Steve Sweeney

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Stephen M. Sweeney which would require certain larger companies to give pre-notification of certain plant closings and mass layoffs was unanimously approved today by the Senate Labor Committee.

“When an employer resorts to cost-saving measures like plant closings and mass layoffs, they’re saying the bottom line is more important than the livelihood of their workers,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem, the Chair of the Senate Labor Committee. “Unfortunately, though, layoffs are part of the reality of the business world. However, with his bill, we’re ensuring that New Jersey’s employers provide fair warning, rather than blindsiding their employees, many of whom may not be ready to change course in their careers at the drop of a hat.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Steve Sweeney that would protect employees who choose not to participate in deception or fraudulent behavior against shareholders, investors, clients and other bodies with interest in a corporate whistle blower’s company received final legislative approval today by the Assembly.

“This bill will help protect workers who have the integrity to stand up and report wrongdoing,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem, who chairs the Senate Labor Committee. “These honest workers are placing their jobs in jeopardy by speaking up about fraudulent practices on the part of their employers, and they need the protection of this bill in order to prevent retaliatory firing.”

BRIDGETON – A new environmental protection law championed by Senators Stephen M. Sweeney and John H. Adler will increase financial penalties by a whopping 800 percent for oil transport and shipping companies that are culpable for spills harming New Jersey waterways.

The measure (S-2311) was signed into law today by Acting Governor Richard J. Codey at a ceremony in Bridgeton.

THOROFARE – Senator Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem, the Senate sponsor of the law to raise the minimum wage by $2 in New Jersey, released the following statement today following an event held by Governor Richard J. Codey at the Bergen County One-Stop Career Center to kick off the wage increase. The increase’s first installment of $1 goes into effect on Saturday.

“Saturday will trigger the start of giving dignity to New Jersey’s workers as they strive for self-sufficiency. The majority of workers earning minimum wage have families to support, and this increase will help them make ends meet more easily. I chose to sponsor this law because I feel it’s time New Jersey worked to ease the burden on its minimum wage earners – it’s just the right thing to do.”