March 24, 2016
HPAE Testifies at Budget Hearing
On Monday, HPAE’s Public Policy Director Bridget Devane gave testimony to the NJ Assembly Budget Committee (Committee Chair Gary Schaer in the photo above) regarding the impact of Governor Christie’s proposed budget on health care access, worker safety, and public workers’ benefits and retirement security. Bridget raised concerns about proposed cuts in charity care funding and the need for adequate funding for hospital inspections and for oversight and enforcement of patient safety laws. She also called for adequate funding for state pensions.
Read Bridget’s testimony to the Assembly Budget Committee.
HPAE Local 5091 at BRMC Builds Strong Contract Campaign
Local 5091, which represents RNs, social workers, and other professional staff at Bergen Regional Medical Center (BRMC) is putting together a strong contract campaign to achieve a good contract in upcoming negotiations. The bargaining this year is particularly important, as the 19 year management contract that Bergen County has with the current operators of BRMC is coming to an end in 2017.
Read more here.
Nearly 1 Million Workers in NJ Would Benefit from $15 Minimum Wage
The New Jersey Policy Perspective, a research organization, has released a report showing that boosting the state minimum wage to $15 an hour in 2021 would benefit one in four workers in New Jersey, 90 percent of whom are at least 20 years old. Political leaders, community activists, and labor organizations rallied yesterday on behalf of legislation for a $15 an hour minimum wage in the state (photo above).
Read more here.
News of Interest for HPAE Members
Check out our compilation of articles this week about the health care industry, politics, and the labor movement, including a new U.S. Labor Department regulation requiring companies to report payments to anti-union consultants and a Supreme Court decision in favor of a workers’ class action suit against Tyson Foods.
Read more here.
This Week in U.S. Labor History
Mark Twain, the famous author of Huckleberry Finn and a lifelong member of the International Typographical Union (now part of CWA), speaks in Hartford, Conn., extolling the Knights of Labor’s commitment to fair treatment of all workers, regardless of race or gender – March 22, 1886
Read about other important struggles and events in U.S. labor history which occurred from March 21 to March 27, provided by Union Communication Services (UCS).
Read more here.
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Learn about the many consumer discounts and insurance benefits available to HPAE members through our national union, the AFT.
Learn about the benefits provided by the HPAE Retiree Medical Trust, a medical reimbursement program for HPAE retirees. |
