13 LD Assembly Candidates Pick-Up Endorsement of AFL-CIO

Matthew Morehead and Allison Friedman

Aberdeen Township, (Monmouth County NJ) -- On Wednesday, June 12, 2013, the AFL-CIO endorsed Legislative District 13, State Assembly candidates, Allison Friedman and Matthew Morehead.

New Jersey State AFL-CIOPresident Charles Wowkanech's statement, "Our endorsed candidates understand that it is not fair to ask middle class families to sacrifice for an economic recovery that leaves them behind. Instead they believe that supporting workers and communities is the key to a sustainable and true recovery.”

Candidates Allison Friedman and Matthew Morehead made the following joint statement, “We are thankful and appreciative of the faith AFL-CIO has in myself and my running mates. Together we hope to bring their voice to Trenton and bring back the middle class."

“Union workers are some of the most dedicated people New Jersey has. Evidence of that was the amazing work done on the Belmar boardwalk. For more than the last four years these hard working, dedicated New Jersey residents have been vilified by the government elected to represent them. The time has come for their voice to be heard in Trenton. I thank them for their support.” said Allison Friedman

"I am well aware that I would not have been able to start my own business if it had not been for the opportunities the PBA enabled my father to have and the benefits my mother earned through the nurses' Union." said Matthew Morehead

Buono For Governor Picks Up Endorsement From NJ State AFL-CIO

New Brunswick, NJ – This morning, the New Jersey State AFL-CIO voted to endorse Senator Barbara Buono for Governor, citing her record of supporting working and middle class families.

Below is the press release announcing the AFL-CIO’s endorsement of Senator Buono:

New Jersey State AFL-CIO Endorses Barbara Buono for Governor, Pledges to Approve Ballot Question to Raise NJ’s Minimum Wage

ATLANTIC CITY – “New Jersey State AFL-CIO conference delegates voted overwhelmingly today to endorse Senator Barbara Buono for governor,” said New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech. “Senator Buono has a consistent and clear record of supporting New Jersey’s working families. She is the only candidate who understands that in order to grow our economy we need to work from the bottom up – ensuring access to a quality education, family-sustaining jobs, and economic opportunities to achieve a middle class lifestyle.”

“Despite enormous sacrifice on the part of New Jersey’s middle class, property taxes are up nearly 20%, unemployment is the highest in the region, the Governor vetoed a minimum wage increase, and many public schools remain in disrepair,” stated Wowkanech. “Our endorsed candidates understand that it is not fair to ask middle class families to sacrifice for an economic recovery that leaves them behind. Instead they believe that supporting workers and communities is the key to a sustainable and true recovery.”

“The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is proud to join with over 223 progressive community groups as part of the Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. ‘Raise the Wage’ campaign which seeks to win voter approval of this year’s ballot referendum,” stated Wowkanech. “Raising our state’s minimum wage is of critical importance to all working families and would be a win-win for the state’s economy because it would lift wage scales, spur consumer spending, reduce reliance on government assistance, and provide a much needed boost to working families who are falling further behind each year as costs rise and wages stagnate.”

Over 600 delegates, representing 1,000 labor unions and the one-million union members of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, convened at Caesars Atlantic City on June 11-12, 2013, to participate in an endorsement process which also included all 120 State Legislative seats and a slate of 60 rank-and-file union members running for public office as part of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO Labor Candidates Program which has achieved 732 election victories to date. The conference featured several distinguished speakers including national AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt-Baker, who emphasized the importance of labor/community solidarity in strengthening the voice of working families; Senate President Steve Sweeney and Speaker Sheila Oliver who continue to spearhead efforts to raise the state minimum wage; New Jersey Policy Perspective President Gordon MacInnes, Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. Chair Charles Hall, Jr.; and ‘Raise the Wage’ campaign manager Paul Penna.

A complete list of the AFL-CIO's endorsements can be found HERE.

TOMORROW: CWA Pickets State-Wide

Protesting Christie Scheme To Open Civil Service to Patronage & Nepotism With Nearly No Public Input

(NEW JERSEY) – Tomorrow, members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) will be protesting Governor Chris Christie’s scheme to change Civil Service as we know it. Christie’s proposal erodes protections for workers by eliminating the current system of merit-based promotions. This plan essentially abolishes objective and transparent measures for promotions and replaces them with politically-motivated "advancement.” This is the most radical change to Civil Service in half-a-century, yet the first time requests for public hearings have been flatly denied.

At workplace pickets throughout the state, CWA members will be speaking out against Christie’s plot to “broad band” titles - which would hurt hundreds of thousands of workers, as well as expose every single New Jerseyan to higher taxes due to corruption, cronyism, and patronage. Christie’s proposal will eliminate most competitive promotions and open the door to a flood of favoritism, nepotism and discrimination. The plan is a wholesale attack on New Jersey’s working families, women, the disabled and people of color. Moreover, it will entirely eliminate veterans’ preference in hiring and promotions.

“This latest Christie scheme to gut Civil Service will create more patronage and corruption at all levels by putting every single advancement at the mercy of political pressure,” said Hetty Rosenstein, CWA NJ State Director. “We’re holding pickets in municipalities throughout New Jersey to highlight how both state and local government will be harmed. This proposal unfairly rigs the rules so those who buy influence or enjoy special connections can get ahead…while disabled workers, LGBT workers, women, workers of color, older worker, and veterans will all have a major barrier to discrimination destroyed and the public will be harmed.”

CWA Protests will be at the following locations: Noon-1 p.m.


Trenton Area:
Department of Labor, 1 John Fitch Parkway
Civil Service Commission, 44 South Clinton Street
Department of Banking and Insurance, corner of Warren and West State
Department of Environmental Protection, 401 E State St
Department of Health and Agriculture, 369 S. Warren St.

Central Jersey:
342 Westminster Ave, Elizabeth
181 Howe Lane, New Brunswick
200 West 2nd Street, Plainfield

North Jersey:
650 Bloomfield Ave, Bloomfield
125 State Street, Hackensack
50-58 Burnett Ave, Maplewood
124 &153 Halsey Street, Newark
100 Hamilton Plaza, Patterson

South Jersey:
101 Haddon Ave, Camden NJ
215 Crown Point Rd, Thorofare, NJ
1601 Atlantic Ave, Atlantic City


Even though New Jersey’s Constitution requires public jobs be awarded through a competitive testing process wherever possible, the Civil Service Commission is seeking to bypass these mandated requirements by "broad banding" titles. They’re aiming to place dozens - and possibly hundreds - of titles into “job bands” where management would be allowed to unilaterally “advance” favored workers through the band rather than requiring competitive examination. This would eliminate objective and transparent measures – such as lists of promotion-eligible workers, public postings of who was awarded the position. Since veterans preference is tied to promotions, it eliminates veterans preference in the 90% of cases where there will no longer be promotions.

The Christie Administration held a single public hearing in Trenton on the proposal at 3pm on April 10th - a workday. To say that the hearing was scheduled at an inconvenient time would be an understatement, as even several legislators had difficulty attending. It was virtually impossible for workers opposed to Christie’s proposal to have their voices heard. Those people directly affected deserve a true public process and an opportunity to have their concerns addressed their concerns.Christie has denied requests for more hearings at times and locations when working people all over the state can have a chance to be heard. So, CWA has launched a petition for supporters to call on the CSC to schedule additional public hearings locations, dates and times. The petition can be viewed and signed at www.cwanj.org.

The Communications Workers of America (AFL-CIO) represents both private sector and public workers. CWA represents more than 70,000 working families in New Jersey, including over 40,000 state workers, 15,000 county and municipal workers, and thousands of workers in the telecommunications, airlines, health care and direct care industries. It represents thousands of public workers both in Civil Service jurisdictions and those that have not adopted Civil Service.

NJ State AFL-CIO Urges You To Call the Governor And Tell Him to Sign Early Voting Bill into Law

Right now, Governor Christie has a crucial piece of legislation on his desk that would expand access to the democratic process in New Jersey. Early Voting legislation (A-3553) passed through the legislature last month, and, if passed, will make New Jersey the 33rd state, not including the District of Columbia, to adopt early voting. The bill would give New Jerseyans 15 days before Election Day to vote early, and will extend voting hours on weekday and weekend evenings.

Call Governor Christie’s office today at 609-292-6000 with a simple message: “Sign the early voting bill into law.”

While every state should adopt an early voting program, no state knows its importance better than New Jersey. Last year, the democratic process was compromised by Hurricane Sandy, causing some localities to put last-minute measures into place, causing confusion and disenfranchising voters. In fact, nearly 250,000 less votes were cast between last year and 2008. Early voting would strengthen democracy and take into account work schedules, disabilities, illnesses, child care, and other issues that would prevent registered voters from participating in the democratic process. This legislation will improve New Jersey’s voting system and increase civic engagement and participation in our electoral process.

If the Governor will not fight to strengthen democracy in our state, it is up to us to make sure every New Jerseyan is afforded the opportunity to exercise his or her vote.

In Unity,
Charles Wowkanech, President
Laurel Brennan, Secretary-Treasurer

CWA Files Protest to Christie Administration's Illegal Lottery Privatization Scheme

For Immediate Release:

Plan To Award Contract to Shady Private Firm Violates NJ Constitution

(TRENTON, NJ) - In response to the Christie Administration’s decision to award a 15-year contract to privatize the New Jersey State Lottery’s marketing and sales operations to Northstar New Jersey Lottery Group - the sole bidder with a questionable track record – the Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO and CWA Locals 1033 and 1037 sent a letter of protest to the NJ Department of Treasury.

"We already know that Christie’s lottery privatization is going to cost jobs, send profits overseas and be a horrible deal for taxpayers. The sad fact is that this scheme is also illegal,” said Seth Hahn, Legislative and Political Director for CWA NJ. “The Christie Administration wants to award an extremely profitable public asset to a politically-connected firm with a history of fraud and abuse. To make matters worse, this inside deal clearly violates the New Jersey State Constitution and betrays the public interest.”

Among other things, the contract violates the original intent and meaning of the New Jersey Constitution, as well as state law - which specifically called for establishing a lottery to be “operated by the state.” In other words, the constitution requires the lottery be operated publicly so private enterprises cannot damage the public’s trust through even the faintest whispers of corruption. Yet, this deal allows a private company to have the lion’s share of operational control over what was always intended to be a state-run lottery.

As part of the deal, the state will receive a one-shot, upfront $120 million payment from Northstar. CWA’s protest letter comes one day after 6 members of New Jersey’s Congressional delegation sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder asking the Department of Justice to review the contract. These House members are worried the contract runs counter to a 2008 DOJ opinion which advised that such payments have a corrupting nature and run contrary to the public interest, and therefore likely run afoul of longstanding Federal law.

The Northstar partnership consists of three groups. One is Italian-owned, one’s Canadian, and the other hails from Georgia. This partnership includes GTECH – which has a checkered history of fraud, bribery and corruption stretching from Texas to Rhode Island to New Jersey. In fact, Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno prosecuted GTECH’s national sales director for a kickback scheme in New Jersey in the 1990s when she was in the U.S. Attorney’s Office. In her prosecution, Guadagno argued the firm’s corruption was so rampant that the state needed to throw the book at the GTECH official. Guadagno felt so strongly that she released sealed grand jury testimony to the media, a highly unusual step for which she was reprimanded by the New Jersey District Court.

Last year, Christie conducted a study about how to make New Jersey’s lottery even better. It showed our award-winning system was one of America’s best-run public lotteries - ranking 5th in per capita sales. Growth in online, instant and total sales all far exceeded the national average. In 2010, it had the highest net income margin – making New Jersey our nation’s most efficient lottery. Looking at all this information, Christie made the shocking decision to turn sales and marketing functions over to a foreign private corporation. Even worse, despite a 42% growth in sales in the last decade, Northstar will get a cut of profits – up to 5% - if they increase sales just 9% over the next 15 years.

Northstar New Jersey Lottery Group is nearly identical to the firm running the show in Illinois. Following that takeover’s first year, they admitted being over $100 million short of revenue projections. The firm then entered into a legal process with the State of Illinois claiming taxpayers owed them $230 million. In just the first half-decade of the contract, they now estimate being $250 million short of revenue estimates.

Aside from being illegal, this scheme is simply bad policy. With one in ten New Jerseyans already out-of-work, lottery privatization is a bad deal which would make foreign corporations rich while making things worse for taxpayers and small businesses. The Asian American Retailers Association estimates Christie’s privatization deal could result in 7,000 jobs lost – and that’s their conservative estimate. Also, the Christie administration says Northstar New Jersey Lottery Group could earn $1 billion over the life of the contract - meaning a large chunk of lottery profits will be shipped out-of-state and overseas, instead of staying here at home.

It’s no surprise that the Christie Administration has consistently ducked questions and released precious little information on lottery privatization from the start. For the past seven months, Christie has taken the position that it would be inappropriate to answer questions about the monetization of the state’s fourth-most valuable asset. The Administration has refused to answer questions at hearings, press conferences and at every other turn. Then at 4 p.m. last Friday, April 12th, they announced the contract in a continued bid to keep things quiet and minimize public knowledge about the deal.

Unfortunately for New Jersey residents, the deck has been stacked from the beginning. This privatization scheme will undoubtedly harm New Jersey’s small business owners, taxpayers and fiscal health. Not only is it illegal, but it could also cost our state thousands of jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars.

CWA CALLS ON CHRISTIE TO HOLD LEGITIMATE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON CIVIL SERVICE BROAD BANDING

Holding One Meeting in Trenton at 3 pm is Affront to Good Government & a Slap in the Face to Working Families.

(TRENTON, NJ) – Next Wednesday, April 10th, the New Jersey Civil Service Commission (CSC) will hold a single public hearing on a rule proposal eliminating Civil Service as we know it. The proposal will eliminate most competitive promotions and open the door to a flood of patronage, favoritism and discrimination. It will completely eliminate veterans’ preference in hiring and promotions.

Civil Rights organizations, advocates for the disabled, veterans’ groups, legislative leaders, unions and concerned citizens will all attend the hearing - to be held at 3 p.m. in a small room at the Civil Service Commission in Trenton. However, the Communications Workers of America (CWA) is calling on the CSC to hold additional public hearings in other parts of the state, so working families are able to have their voices heard via a true, public vetting process before the Christie Administration adopts the most radical changes to Civil Service in decades.

“The Civil Service Commission scheduled a single, rubber-stamp public hearing as if it’s one of the Governor’s Town Hall meetings – holding it in the middle of the week during working hours, making it virtually impossible for those affected or who may be opposed to have their voices heard,” said Hetty Rosenstein, CWA NJ State Director. “They’ll simply put up a stenographer to record testimony and then jam through whatever they wanted to do in the first place - public good be damned. Over the past thirty years, I’ve been through dozens of rule change hearings, yet this is the first time I can recall that Civil Service did not accommodate a request for more public hearings.”

Even though the New Jersey Constitution requires public jobs be awarded through a competitive testing process wherever possible, the CSC is seeking to bypass Constitutional requirements by "broad banding" titles. They want to place dozens and possibly hundreds of titles into “job bands” where management would be allowed to unilaterally “advance” favored workers through the band instead of requiring competitive examination. This would eliminate transparent lists of promotion-eligible workers, public postings of who was awarded the position. It would also eliminate the preference that veterans and disabled veterans not be bypassed promotion if they meet eligibility requirements and score high enough on the list.

“Every single advancement will be subject to political pressure,” added Rosenstein, “Disabled workers, LGBT workers, women, workers of color, older workers, and veterans will all have to overcome prejudice every step of the way.”

Not only does the new regulation allow discriminatory advancement, it also eliminates the one neutral avenue to appeal. Under the current system, if discrimination is alleged as the reason for not receiving a promotion, the worker can go before a neutral judge to present proof of discrimination at the Office of Administrative Law. That course of action is completely eliminated under the proposal.

The proposed rule change could affect hundreds of thousands of workers, as well as expose every single New Jerseyan to higher taxes due to corruption, cronyism and special favors. CSC should hold a public process that is accessible to those taxpayers and workers who would be directly affected by any rule changes. They all deserve a chance to have their voices heard in a meaningful way.

As such, CWA has launched a petition for supporters to call on the CSC to additional public hearings locations, dates and times. The petition can be viewed – and signed - at www.cwanj.org.

The Communications Workers of America (AFL-CIO) represents both private sector and public workers. CWA represents more than 70,000 working families in New Jersey, including over 40,000 state workers, 15,000 county and municipal workers, and thousands of workers in the telecommunications, airlines, health care and direct care industries. It represents thousands of public workers both in Civil Service jurisdictions and those that have not adopted Civil Service.

N.J. AFL-CIO ENDORSES SENATOR MENENDEZ

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Organization of 1,000,000 union members' note Menendez's efforts for jobs creation in
New Jersey

NEW BRUNSWICK - Citing his long track record of fighting for New Jersey's middle class families as well as jobs creation in areas including construction and transportation infrastructure upgrades, the members of the New Jersey AFL-CIO have endorsed Robert Menendez for re-election to the U.S. Senate.

"To support labor is to support New Jersey. Senator Menendez has always understood that basic idea, and more importantly, he has acted upon it," said Charles Wowkanech, President of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. "Whether it's the Gateway Tunnel that will help New Jersey's 250,000 daily commuters to New York City, or the expansion of the Global Terminal in Bayonne to allow more ships and cargo to access markets around the world, Robert Menendez is fighting for the federal resources for projects that keep New Jersey's middle class families working. That's why we're fighting for Senator Menendez to be re-elected this November."

"I am very proud and honored that the N.J. AFL-CIO has put their confidence in me. It is an organization the people in New Jersey who do so much to make our plans and visions for a better New Jersey happen," said Senator Menendez, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development.

"Without the dedication and hard work of the men and women of the N.J. State AFL-CIO, the best-laid plans for better construction and improved transportation systems remain on the drawing board. They, and all middle class families of New Jersey, will always be able to depend on me to fight for them. Whether it is fighting to secure more funds to help meet our state's infrastructure needs, or fighting to increase the minimum wage or extending unemployment cuts - I will always have the backs of New Jersey's hard working men and women."

In New Jersey, local unions enjoy the opportunity to join together with 1,000 local unions and one million union members under the auspices of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO. The resources of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO are committed to representing union members and their families through pursuing strong legislative and political initiatives, and by organizing and member mobilization.

Vin Gopal Announces Candidacy for Monmouth County Democratic Party Chairman

Receives overwhelming support across Monmouth County from more than 100 Democratic Leaders and the unanimous endorsement of the Monmouth-Ocean AFL-CIO Central Labor Council

February 14th, 2012

Contact: 732-299-5625


LONG BRANCH – Democratic activist and local businessman Vin Gopal formally announced his candidacy for Monmouth County Democratic Party Chairman with the support of more than 100 Democratic Party municipal chairs, mayors, elected officials and local leaders.

After serving as the Monmouth County Democratic Party Chairman for 24 years, Victor V. Scudiery recently announced that he would not seek another term as the County Chair.

“Victor has led our party with courage and integrity, growing this county’s Democratic organization and helping to elect dozens of Democrats throughout the county” said Gopal. “I know that he will continue to support Democrats after June as he focuses on his other business and charitable endeavors.”

In an impressive show of support, elected Democrats throughout Monmouth County signed a letter touting Gopal’s record of fundraising and organizing. These Democratic party leaders are encouraging fellow Democrats to support Gopal, citing his recent bid for the New Jersey State Assembly, where he received the most votes of any Democratic legislative candidate in Monmouth County. Gopal was also the only Monmouth County Democratic Legislative Candidate who received an endorsement from the Asbury Park Press and his team was able to raise over $200,000 for his campaign.

Gopal has spent the last six years organizing and fundraising for Democratic campaigns throughout Monmouth County. Gopal has hosted over thirty fundraisers, which helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Democratic candidates for municipal and county races. Gopal’s aggressive fundraising efforts have helped the Democrats win elections in key municipalities and his grass roots organizing has led to the formation of new Democratic Clubs in Colts Neck, Neptune City, Little Silver, West Long Branch and other municipalities.

Joe Caliendo, Chairman of the Middletown Democratic Party, which has 92 County Committee seats and would be crucial to any candidate’s effort to become the County Chairman, has endorsed Gopal, stating: “I am supporting Vin Gopal because he brings energy and experience, a combination we need for the Monmouth County Democrats. I will let our delegation know why I am supporting Vin this June as Victor Scudiery's successor.”

Gopal currently owns and operates several businesses, including a chain of community publications supported by over 200 advertisers that reach over 35,000 homes and businesses each month. He also owns and operates a retail embroidery and sign store in Hazlet that serves more than 1,000 customers per year. Gopal serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Northern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Trustees of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Monmouth County and is President of the Hazlet Business Owners Association. Gopal also volunteered for many years as an EMT for rescue squads in Freehold and Colts Neck.

A graduate of Penn State University, Vin Gopal is a former legislative aide to New Jersey Assemblyman Herb Conaway and former fundraiser for Newark City Councilman Ron Rice, Jr. He resides in Long Branch, NJ.

Please see below for full text of endorsement.

Dear County Committee Member:

“With news that Monmouth County Democratic Party Chairman Victor Scudiery will retire in June, we fully endorse Vin Gopal as the next county chairman.

We believe that Vin, as County Chairman, will best carry on the work that Vic Scudiery started and will help lead our party toward Democratic victories across the county. While Vic’s generosity and commitment can never be replaced, we know that the Monmouth County Democratic Party under Vin will emphasize a new vigor, fresh perspective and a bright future for all Democrats.

We are confident that Vin will provide the leadership we need because he has a proven record of fundraising, organizing, and party-building. Vin has hosted over thirty fundraisers for municipal and county candidates, helping to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars. Vin has also been the driving force in the formation of many new Democratic Clubs such as West Long Branch, Colts Neck, and Neptune City. Additionally, Vin has built alliances statewide that will move Monmouth County forward.

As a candidate for State Assembly this past year, Vin was the only Democratic legislative candidate from Monmouth County to win the endorsement of The Asbury Park Press. He was also the highest vote-getter of any Democratic legislative candidate in Monmouth County this year. Vin has been there for every one of us and we are confident he will be an outstanding party chairman who will unite Democrats across this county.

Based on all of these reasons and many others, we are proud to stand with Vin Gopal today and we will stand with him in June at our convention. We all look forward to urging our respective county committee members to support Vin because he is the best person to lead our party.”

Signed below.

DEMOCRATIC MUNICIPAL CHAIRS

Bill Shenton, Aberdeen

Amy Quinn, Asbury Park & County Dems Vice-Chair

Luis Pulido, Belmar

Ed Cicchi, Bradley Beach

Rick Ambrosia, Colts Neck

Matt Cohen, Fair Haven

J.J. Mistretta, Freehold Township

Rebecca Kane, Highlands

Andy Bace, Hazlet

Tony Orsini, Holmdel

Steve Morlino, Howell

Robert Napoli, Interlaken

John McCarthy, Keansburg
Bob Bergen, Keyport

Daniel J. O'Hern, Little Silver

Mike Ryan, Lake Como

Gerry Ward, Manalapan
Florlee Wan, Matawan

Joe Caliendo, Middletown

Jackie Dollive, Neptune City

Jim Mowczan, Neptune

Janice Robbins, Ocean Township

Ed Zipprich, Red Bank

Ann Baker, Roosevelt

Dina Long, Sea Bright

Norma Rosenbloom, Shrewsbury Borough

Ed Nolan, Shrewsbury Township

Michael Lee, Tinton Falls

Ken Connors, Union Beach

Eric Brophy, Wall Township

Larry Shapiro, West Long Branch

ELECTED OFFICIALS

Aberdeen Mayor Fred Tagliarini

Asbury Park Mayor Ed Johnson

Belmar Mayor Matthew Doherty

Bradley Beach Mayor Julie Schreck

Neptune Mayor Randy Bishop

Lake Como Mayor Mike Ryan

Sea Bright Mayor Dina Long

Roosevelt Mayor Beth Battel

Shrewsbury Mayor Ed Nolan

Spring Lake Mayor Jennifer Naughton

Aberdeen Deputy Mayor Margaret Montone
Asbury Park Deputy Mayor John Loffredo

Neptune Deputy Mayor Eric Houghtaling

Aberdeen Councilman Greg Cannon

Atlantic Highlands Councilman Roy Dellosso

Freehold Borough Council President George Schnurr

Hazlet Committeeman Joe Belasco

Highlands Councilman Chris Francy

Highlands Councilwoman Rebecca Kane

Highlands Councilman Kevin Redmond

Holmdel Committeeman Larry Fink

Interlaken Councilman Robert Napoli
Keyport Council President Christian Bolte

Keyport Councilman Kenneth McPeek

Keyport Councilman Joe Sheridan

Keyport Councilwoman Joy-Michele Tomczak
Lake Como Councilwoman Marni McFadden-Lee
Lake Como Councilwoman Patricia Tzibrouk
Little Silver Councilman Daniel J. O’Hern
Neptune Committeeman Kevin McMillan
Neptune Committeewoman Mary Beth Jahn
Red Bank Council President Art Murphy

Red Bank Councilman Ed Zipprich

Red Bank Councilwoman Kathy Horgan

Red Bank Councilwoman Juanita Lewis

Red Bank Councilwoman Sharon Lee

Spring Lake Councilwoman Janice Venables

Spring Lake Councilwoman Priscilla Reilly

Spring Lake Councilman Bob Drasheff

Mike Beson, Democratic Leader

FORMER FREEHOLDERS

Former Monmouth County Freeholder Amy Mallet

Former Monmouth County Freeholder John D'Amico

Former Monmouth County Freeholder John Villapiano

LABOR LEADERS

Monmouth Ocean AFL-CIO CLC - Official Unanimous Endorsement
Wyatt Earp
Mike Ryan

Pete Geronimo

Chuddy Whalen

Joe Caliendo

ADDITIONAL ENDORSEMENTS

"As Democratic leaders in Red Bank, we proudly support Vin Gopal as the next county Democratic Chairman. Vin has supported Democrats in Red Bank for years, helping us raise money and helping us organize our campaigns. He would make an outstanding chairman and we plan to inform the Red Bank delegation about our support.”


Red Bank Democratic Party Municipal Chairman & Councilman Ed Zipprich

Red Bank Mayor Pasquale Menna
Red Bank Council President Art Murphy

Red Bank Councilwoman Kathy Horgan
Red Bank Councilwoman Juanita Lewis
Red Bank Councilwoman Sharon Lee

Red Bank Democrats Vice Chairwoman Lauren Niccosia
Red Bank Democratic Club President Barbara Boas

Red Bank Democratic Club Secretary Deborah Marks

"As Democratic leaders in Middletown, Monmouth County's largest municipality, we proudly support Vin Gopal as the next county Democratic Chairman. Vin has supported Middletown for years, helping to raise money for our municipal candidates and helping the party any way he can. We will urge the 92 member Middletown delegation to support Vin Gopal this June for county chairman."


Joe Caliendo, Middletown Democratic Party Municipal Chairman

Sean F. Byrnes, Former Middletown Township Committeeman (2008-2011)
Marilyn Tuohy, Middletown Democratic Party Vice-Chairwoman

Marilyn Maguire, State Committeewoman
Don Watson, Middletown Democratic Club President

John Amberg, Middletown Democratic Party

Marilyn Michaels, Middletown Democratic Party
Linda Baum, Middletown Democratic Party

James Grenafege, Democratic Nominee for Middletown Township (2011)

Mary Mahoney, Democratic Nominee for Middletown Township (2010)

Mike Morris, Middletown Democratic Party


“The Manalapan Democrats join Chairman Gerry Ward in fully endorsing Vin Gopal for County Democratic Chairman. As 3 former Democratic Mayors, we give Vin our 100% support and we know he will work hard to help Democrats win across Western Monmouth.”

Former Manalapan Mayor Michelle Roth

Former Manalapan Mayor Beth Ward
Former Manalapan Mayor Drew Shapiro

The Shameless Republicans who Refuse to Denounce Sam Thompson's Double Dipping: Just Another Reason Why New Jersey Property Taxes Are So High.

For nearly two weeks now, I've tried to contact New Jersey Republicans, New Jersey Tea Parties, and New Jersey blogs that claim to be conservative. I've asked them to denounce Sam Thompson's double dipping. Thompson has been double dipping since 1998 as an Assemblyman, and plans continue double dipping if elected State Senator in District 12. Despite this, he claims to be a fiscal conservative. I call him a fiscal phony. Regardless of whether or not I get elected, I want my campaign to at least stop one of the many New Jersey politicians from double dipping. I think it would be an important symbolic victory for New Jersey taxpayers.

I wasn't sure why conservatives haven't been able to pressure Thompson to stop double dipping. I first thought that many groups that are trying to eliminate fiscal waste simply did not know Thompson was a double dipper, so I've reached out to groups around the state through Twitter and Facebook and told them about Thompson's double dipping. I then asked them to join me and other taxpayers in denouncing Thompson's actions.

I contacted Tea Parties in New Jersey on Twitter. Thus far, the Ocean County Tea Party and The Northern New Jersey Tea Party have stood by in deafening silence. Neither of these organizations have joined me in asking Thompson to stop double dipping. Why do groups that claim to be "taxed enough already" refuse to denounce a guy's actions that create government waste and cause high taxes? I'm still awaiting Bayshore Tea Party's response, and will update you with their decision.

The New Jersey Tea Party had an interesting, if not paranoid, reply. After not replying to my first request, I asked them why they refused to denounce Thompson, and they stated that their party "does not refuse to do that". This got my hopes up, as I thought it would lead to a clear denunciation of Thompson. I was wrong. They followed with a rather curious claim, "We are obligated to do nothing you like". It gets better, as they then told me if I "Attempt to dictate what We must say" and "We may claim that You are an enemy of freedom". Amazing. Only in New Jersey. A guy asks a Tea Party group to denounce a double dipper, and I'm considered an enemy of freedom.

After having no luck with Tea Parties, I thought I'd contact some conservative Blogs. Save Jersey claimed to be against all double dipping, but have refused to publicly denounce Thompson. Rather than doing that, they questioned how a candidate with a union endorsement (in this case, NJEA) could question another candidate for "waste & greed". Of course, Thompson was endorsed by the AFL-CIO in 2009, but that doesn't seem to bother them. The larger problem here is their rather pedestrian slight of hand technique to divert attention from the issue of Thompson double dipping. They have yet to publicly denounce Thompson. I'm not holding my breath.

This leads me to Art Gallagher of More Monmouth Musings. Similar to the reply of the New Jersey Tea Party, Art's initial response got my hopes up. He informed me that "conservatives already denounced that months ago before I was a candidate", and asked "where were you then"? I was in Old Bridge, but I also denounced Sam's double dipping back in 2009. I have tried to find out which conservatives he was talking about, and assumed he was claiming to be one of them. However, I haven't found anything that Art has written to suggest he opposes Thompson's double dipping. I also asked him if he could provide me a link. He has yet to do so. Instead, he has questioned the pension I received after I was shot in the line of duty. The Old Bridge GOP and a Republican consulting firm were quick to "retweet" this question,
but less quick to answer my questions about Thompson's antics. As I have previously stated in my last campaign and this one, I will give up my pension if elected to office. This has been published on the Star Ledger website. However, Art isn't really interested in this. He has more interest in maintaining his relationship with cozy relationship with elected Republicans, regardless of their pension antics. Asking about my pension is the same tactic Save Jersey pursued when they asked about one of my endorsements.

Of course, I've tried to contact the GOP and get a few answers. Funnily enough, I expected the least from them in all of this, but the Old Bridge GOP gave me the most entertaining answers. After first asking for a source to my claim about Thompson's double dipping (Did they really not know?), they then told me that Thompson is not "ACTUALLY" double dipping. How did they reach that conclusion? They stated: "Sam retired after 25+ years of service to the State and collects a pension from that. He was then elected to the legislature, a different job, where he receives a salary". Amazing. How is that not double dipping? He continues to receive a pension despite holding a job in the legislature.

It actually gets even better. Old Bridge GOP wrote "Sam's decision to retire saved taxpayers money Bob and you know this. It's easy math." How on earth do they reach this conclusion? It's bad enough to avoid denouncing a double dipper, but now the GOP is claiming that double dipping saves NJ taxpayers money?! Only in New Jersey. And, it wasn't just them. The person running "Frank Pallone is not for New Jersey", who claims to be conservative, also stated that Thompson's double dipping has saved us money. How on earth does anyone let Republicans near their money?!

The only other defense by the Old Bridge GOP is to claim that there are Democratic double dippers. As I've previously stated, I believe double dipping by any politician in any party is wrong. Both sides need to give it up. However, my experience with "conservative" voices in New Jersey tells me that Republican double dippers like Thompson face no pressure to end this practice. As funny as the defenses of Thompson have been to read, it is Thompson and other double dippers that have the last laugh, and they do so at the taxpayer's expense.

Only in New Jersey.

Bob Brown
Democratic Candidate for State Senate in District 12

Lavan & Short Pick Up Endorsement Of NJ AFL-CIO

Former Hazlet Mayor Kevin Lavan and former Middletown Committeeman Patrick Short, Candidates for the NJ State Assembly for the 13th Legislative district, each picked up a key endorsement from the NJ AFL-CIO labor union today at the unions endorsement conference.

Over at Blue Jersey, CWA NJ Area Director Hetty Rosenstein is quoted as stating, "Public workers and their many allies in the private sector stood together today to endorse those who stood with us this year and to deny endorsement to those who attacked collective bargaining. The majority of Democrats in NJ believe in and defend collective bargaining. They deserve a labor endorsement. A minority do not. That group should not get a labor endorsement.", in reference to all those that earned the labor endorsement.

This is the second big labor endorsement the pair has gained within the past month, back on July 18th the pair, along with NJ Senate Candidate Chris Cullen garnered the backing of Monmouth/Ocean Building Trades Council And New Jersey Building & Construction Trades Council.

Hypocrite Handlin Is Wrong On "Right-To-Work"

Republican Assemblywoman Amy "the Hypocrite" Handlin (LD13), has a guest column appearing in print and online in this weeks edition of the Independent, in which she states that she will be introducing a bill that will essentially strip all workers of their right to collective bargaining.

This guest column of her's first appeared online at newjerseynewsroom.com back on May 31st and does not seem to have been updated since.

Since the first publication of Handlin's column appeared over at the newsroom, I would be remised if I didn't point out that her proposed legislation, which just so happened to be co-sponsored by her running mate in this years election Declan O'Scanlon, was dead on arrival. Good reporting and follow-up to Handlin's commentary piece was done by Newjerseynewsroom reporter Tom Hester Jr.

In his follow-up which appeared July 8th, Hester spoke to NJ Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and is quoted as stating:

“This legislation is dead on arrival. It’s that simple. Dead on arrival.

Radical conservative ideology such as this has no place in New Jersey. This type of move may play elsewhere, but, quite simply, this anti-worker bill will never see the light of day.

Not only is this legislation an atrocious assault on worker rights, but it’s terrible economic policy, it would set back any chance we have under Gov. Christie of a strong recovery."...

“Democrats and Republicans can work together for the common good and when appropriate to improve our economy and protect worker benefits, but this wage-cutting, anti-business bill is a line in the sand that cannot be crossed,”

Hester also quoted New Jersey AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech who stated, “The deceptively named “right to work” policy is currently law in 22 states and is considered one of the most anti-union policies in the nation,” about Handlin and O'Scanlan's proposed bill (A-4223).

So what is the purpose of having this old and out of date commentary printed in the Independent other than to mislead and misinform readers of her district, many of whom are hard working members of unions in both public and private unions? It is obviously a play at gaining support from the more conservative residents in the district and members of the TEA Party, who feel that she is out of touch and a "do-nothing".

If this legislation ever where to be signed into law here in New Jersey it would undermined the livelihoods of not only union members, but all workers, white collared as well as blue collared.

Wages would remain stagnant and pension and health benefits would slowly dwindle away anytime a employer was concerned that his bottom-line was no longer big enough to support his mansion or yacht club membership.

Below are a few reader responses to Handlin's commentary posted on the NewJerseyNewsroom, it seems that they also have a problem with her proposed and non existent, dead on arrival typically hypocritical legislation that is meant to pander instead of providing serious answers to her district's problems:

"Right to Work"is a misnomer. It's really the opportunity for any company to pay any employee any amount the company wants. Just what we need: more people earning less than a living wage and without any access to health care other than visits to the emergency rooms. So good for NJ! The assemblywoman cannot be so naive that she believes employers would care about safe working conditions. After all, money spent on safe working conditions would be better off lining the pockets of the wealthy. And, by law, union dues cannot be used for political purposes. Members must choose to donate into a separate fund. Now, if members are too scared to tell the union bosses they won't donate, shame on the members. (Sarah H)

"Unions need a balance" - For the most part I agree with Ms. Handlin. I don't think it's an all or nothing deal though, unions are good things to have in otherwise unsustainably-low paying situations, but for professionals it makes less sense. Let the legislation you craft not try to swing the pendulum so far that it undermines the good side of unions, or it will surely fail.
( Ashley_)

" Handlin comments" - According to Handlin:“Right to Work would also quicken New Jersey’s economic revival. Right-to-Work states had 497,000 new businesses from 1993 to 2009, compared with 340,000 in forced union states, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics recently cited by the Wall Street Journal. That’s remarkable because just 40 percent of American workers live in Right-to-Work states."

It's hard to believe so many people fall for statements like this of Handlin's, and support radical legislation like this. The truth is, what's really remarkable is that ALL of the businesses she cites to being created from 1993 to 2009 weren't created in Right-to-Work states...after all, in their pursuit of profits, businesses will do anything to keep the costs of labor down. Why is all the greatest economic growth now going on in China, India, etc? Because people will work 16 hour days for $12. Handlin sees that success spreading to the south, and now wants to bring it here to NJ. If it's been so great for those 22 states, why is our per-capita income and standard of living so much higher here?

Thanks but no thanks, Amy Handlin, you're just a rich legislator who wants to be even richer like all the others in your party. Some of us can still see right through all your party's BS. (Richard W)

Hug a Union Member Today in Remembrance of What Unions Have Meant to Every American

Before people gang up on and bash those that are in unions, whether the union is a private sector or public sector union, remember what you have received because of their efforts.

In a column over at ThinkProgress, REPORT: Five Things Unions Have Done For All Americans, they list five things that have made a major difference in all American's lives that many of us take for granted today, there are others not listed like the minimum wage and safe working environments, but you'll get the point.

Take time today to hug a union member in remembrance for what they have given us, instead of bashing they for what you perceive they are trying to take away or cost us:

1. Unions Gave Us The Weekend: Even the ultra-conservative Mises Institute notes that the relatively labor-free 1870, the average workweek for most Americans was 61 hours — almost double what most Americans work now. Yet in the late nineteenth century and the twentieth century, labor unions engaged in massive strikes in order to demand shorter workweeks so that Americans could be home with their loved ones instead of constantly toiling for their employers with no leisure time. By 1937, these labor actions created enough political momentum to pass the Fair Labor Standards Act, which helped create a federal framework for a shorter workweek that included room for leisure time.

2. Unions Gave Us Fair Wages And Relative Income Equality: As ThinkProgress reported earlier in the week, the relative decline of unions over the past 35 years has mirrored a decline in the middle class’s share of national income. It is also true that at the time when most Americans belonged to a union — a period of time between the 1940′s and 1950′s — income inequality in the U.S. was at its lowest point in the history of the country.

3. Unions Helped End Child Labor: “Union organizing and child labor reform were often intertwined” in U.S. history, with organization’s like the “National Consumers’ League” and the National Child Labor Committee” working together in the early 20th century to ban child labor. The very first American Federation of Labor (AFL) national convention passed “a resolution calling on states to ban children under 14 from all gainful employment” in 1881, and soon after states across the country adopted similar recommendations, leading up to the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act which regulated child labor on the federal level for the first time.

4. Unions Won Widespread Employer-Based Health Coverage: “The rise of unions in the 1930′s and 1940′s led to the first great expansion of health care” for all Americans, as labor unions banded workers together to negotiate for health coverage plans from employers. In 1942, “the US set up a National War Labor Board. It had the power to set a cap on all wage increases. But it let employers circumvent the cap by offering “fringe benefits” – notably, health insurance.” By 1950, “half of all companies with fewer than 250 workers and two-thirds of all companies with more than 250 workers offered health insurance of one kind or another.”

5. Unions Spearheaded The Fight For The Family And Medical Leave Act: Labor unions like the AFL-CIO federation led the fight for this 1993 law, which “requires state agencies and private employers with more than 50 employees to provide up to 12 weeks of job-protected unpaid leave annually for workers to care for a newborn, newly adopted child, seriously ill family member or for the worker’s own illness.”

Read more >>> Here

Glenn Beck Exposes FreedomWorks Fisting

Actor and voice over artist D.C. Douglas narrates Glenn Beck's most astonishing discovery to date: FreedomWorks and their Socialist fisting ways.

Green Party To Rally In Solidarity In Trenton With Wisconsin Workers Friday

Greens will meet at new Trenton HQ

Look for The Green Party Banner!

Friday, February 25, 12pm noon at the State House, Trenton

Wisconsin workers have been fighting on the front lines against Governor Scott Walker's assault on working families and collective bargaining rights. At the Trenton State House on Friday, February 25, 2011, at 12:00 noon, a group of Wisconsin workers will be welcomed by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, national AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, hundreds of our union brothers and sisters and community partners.

At this rally, we will stand shoulder to shoulder in solidarity and speak out against the attacks on working families and assaults on collective bargaining rights which are taking place in Wisconsin and other states around the country. We will also send a message to Governor Christie that he bargain in good faith and not balance the budget on the backs of middle class families. We urge all affiliates and community allies to join us at the Trenton State House on Friday and to hear first-hand about the events that are taking place in Wisconsin. Wisconsin workers are depending on strong demonstrations of solidarity in states across the nation to help them sustain their efforts back home.

The attacks in Wisconsin are not just isolated to one state or one sector of our labor movement. These are overt attacks on collective bargaining that are relevant to all working people. What we need now in these difficult times, is to work collectively as one labor movement and understand that we need to improve the quality of life for all workers and not dismantle it.

We look forward to standing in unity with you at the State House.

In Solidarity,

Charles Wowkanech, President, NJ AFL-CIO
Laurel Brennan, Secretary-Treasurer, NJ AFL-CIO

New Nationwide Ad: Wall Street Chooses Greed over Workers, Employee Free Choice Act

Second ad in a week builds on hundreds of grassroots events and momentum for legislation during Congressional recess:

Greeted with a new massive nationwide ad campaign along with over 350 grassroots actions, members of Congress returned to their home states and districts this week to be reminded that a majority of the public demands passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. A new, hard-hitting television ad will hit national airwaves today exposing the real motives of those who oppose the Employee Free Choice Act. It joins another ad already on the air and grassroots events across the country highlighting the broad support for the bill.

The ad calls out corporations, many of whom have received billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded bailouts, as opposing workers’ freedom to bargain with their employers for better wages and benefits at a time when the imbalance of power is the reason for our economic crisis. Instead of focusing on rebuilding our economy and getting us out of the mess they helped to create, the ad points out that companies like Bank of America took $45 billion in taxpayer money and have been working against the Employee Free Choice Act, exploiting their low wage workers, and rewarding its leaders, like CEO Ken Lewis, with million dollar payouts.

“The public and lawmakers alike need to know that the special interests opposing the Employee Free Choice Act are the same ones who caused this economic meltdown,” said American Rights at Work Executive Director Mary Beth Maxwell. “This new ad sends a resolute message that now is the time to help workers to bargain for a better life. The Employee Free Choice Act is urgently needed to create fairness in this economy.”

The momentum for the Employee Free Choice Act is growing, with ramped up grassroots events underway during the recess including rallies, anti-corporate actions, leafleting, lobbying, town hall meetings, moving billboards, community forums, vigils, call-in days, and more. Workers, elected officials, small business owners, students, faith leaders, civil rights activists, and other advocates, are participating in an array of actions underscoring the broad and diverse support for the measure.

The new ad campaign and recess activities continue to build on the broad support for the Employee Free Choice Act: independent polling confirmed a majority of the public supports its passage; over 40 leading economists – including Nobel laureates – released a joint statement endorsing the legislation as a critical part of our economic recovery; and just last week the “Faces of the Employee Free Choice Act ” campaign was unveiled by award-winning cast members of The West Wing standing alongside workers to promote the freedom to form unions on Capitol Hill.



For More Information Contact: American Rights at Work

Josh Goldstein (American Rights at Work) 202-822-2127 x118

Alison Omens (AFL-CIO)
202-637-5083

Noreen Nielsen (Change to Win)
202-721-6047