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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