On Monday, March 4th, CWA shop stewards from across New Jersey CWA Locals came together for a training session led by District One and CWANJ on how to successfully lobby NJ legislators to support our legislative priorities. After learning some strategies and being briefed on the issues, we were joined by Assemblyman and Labor Committee Chair Anthony Verrelli who spoke to us about his time as a carpenter and union leader and the importance of political participation.
We then marched over to the statehouse to sit down with legislators and make our demands. Members from the Department of Health, as well as nurses from other Locals shared their personal experiences with understaffing in our hospitals and called on legislators to cosponsor safe staffing legislation. Other members shared their struggles with accessing affordable housing and thanked legislators who helped pass a bill abolishing the Council on Affordable Housing which stalled the production of affordable housing for over a decade. Members got to see firsthand what it means to build political power, identify allies, and challenge politicians whose values don’t align with the working class.
When we came back together to debrief, many members shared that they felt empowered by their time lobbying for the issues that matter to us and our families. As we gear up for election season, it’s increasingly important for us to show up at the statehouse and the ballot box, and leverage our union power to win the fights that impact every working family in New Jersey.