Please take a moment to send a free automatic pre-written e-mail and fax to Governor Corzine asking him to sign into law legislation to extend the worker notice requirement when businesses are about to layoff a large number of workers.

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I respectfully ask you to please sign into law A-1044 (Van Drew / Sweeney), which would provide protections for workers resulting from plant closings and mass layoffs.

The impact of international trade and outsourcing on New Jersey jobs over the past two decades has had dramatic negative effects on our manufacturing base as well as technology driven jobs. Significant trade related reforms are required at the state level, including additional WARN Act reforms, and a simple 30 day extension of a notice to a mass number of employees is a small attempt to remedy the hardship associated with job loss in our communities.

The legislation would extend the current worker notification period from the federal mandate of 60 days, to 90 days. In the case that corporations are not in compliance with the layoff notification provision, a severance pay equal to one week of wages for each year of work by the employee would be provided.

Workers losing their jobs due to a plant closing should be afforded the maximum notification time in order to minimize the negative consequences on themselves and their families. Under our current system, it is very difficult for many workers to find new employment in 60 days or be retrained for a new career in that time period. Workers deserve to be made aware of their pending layoff as soon as possible, so they can begin pursuing other employment or training. If signed into law, this bill would benefit the regional economy by fostering a quicker transition to employment and consequently a reduction in unemployment.

If signed into law, this bill would give momentum for reforms contained in A-1044 as well as other necessary WARN Act reforms to be enacted at the federal level. The federal WARN Act is currently riddled with loopholes and considered ?toothless? and ineffective by most worker advocates.

Thank you for your attention to this matter and I look forward to hearing from you on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
September 21, 2007