Senator

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would make it easier for non-unionized employees to organize to increase their negotiating power was approved by the Senate Labor Committee today by a vote of 3-0.

“The right of employees to organize in order to negotiate better contracts with employers has always been symbolic of the American ideals of hard work and determination winning out over classism and social division,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset. “By allowing employees to designate a majority spokesperson through card-check, we’re opening up the power to organize to occupations that have traditionally been closed off to organized labor. We’re giving employees in those occupations the right to choose a voice and have a seat at the negotiating table.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Bob Smith which would appropriate $6 million to the central New Jersey affiliate of the Cancer Institute of New Jersey (CINJ) to provide for comprehensive care and research was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 38-0.

“With our State’s unfortunate longtime reputation as a ‘cancer corridor’ state, New Jersey needs to show support for cancer treatment and research,” said Senator Smith, D-Middlesex and Somerset, the Chairman of the Senate Environment Committee. “To this end, New Jersey’s efforts have been recognized by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which recently named the Garden State as a ‘cancer control’ state, but simple designation isn’t enough to roll back the tide of the disease. We need to continue to provide funding for the top notch cancer treatment and cutting edge research that will someday yield a cure.”