New Jersey State AFL-CIO

06/11/2026

06/01/2026

Today, the New Jersey labor movement took a strong stand against the blatant exploitation of workers misclassified as as independent contractors in micro-transit programs.

A-3315 (Sampson / Quijano / Verrelli / Murphy / Danielsen / Reynolds-Jackson / Miller / Egan) was released with bi-partisan support by a vote of 11-3. Voting in favor were Assembly members Chairman Calabrese (D-38), Vice-Chairman Karabinchak (D-18), Carter (D-22), Kennedy (D-22), Moen (D-5), Sampson (D-31), Katz (D-8), Onyema (D-28), Walker (D-31), Macurdy (D-21) and McClellan (R-1). Voting against the bill were Assembly members Ingamort (R-24), McGuckin (R-10) and Clifton (R-12).

The voice of labor was amplified as labor leaders from every sector of our labor movement joined together to testify before the Assembly Transportation Committee knowing how important A-3315, which requires labor law compliance for the micro-transit industry is. We especially thank our union brothers Assemblymen Sampson, Verrelli, and Egan, along with AFT, ATU, the Burlington Central Labor Council, HPAE, IUPAT, LIUNA, the Mercer Central Labor Council, the Passaic Central Labor Council, SMART TD, Sheetmetal workers Local 27, the Southern New Jersey Central Labor Council, and UNITE HERE Local 54 for taking the time to testify and for their support.

06/01/2026

"The perfect storm of AI and the growth of app-based “gigification” is causing havoc for workers, and these technologies are accelerating at a pace that will make the future quite bleak for a large swath of them," writes New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech in a op-ed for NJ.com.

To read the full op-ed go to: https://www.nj.com/opinion/2026/05/nj-union-leader-ai-and-app-based-work-are-racing-to-destroy-the-american-middle-class.html

05/25/2026

On Memorial Day we honor the courageous men and women who gave their lives for their country. Our thoughts and prayers are with our fallen soldiers and their families and with the men and women who have served or are currently serving our nation overseas. Their service makes our everyday freedoms possible.

We must not take all they have sacrificed for our democracy for granted. United under one labor movement, we will continue to fight to preserve our fundamental freedoms and mobilize like never before to ensure that generations of union members, including the over one million veterans in our nation’s labor movement, continue to be able to exercise their hard won rights.

On this Memorial Day, we extend our deepest gratitude to the families who have lost their loved ones who fought valiantly for our freedom.

05/20/2026

Please take a moment RIGHT NOW to ask your State Senator and two Assembly members to co-sponsor legislation seeking to end the exploitation of workers in this industry.

To send an email go to: https://act.aflcio.org/letters/take-action-19/

Micro-transit is an industry that is rapidly growing in New Jersey. Unscrupulous companies that contract with local governments to perform the services often misclassify their drivers as independent contractors, instead of employees. These companies are violating labor laws in New Jersey every day they operate and industry is in desperate need of reform.

When these workers are misclassified, they lose the ability to access all worker protection programs and benefits, including workers compensation, unemployment insurance, overtime, minimum wage, temporary disability insurance, paid sick leave, employer provided health insurance and pensions, paid family leave and are barred from joining or forming a union because they are not covered by the NLRA. Independent contractor’s get none of these benefits enjoyed by employees.

Micro-transit operators pick up residents using an app and drive them anywhere in the jurisdiction for between $2-$5 cost to the rider. The local government pays for the balance, which varies between $14 – $50 per ride. Once such operator – Via Transportation, was recently fined by the New Jersey Department of Labor for over $1.5 million for breaking wage and hour laws, yet they continue to get paid with your tax dollars and continue to exploit these workers.

Legislation (S-2931: Mukherji / Diegnan / McKnight / Singleton / Turner) / A-3315: Sampson / Quijano / Verrelli / Murphy / Danielson / Reynolds-Jackson / Miller) has been introduced that would simply require companies providing microtransit services to follow the law (classify their workers as employees) in order to receive these types of tax payer funded contracts in the future.

05/20/2026

TAKE ACTION! Ask your Legislators to Co-Sponsor Legislation to Regulate AI’s Impact on Workers and Public Services.
Please take a moment and send a pre-written e-mail to your State Senator and two Assembly members asking them to cosponsor this important bill!

To send an email go to: https://act.aflcio.org/letters/take-action-ask-your-legislators-to-co-sponsor-legislation-to-regulate-ais-impact-on-workers-and-public-services/

American workers are increasingly hired, compensated, disciplined, and fired by algorithms that are vague, error-prone, and discriminatory; workers faces, office badge swipes, email exchanges, browsing histories, keystrokes, driving patterns, and rest times are scanned to monitor them continuously. Even activities outside working hours, such as social media usage and attempts to organize are susceptible to employer surveillance and scrutiny via artificial intelligence (AI).

S-4075 (Zwicker / Singleton / Diegnan) / A-4981 (Simmons) sets reasonable guardrails on AI systems used in workplaces and in the provision of public services. The bill regulates AI tools used to collect and process extensive information about workers and jobs and benefit applicants. It regulates AI systems used in making employment-related decisions such as hiring and firing, and regulates AI systems used in making decisions about providing public benefits and services.

05/14/2026

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO congratulates Labor Candidate Anthony Vauss, a member of IUOE 68, for his re-election as Irvington mayor, serving for a 4th term. Anthony Vauss was first elected as mayor in 2014, through our Labor Candidates Program.

05/11/2026

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO thanks all the union representatives and worker advocates that testified in today's Senate Labor Committee to stress the importance of the recently enacted regulations from the Department of Labor concerning the ABC test for determining classification status as either an employee or an independent contractor. To read the full statement, go to https://njaflcio.org/today-in-the-state-house-hours-of-testimony-in-support-of-recently-enacted-regulations-on-the-abc-test-for-independent-contractor-status-determination-presented-to-the-senate-labor-committee/

05/06/2026

New Jersey State AFL-CIO Commends the Sherrill Administration and the State Department of Labor for Adopting Worker Classification Regulations

New regulations were adopted today that give clear guidance to both employers and workers so proper classification as either an independent contractor or employee can more easily be determined.

Worker classification and the unlawful practice of misclassification by employers is a significant problem in today’s workforce. When workers are misclassified as independent contractors rather than as employees, workers are stripped from eligibility from a number of earned benefits, including unemployment insurance, temporary disability insurance, workers compensation, paid family leave, earned sick days, overtime, minimum wage, access to employer provided health insurance and pensions and the right to form and join a union.

Furthermore, the state is estimated to lose over $500 million a year in payroll taxes due to misclassification because employers are not required to pay these taxes on independent contractors. Misclassification also places legitimate businesses at a competitive disadvantage in the bidding process because labor costs are significantly reduced for the companies that intentionally misclassify their workers as independent contractors rather than as employees.

“This is a positive step forward in assisting businesses and workers alike so they can better understand the ABC test and properly apply it to their workforce” said New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech. “This isn’t a union vs. non-union issue, nor is it intended to hurt legitimate businesses. We respect the work schedule flexibility that independent contractors enjoy and we have no issue with legitimate independent contractors. However, when intentionally misclassified, businesses drastically increase profits on the backs of working people, and that must end” he concluded.