NJ Work Environment Council A 30-year timeline of working for safe, secure jobs & a healthy sustainable environment
1986 Leaders of the NJ Industrial Union Council and the NJ Right to Know and Act Coalition, which won the nation’ s strongest state chemical right to know law in 1983, formed the NJ Work Environment Council. Founders included: Eric ScherzerOCAW; John Shinn ofUnited Steelworkers; Jane Nogaki ofNJ Environmental Federation; Bill Kane of United Auto Workers; David Tykulsker, Esq.; and Rick Engler ofNJ Industrial Union Council. Engler was a visionary for the organization and served as the first executive director.
Between 1986 and 1996, WEC programs were coordinated with the NJ Industrial Union Council, AFL-CIO, the state’ s second largest labor federation, and the NJ Right to Know and Act Coalition, a network of environmental, community, public health and labor groups. Although an independent entity, WEC was the educational-organizing adjunct to both organizations.
1991
1992
1995
1996
1997
WEC supported NJPIRG efforts and together secured passage of NJ’ s Pollution Prevention Act. NJ is one of two states in the nation to track the use of toxic chemicals, as well as emissions.
WEC won occupational health training provisions in the NJ Workforce Development Act which, in part, funds NJ workforce training grants.
WEC won NJ Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health Act amendments and millions of dollars of federal matching funds for the State PEOSH program.
WEC became a staffed organization and opened an office in Trenton, NJ. Staff were members of the Oil, Chemical, and Atomic Workers Union, OCAW Local 8-149.
WEC won a commitment from Department of Health and Social Services( DHSS) to produce all the 2,500 legally required hazardous substance fact sheets in Spanish and English.
WEC won a commitment from Department of Environmental Protection( DEP) and DHSS to publicize the names of RTK violators.
WEC sponsored the first NJ educational forum to build opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement and Multilateral Agreement on Investment.
1999 WEC’ s Board of Directors voted to become a membership-based organization of labor, community and environmental organizations, as well as individuals.
WEC participated in a successful campaign with Patients First Coalition to protect health care workers from needlestick injuries in NJ hospitals
WEC coordinated a campaign for a strong state environmental justice policy and won the formation of an Environmental Equity Council within DEP that included a WEC Board member and staff member.
2000 WEC released Children at Risk report which documented how school children in Paterson and Clifton were within one-mile of industrial facilities emitting pollutants known to cause cancer.
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