Election Center 2015
Yes, we know elections matter, we hear it all the time. So what makes this one so important? There are no Governors or Presidents running this year, not even NJ Senators. Only NJ Assembly, County Freeholder races, local municipal races and one NJ special election for NJ Senate in the 5th district are on the ballots this year.
These are, in fact, races that determine the quality of life in our neighborhoods, our community’s safety, our workplace rights and standards for NJ’s healthcare system. These elected officials are closest to where we live and work – our Mayors, County Freeholders and our NJ Assembly members
It will be what some call a ‘low-turn-out year’, and that means your vote counts – a lot. There won’t be lots of commercials, paid ads, TV time and media attention to many of these races. That’s why we have to pay attention, understand the issues and get out and vote.
Who do you want to determine whether or not your union rights are protected ? Who should decide whether and how hospitals consolidate or close, and how much transparency to bring to for-profit healthcare? How do you want our NJ Assembly and County leaders to measure the merits of the privatization of public hospitals?
If you want to protect health care in Newark, Bergen County and throughout our state; if you want support the next time your hospital or employer threatens to lock you and your colleagues out, you and I need to vote on November 3. We all need to show support to the candidates who have walked our picket lines, supported our rights and stood up for health care for all.
Here on this site, you will find the candidates that HPAE’s members of the Committee on Political Education (COPE) are recommending, after carefully reviewing voting records and positions on issues of critical importance to HPAE members.
Each week, we will highlight candidates in key races, where the level of voter turnout will make the difference — candidates who matter to our families’ security, our communities and our workplace rights. I hope you will take action to support those who stand with us in critical times.
New Jersey Residents: Take Action! Join Us for “Labor Walks” & Phone Banking
Pennsylvania Residents: Take Action! Join Us for “Labor Walks” & Phone Banking
HPAE’s Priority Issues
Click here to download a list of candidates officially endorsed by HPAE for New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Each year, the HPAE Committee on Political Education (COPE) evaluates candidates for elected office. We start by sending a questionnaire to the candidates, asking for their views and positions on HPAE’s priority issues. Once the questionnaires are received, HPAE COPE then schedules interviews with candidates so that they can discuss in more detail their positions and respond to questions from COPE members. The questionnaires and interviews provide HPAE COPE with the information needed to make formal recommendations of endorsements to the HPAE State Executive Council (SEC).
After receiving HPAE COPE’s recommendations, the SEC votes on the list of endorsed candidates. We support candidates – whether Democratic or Republican – who have a pro-labor, pro-healthcare record and set of positions. Over the next few weeks, HPAE will announce which candidates we have voted to endorse in the NJ General Assembly and select Freeholder races.
For your review, below is a list of the priority issues for which COPE is asking the candidates to state their positions.
1) Safe Nurse Staffing
Nurse staffing guidelines for patient care in hospitals and ambulatory care centers in New Jersey have not been updated since 1987. Technology, reduced hospital stays, and patient care have undergone drastic changes, but the state regulations have remained stagnant, unchanged, and unenforced. More than 30 research studies have shown a relationship between the number of nurses on duty and medical errors, negative patient outcomes and even patient deaths.
Do you support legislation, S1183/A647 establishing minimum nurse-to-patient ratios as a measure to improve patient safety and retain nurses?
2) Paid Sick Days
More than two in five private sector workers do not have a single paid sick day to recover from common, short-term illnesses.
Do you support A2354/S785 to require employers to provide for ‘Earned’ sick days to improve the quality of life for all citizens?
3) Protecting Public Employee Pensions and Benefits
New Jersey’s public unions have filed a lawsuit to force Governor Christie to make the full, legally-required payment into the pension for Fiscal Year 2016 (the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2015). NJ’s public employees contribute their own money into pension funds and their required contribution has increased while New Jersey has ignored its fiscal responsibility in response to the state’s budget crises.
Do you agree New Jersey should live up to its obligation of making the required annual payment into the system?
4) Transparency and Accountability for Healthcare Finances
For-profit hospitals are required to provide far less public information regarding their finances and governance than not-for-profit hospitals. For example, for-profits are not required to disclose CEO salaries, monies paid to consultants and contractors, or self-dealing among board members.
Do you agree that NJ consumers and public officials should have the right to know how public funds are spent at for-profit hospitals?
5) New Jersey Right To Work Act
Currently, unions which represent public employees can negotiate with the employer a contract provision which requires all employees represented by the union to pay either 1) union membership dues or 2) an “agency fee” payment, which represents the per capita cost of the union’s membership representation activities. A180 prohibits public employers and public employee unions from negotiating this provision in a contract. Because A180 is intended to weaken public employee unions and create divisions among the membership, we strongly oppose this bill.
Do you support A180 which establishes the New Jersey “Right to Work” Act?
6) Hospital Inspections
The Division of Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing in the NJ Department of Health is responsible for regulatory oversight of New Jersey’s various healthcare facilities. In previous years, hospital inspections were conducted on an annual basis, yet under the current Administration inspections are conducted only in response to a complaint.
Will you support legislation to require that the Department of Health resume regular inspections of New Jersey healthcare facilities?
For more information on COPE and the endorsement process please contact Jean Pierce, HPAE Public Policy Staff at jpierce@hpae.org.Yes, we know elections matter, we hear it all the time. So what makes this one so important? There are no Governors or Presidents running this year, not even NJ Senators. Only NJ Assembly, County Freeholder races, local municipal races and one NJ special election for NJ Senate in the 5th district are on the ballots this year.
These are, in fact, races that determine the quality of life in our neighborhoods, our community’s safety, our workplace rights and standards for NJ’s healthcare system. These elected officials are closest to where we live and work – our Mayors, County Freeholders and our NJ Assembly members
It will be what some call a ‘low-turn-out year’, and that means your vote counts – a lot. There won’t be lots of commercials, paid ads, TV time and media attention to many of these races. That’s why we have to pay attention, understand the issues and get out and vote.
Who do you want to determine whether or not your union rights are protected ? Who should decide whether and how hospitals consolidate or close, and how much transparency to bring to for-profit healthcare? How do you want our NJ Assembly and County leaders to measure the merits of the privatization of public hospitals?
If you want to protect health care in Newark, Bergen County and throughout our state; if you want support the next time your hospital or employer threatens to lock you and your colleagues out, you and I need to vote on November 3. We all need to show support to the candidates who have walked our picket lines, supported our rights and stood up for health care for all.
Here on this site, you will find the candidates that HPAE’s members of the Committee on Political Education (COPE) are recommending, after carefully reviewing voting records and positions on issues of critical importance to HPAE members.
Each week, we will highlight candidates in key races, where the level of voter turnout will make the difference — candidates who matter to our families’ security, our communities and our workplace rights. I hope you will take action to support those who stand with us in critical times.
New Jersey Residents: Take Action! Join Us for “Labor Walks” & Phone Banking
Pennsylvania Residents: Take Action! Join Us for “Labor Walks” & Phone Banking
HPAE’s Priority Issues
Click here to download a list of candidates officially endorsed by HPAE for New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Each year, the HPAE Committee on Political Education (COPE) evaluates candidates for elected office. We start by sending a questionnaire to the candidates, asking for their views and positions on HPAE’s priority issues. Once the questionnaires are received, HPAE COPE then schedules interviews with candidates so that they can discuss in more detail their positions and respond to questions from COPE members. The questionnaires and interviews provide HPAE COPE with the information needed to make formal recommendations of endorsements to the HPAE State Executive Council (SEC).
After receiving HPAE COPE’s recommendations, the SEC votes on the list of endorsed candidates. We support candidates – whether Democratic or Republican – who have a pro-labor, pro-healthcare record and set of positions. Over the next few weeks, HPAE will announce which candidates we have voted to endorse in the NJ General Assembly and select Freeholder races.
For your review, below is a list of the priority issues for which COPE is asking the candidates to state their positions.
1) Safe Nurse Staffing
Nurse staffing guidelines for patient care in hospitals and ambulatory care centers in New Jersey have not been updated since 1987. Technology, reduced hospital stays, and patient care have undergone drastic changes, but the state regulations have remained stagnant, unchanged, and unenforced. More than 30 research studies have shown a relationship between the number of nurses on duty and medical errors, negative patient outcomes and even patient deaths.
Do you support legislation, S1183/A647 establishing minimum nurse-to-patient ratios as a measure to improve patient safety and retain nurses?
2) Paid Sick Days
More than two in five private sector workers do not have a single paid sick day to recover from common, short-term illnesses.
Do you support A2354/S785 to require employers to provide for ‘Earned’ sick days to improve the quality of life for all citizens?
3) Protecting Public Employee Pensions and Benefits
New Jersey’s public unions have filed a lawsuit to force Governor Christie to make the full, legally-required payment into the pension for Fiscal Year 2016 (the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2015). NJ’s public employees contribute their own money into pension funds and their required contribution has increased while New Jersey has ignored its fiscal responsibility in response to the state’s budget crises.
Do you agree New Jersey should live up to its obligation of making the required annual payment into the system?
4) Transparency and Accountability for Healthcare Finances
For-profit hospitals are required to provide far less public information regarding their finances and governance than not-for-profit hospitals. For example, for-profits are not required to disclose CEO salaries, monies paid to consultants and contractors, or self-dealing among board members.
Do you agree that NJ consumers and public officials should have the right to know how public funds are spent at for-profit hospitals?
5) New Jersey Right To Work Act
Currently, unions which represent public employees can negotiate with the employer a contract provision which requires all employees represented by the union to pay either 1) union membership dues or 2) an “agency fee” payment, which represents the per capita cost of the union’s membership representation activities. A180 prohibits public employers and public employee unions from negotiating this provision in a contract. Because A180 is intended to weaken public employee unions and create divisions among the membership, we strongly oppose this bill.
Do you support A180 which establishes the New Jersey “Right to Work” Act?
6) Hospital Inspections
The Division of Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing in the NJ Department of Health is responsible for regulatory oversight of New Jersey’s various healthcare facilities. In previous years, hospital inspections were conducted on an annual basis, yet under the current Administration inspections are conducted only in response to a complaint.
Will you support legislation to require that the Department of Health resume regular inspections of New Jersey healthcare facilities?
For more information on COPE and the endorsement process please contact Jean Pierce, HPAE Public Policy Staff at jpierce@hpae.org.Yes, we know elections matter, we hear it all the time. So what makes this one so important? There are no Governors or Presidents running this year, not even NJ Senators. Only NJ Assembly, County Freeholder races, local municipal races and one NJ special election for NJ Senate in the 5th district are on the ballots this year.
These are, in fact, races that determine the quality of life in our neighborhoods, our community’s safety, our workplace rights and standards for NJ’s healthcare system. These elected officials are closest to where we live and work – our Mayors, County Freeholders and our NJ Assembly members
It will be what some call a ‘low-turn-out year’, and that means your vote counts – a lot. There won’t be lots of commercials, paid ads, TV time and media attention to many of these races. That’s why we have to pay attention, understand the issues and get out and vote.
Who do you want to determine whether or not your union rights are protected ? Who should decide whether and how hospitals consolidate or close, and how much transparency to bring to for-profit healthcare? How do you want our NJ Assembly and County leaders to measure the merits of the privatization of public hospitals?
If you want to protect health care in Newark, Bergen County and throughout our state; if you want support the next time your hospital or employer threatens to lock you and your colleagues out, you and I need to vote on November 3. We all need to show support to the candidates who have walked our picket lines, supported our rights and stood up for health care for all.
Here on this site, you will find the candidates that HPAE’s members of the Committee on Political Education (COPE) are recommending, after carefully reviewing voting records and positions on issues of critical importance to HPAE members.
Each week, we will highlight candidates in key races, where the level of voter turnout will make the difference — candidates who matter to our families’ security, our communities and our workplace rights. I hope you will take action to support those who stand with us in critical times.
New Jersey Residents: Take Action! Join Us for “Labor Walks” & Phone Banking
Pennsylvania Residents: Take Action! Join Us for “Labor Walks” & Phone Banking
HPAE’s Priority Issues
Click here to download a list of candidates officially endorsed by HPAE for New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Each year, the HPAE Committee on Political Education (COPE) evaluates candidates for elected office. We start by sending a questionnaire to the candidates, asking for their views and positions on HPAE’s priority issues. Once the questionnaires are received, HPAE COPE then schedules interviews with candidates so that they can discuss in more detail their positions and respond to questions from COPE members. The questionnaires and interviews provide HPAE COPE with the information needed to make formal recommendations of endorsements to the HPAE State Executive Council (SEC).
After receiving HPAE COPE’s recommendations, the SEC votes on the list of endorsed candidates. We support candidates – whether Democratic or Republican – who have a pro-labor, pro-healthcare record and set of positions. Over the next few weeks, HPAE will announce which candidates we have voted to endorse in the NJ General Assembly and select Freeholder races.
For your review, below is a list of the priority issues for which COPE is asking the candidates to state their positions.
1) Safe Nurse Staffing
Nurse staffing guidelines for patient care in hospitals and ambulatory care centers in New Jersey have not been updated since 1987. Technology, reduced hospital stays, and patient care have undergone drastic changes, but the state regulations have remained stagnant, unchanged, and unenforced. More than 30 research studies have shown a relationship between the number of nurses on duty and medical errors, negative patient outcomes and even patient deaths.
Do you support legislation, S1183/A647 establishing minimum nurse-to-patient ratios as a measure to improve patient safety and retain nurses?
2) Paid Sick Days
More than two in five private sector workers do not have a single paid sick day to recover from common, short-term illnesses.
Do you support A2354/S785 to require employers to provide for ‘Earned’ sick days to improve the quality of life for all citizens?
3) Protecting Public Employee Pensions and Benefits
New Jersey’s public unions have filed a lawsuit to force Governor Christie to make the full, legally-required payment into the pension for Fiscal Year 2016 (the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2015). NJ’s public employees contribute their own money into pension funds and their required contribution has increased while New Jersey has ignored its fiscal responsibility in response to the state’s budget crises.
Do you agree New Jersey should live up to its obligation of making the required annual payment into the system?
4) Transparency and Accountability for Healthcare Finances
For-profit hospitals are required to provide far less public information regarding their finances and governance than not-for-profit hospitals. For example, for-profits are not required to disclose CEO salaries, monies paid to consultants and contractors, or self-dealing among board members.
Do you agree that NJ consumers and public officials should have the right to know how public funds are spent at for-profit hospitals?
5) New Jersey Right To Work Act
Currently, unions which represent public employees can negotiate with the employer a contract provision which requires all employees represented by the union to pay either 1) union membership dues or 2) an “agency fee” payment, which represents the per capita cost of the union’s membership representation activities. A180 prohibits public employers and public employee unions from negotiating this provision in a contract. Because A180 is intended to weaken public employee unions and create divisions among the membership, we strongly oppose this bill.
Do you support A180 which establishes the New Jersey “Right to Work” Act?
6) Hospital Inspections
The Division of Health Facilities Evaluation and Licensing in the NJ Department of Health is responsible for regulatory oversight of New Jersey’s various healthcare facilities. In previous years, hospital inspections were conducted on an annual basis, yet under the current Administration inspections are conducted only in response to a complaint.
Will you support legislation to require that the Department of Health resume regular inspections of New Jersey healthcare facilities?
For more information on COPE and the endorsement process please contact Jean Pierce, HPAE Public Policy Staff at jpierce@hpae.org.