Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5) held a roundtable with more than 40 North Jersey union leaders at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 164 in Paramus right after Labor Day, discussing the cost of living, AI and the future of jobs, the next generation of workers, health care costs and taxes, he said on Sept. 14. Attendees included the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), firefighter and police unions, the Teamsters and construction unions.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-New Jersey's 5th District) held a roundtable with North Jersey union leaders at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 164 in Paramus right after Labor Day, he said on Monday, Sept. 14. Participants exchanged views on the burden of living costs, AI and the future of jobs, training the next generation of workers, health care costs and rising taxes.
"Unions built this state and this country and created the most competitive workforce in the world," Gottheimer said. "I will keep fighting in Washington for better pay, safer workplaces, more jobs, and the dignity and respect every worker deserves."
$10 Billion in Infrastructure Funding, Social Security Fairness Act, 12 Weeks of Paid Leave
His office said the bipartisan infrastructure law, which he helped write and negotiate, has directed more than $10 billion to road and bridge repairs in New Jersey, creating hundreds of thousands of construction and manufacturing jobs, and that he preserved Davis-Bacon provisions that help unions win infrastructure contracts and ensure workers are paid properly. He took part in drafting the Social Security Fairness Act, which allows public-sector pension recipients to also collect Social Security, and has introduced the FAMILY Act, which guarantees up to 12 weeks of paid leave for serious illness or family caregiving; the Workers' Tax Fairness Act, which makes union dues tax deductible; and the AI Workforce Training Act, which helps workers and businesses prepare for the spread of AI.
About 40 representatives attended the roundtable, including Tom Sullivan, a Bergen County commissioner and president of IBEW Local 164; Keith Misciagna, mayor of Park Ridge and an IBEW Local 164 officer; NJEA President Steve Beatty and the presidents of the Bergen, Sussex and Passaic county education associations; the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey and the Firemen's Mutual Benevolent Association; the Port Authority police lieutenants' association; the State Police union; Teamsters Locals 560, 863 and 127; the Health Professionals and Allied Employees (HPAE); Operating Engineers Local 825; and construction unions including ironworkers, carpenters, plumbers, roofers and bricklayers.