BLE NJSLB Chairman's Corner

Chairman's Corner

by Ken Michel

NJ AFL-CIO COPE MEETING

DATE:July 7, 2003

ATLANTIC CITY: The New Jersey Chapter of the AFL-CIO held its annual COPE convention on June 17 and 18. The first day was devoted to introductions of new affiliates, which included the New Jersey State Legislative Board for the BLE. We were given the opportunity to speak briefly to the over 500 Labor Delegates in attendance. This provided us the opportunity to let other labor organizations in the state know that the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers is the oldest labor organization in the country celebrating its 140 anniversary.

The list of invited guest speakers included Senate C0-President Richard Codey (D) 27^th Dist., Senator Stephen Sweeney (D) 3^rd Dist., Senator Joseph Coniglio (D) 38^th Dist., AFL-CIO National Secretary Treasurer Richard Trumpka and Senate candidate Fred Madden, former NJ State Police Commander.

The Keynote speaker was Governor James McGreevey. His address covered a number of items not the least of which was new or increased taxes. The list included the fact that the proposed development of the Meadowlands will generate $140 million in taxes for Bergen and Hudson counties; more than $175 million in proposed expenditures to complete the revitalization of Camden; the renovation of 70 schools in 2003 and 159 schools in 2004; the fact that since its inception more than 25 years ago, the Atlantic City Casinos have not experienced a single increase in taxes. And Executive Order #20.

I am not going to get into the back biting or mud slinging going on between the two representative parties here because depending on which side you personally support, either side and both sides can twist the same figures into pretzels for their own engrandizement.

What does need to be said is that of the above-mentioned topics, just the Meadowlands and the school renovation projects will generate more than 60,000 new jobs in the state.

I don’t care what your ideology is, if you are a high minded Republican, or a tree hugging Democrat, the truth is if you live in New Jersey, you are a resident of the most densely populated state in the country. That population regardless of how you personally perceive your position in the work force is predominately “BLUE COLLAR” and like it or not, the needs of the working people are what should be directing your choices come election time.

Before I loose your interest, this is not a piece supporting either position. It is designed to get you to think about the issues, which directly affect you and your working class families.

Presently, New Jersey is the only state in the country, which has any legislation such as Executive Order #20. What is Executive Order #20? It states that no contract producing goods used by the state, will be signed by the state, if the supplier does not pay prevailing wages to its workers and manufacture those products in the U.S.A. No police uniforms no office supplies, etc; will be purchased if the producer of those goods does not recognize the importance of providing adequate wages to the people who work in the factories. Since its inception, the state has collected for workers more than $24.5million in back wages for workers represented by purchase contracts in this state.

Two weeks ago, I sent out letters to you about Federal legislation, namely HR 1119 and how it would affect overtime payments. As a result of a ground swell of response across the nation, the bill was withdrawn before a vote in anticipation of defeat.

There are currently more than 6 additional bills in committee designed to alter the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938. The very act which dictates minimum wages and all of the other benefits workers enjoy as a result of Union Activity. Keep an open mind and read the papers closely in the up coming months before the elections.

You are going to be inundated with political advertisements bashing one candidate or another. Before you take a stand one way or another, become informed about the facts. You will hear that so-and-so voted against a particularly important issue. This may cause you to vote against that candidate. However, that candidate may have opposed the issue as a result of “added baggage” or cost built into the bill which you yourself would have opposed. Don’t let public sentiment sway you.

So much for that. The second day of the COPE convention was designed to reach agreement on whom the AFL-CIO will endorse in the up coming elections. As you know, every seat in the New Jersey Legislature is up for re-election in November. Enclosed is a copy of the endorsements of the NJ AFL-CIO. You will note that of the 120 seats up for election, the AFL-CIO has only made endorsements for 103 positions. 17 seats have no endorsement at this time. You should also note that of the 103 endorsements, 30% are Republicans and 70% are Democrats. While the proportions may not be to your liking, the endorsements represent recognition to those Legislators who have demonstrated an interest in the needs of the working people of New Jersey.

Lastly, there are many who are seeking election to public office on the local level. On the enclosed copy from the AFL-CIO NJ is a list of local candidates out of the labor movement. If you know of others, please advise this office. We have an inherent interest in seeing the advancement of labor issues and support on the local level.

Ken Michel

cc: Raymond Holmes, BLE VP & Nat’l Leg. Rep.

New Jersey GCA’s