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WEC@WORK
2009 Year in Review
Despite the worst economy since the Great Depression,
a huge state budget deficit, and adamant corporate and bureaucratic opposition, WEC advanced worker and environmental protection during 2009.
This review highlights some of our 2009 accomplishments for safe, secure jobs and a healthy, sustainable environment, all made possible with your support.
Advancing National Policies
* Victories in WEC's Safety and Security First! campaign in New Jersey laid the groundwork to advance national chemical security policy, giving workers a greater voice to address health, safety and security issues. WEC helped win passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of The Chemical and Water Security Act of 2009. More
* In addition, WEC coordinated 106 labor, environmental, and health organizations to sign on to a letter to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson urging her to adopt EPA inspection policies to engage workers and their unions during inspections. More
* WEC also lobbied Congress for the Employee Free Choice Act, a top priority for the labor movement. More
Preventing Toxic Disasters
* WEC advocacy helped win improved NJ Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulations for industrial facilities to implement the NJ Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act, enacted 25 years ago after the Bhopal, India disaster that killed many thousands. More
To help ensure that WEC can continue to work for safe, secure jobs and a healthy, sustainable environment in 2010, we ask you to make a special contribution to help kick off the new year. Moreover, we are planning action to help tackle the big challenges, like reform of the Toxic Substances Control Act. Stay tuned.
Environmental Justice
WEC advocacy won continuation of New Jersey's Environmental Justice Executive Order by Governor Jon S. Corzine. More
Healthy Schools
WEC provides technical assistance, training, and organizational consultation to NJEA. To learn about the healthy school issues that NJEA addresses, go to the issues section of www.njea.org. Monthly health and safety columns in the NJEA Reporter, written by WEC, reach more than 200,000 teachers and school staff.
* In a notable victory for teachers, staff, and students, the Howell Township Education Association, working with WEC, prevented the Howell Township Public Schools from fogging classrooms and school buses with disinfectant pesticides to kill H1N1 ("swine flu") virus. Fogging could have put 7,000 K-8 students and staff in twelve elementary and middle schools at risk of chemical triggered irritation, sensitization, and asthma attacks. More
Training for Safe Jobs
As New Jersey's affiliate of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health (COSH), WEC helped lead efforts for safe and healthy workplaces through training. In 2009, we reached more than 1,000 workers through training on OSHA's Process Safety Management rule; health care hazards through our Safe Work, Safe Care curriculum; and basic OSHA rights. WEC also shared our training methods and curriculum with COSH groups nationwide More
* Six New Jersey nursing homes took specific steps to prevent workplace violence after union and management representatives participated in WEC's Safe Work, Safe Care training. More
Green Jobs
WEC coordinated four "Green Jobs Forums" engaging 40 groups of diverse constituencies including management, labor, environmentalists and public officials to discuss key issues and potential common ground as we transition to a green economy. We are now planning follow-up steps. More
Corzine's Legacy of Missed Opportunities
WEC also faced our share of 2009 disappointments, particularly concerning state policy. Governor Corzine, despite enacting precedent setting chemical safety and security reforms earlier in his term, failed to implement WEC recommendations to support growth of green manufacturing jobs, restore public access to the state's chemical "right to know" website, promote community oversight of the most toxic industrial facilities, further regulate diesel emissions or block privatization of DEP's failed hazardous site remediation program. More
Looking Ahead
While US Attorney, our new Governor, Chris Christie imprisoned corporate criminals for violating worker and environmental protection laws. Yet, during his campaign, he pledged to freeze new regulations and take similar steps that potentially could endanger worker and public health. While we plan to reach out to Governor Christie to see what cooperation is possible, we are likely to face some big challenges in the next four years.