were proud to stand up for good jobs alongside Senate President Stephen Sweeney, Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, our labor and community partners, the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, and IFPTE, the union which represents workers on the Turnpike and Parkway.

Invited Speakers Include: Senate President Steve Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, Senator Loretta Weinberg, and Assemblywoman Pam Lampitt

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Lafayette Yard Hotel
1 W. Lafayette Street, Trenton, NJ 08608

“One Pathway, Many Voices, Stronger Communities” Grassroots Initiative

On behalf of Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. (WFUNJ), we would like to personally invite you to volunteer for our new grassroots initiative: “One Pathway, Many Voices, Stronger Communities.” Thisinitiative is part of a national campaign between the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) and the national AFL-CIO that seeks to empower 390,000 Legal Permanent Residents eligible to become U.S. citizens today in New Jersey, register thousands of voters, and educate our communities on their voting and labor rights.

I am thrilled to share the news with you that on Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. will be presented with a ceremonial resolution from the New Jersey State Senate honoring our coalition’s efforts to spearhead the historic statewide “Raise the Wage” campaign and for developing a lasting statewide grassroots/community engagement structure that will continue to educate and mobilize New Jersey’s working families around the issues which impact them.

Join for the
“One Pathway, Many Voices,
Stronger Communities”
Campaign Kickoff

The Initiative Includes Citizenship Drive, DACA Renewal,
Voter Registration and Voter Education Services for Aspiring Americans

Saturday, April 26, 2014
11:00 a.m.

LIUNA Local 472
700 Raymond Boulevard
Newark, NJ 07105

Hudson County Becomes First in the State to Attach a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) to its “Living Wage” Law

JERSEY CITY, NJ – Hudson County became the first county in the state and perhaps the nation to attach a cost of living adjustment to its “living wage” following the Freeholder Board’s unanimous approval of  a measure championed by County Executive DeGise and Freeholder O’Dea. As a result of this policy, the “living wage” base rate will rise by 25 cents from $10.88 to $11.13 per hour or $520 for the year for a full-time worker.