GreenGram

The Green Party of New Jersey Bulletin

Labor Day 2000 - Special Edition

INSIDE:

Labor Endorses Nader

United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) voted at their annual convention August 30 to endorse Ralph Nader's candidacy for President, saying, "The wasted vote in this election would be for the pro-business Democrats and Republicans."  The UE joins the 31,000-member California Nurses Association and the 1,200-member AFSCME Local 1108 in endorsing Nader.

The 35,000-member independent union represents workers in manufacturing, public sector and private non-profit sector jobs.  The UE has endorsed just four other presidential candidates in its 65-year history.

The union praised Nader's pro-labor platform, which calls for triple back pay for workers fired illegally during an organizing drive, expanded power for the National Labor Relations Board to issue injunctions to stop unfair labor practices, a ban on the permanent replacement of strikers, and, most prominently, repeal of the anti-labor Taft-Hartley Act.

Nader's history of support for labor rights and his strong pro-labor platform have earned the enthusiastic support of growing numbers of rank-and-file union members, who are organizing Labor for Nader groups in major metropolitan areas around the country.

Green Candidates Support Verizon Strike

During the recent Verizon strike, Green candidates joined their local Verizon workers on the picket lines.  While Ralph Nader was speaking with strikers in Washington, DC, Green Party of New Jersey Congressional candidates "Gabe" Gabrielsky (district 2), Claudette Meliere (district 8) and Joe Fortunato (district 13) joined local picketers on the lines in New Jersey.

Why Labor is Voting Green

"Decades of corporate-controlled Democratic and Republican presidencies convince us that we have no choice but to escape the two-party trap," states a resolution passed by UE.  "Nader's energetic and principled candidacy will bring us closer to real labor law reform, national health care and a challenge to ­ if not controls on ­ the power of multinational corporations."

The union praised Nader's pro-labor platform, which calls for triple back pay for workers fired illegally during an organizing drive, expanded power for the National Labor Relations Board to issue injunctions to stop unfair labor practices, a ban on the permanent replacement of strikers, and, most prominently, repeal of the anti-labor Taft-Hartley Act.

California Nurses Association praised Nader's "outspoken stance on behalf of an overhaul of the nation's health care system, and strong advocacy of nurses' and patients' rights."

AFSCME Local 1108 ­ cited Nader's support of universal health care, expanded childcare and better wages for childcare workers as reasons for the endorsing Nader.

The Green Party strongly supports the rights of workers to organize, as well as championing a full range of workers rights and workplace quality programs.  The Green Party opposes international agreements that encourage worker exploitation abroad while diminishing worker opportunity in the US--including NAFTA, GATT, policies of the WTO and the granting of MFN status to China.

Why Everyone Should Vote Green

Social & Economic Justice

1.   Protect and promote workers' rights to join a union.

2.   Support a just transition for all workers displaced when an industry shuts down for environmental reasons.

3.   Oppose privatization of vital community services such as schools, hospitals and prisons.

4.   Support full funding for job creation.

5.   Advocate the right to a living wage.

6.   Support HR40, Congressman John Conyers' bill to appoint a commission to study reparations for African-Americans.

The Environment

1.   Clean up the nation's largest number of Superfund sites.  Make polluters pay.

2.   Reduce air pollution—New Jersey ranks among the highest in toxic air pollutants per square mile.

3.   Reduce toxic discharges—New Jersey has the 4th highest incidence of breast cancer and the highest mortality rate in the country.

4.   Shut down nuclear power plants, decommission them safely and replace them with renewable energy sources with full worker transition.

5.   Shut down failing garbage incinerators and implement the "3R's plus C"—Reduction, Reuse, Recycling and Composting.

6.   Address environmental justice problems.  Stop dumping toxics on the poorest communities.

7.   Insist on the highest standards for organic food labeling.

Education

1.   Provide all of New Jersey's students with equal access to quality education.

2.   Support adequate and fair funding for all school districts.

Candidates Corner

Aaron Kromash - Congressional Candidate - NJ District 3

In the next 25 years, the U.S. energy and transportation industries will experience shifts in technology as fundamental as those occurring in the computer and telephone industries today.  Even today, clean sources such as wind and solar power could generate most of the U.S.' electricity, and fuel cells and hybrid engines may soon provide our transportation.  This technology is ready now, without the need for expensive government subsidies.  Despite this fact, the U.S. is losing these fields to European competitors who are better supported by consumers and legislators alike.  What is needed is an opening of minds, not purse strings.

In Congress, Aaron M. Kromash will be a strong advocate for national initiatives to increase renewable energy production, create a nationwide rail system designed to reduce trucking and travel by automobile, and decentralize agriculture so that food is produced where food is consumed.  Through programs such as revised national building codes, Interstate-to-rail conversion, and community supported agriculture; Congressman Kromash will stand in the forefront of legislators working to convert our national economy to one based on sustainable practices.

Earl Gray - Congressional Candidate - NJ District 6

Earl Gray supports an Economic Program to replace the currently in-vogue Corporatism with Equitable Capitalism.  Corporatism includes false images of prosperity in the face of extreme poverty, rambo globalization, corporate power, corporate welfare, privatization of public functions, deceptive calls for deregulation, devolution, and diminishment.  As a member of Congress, Earl would sponsor legislation to enhance labor standards and conditions and to ensure environmentally sustainable economic activity.

He would keep the good of the people ahead of the good of the corporation.  Congressman Gray would sponsor legislation to eliminate ATM fees--keeping the interests of the people above the interests of the banking community and telling the banks that they can't charge for reducing their services!

Contact the Candidates

"Ask What You Can Do…" for Green Campaign 2000

Help Get Nader and LaDuke in the Debates

The Republicans and Democrats with support from large corporate funding, have established "entrance requirements" to the debates which are prohibitive to any alternative party candidate.  Join millions of Americans in demanding that Gore and Bush debate Nader.

·         Circulate a petition to get Nader in the debates among your co-workers.  The petition may be downloaded from the GPNJ website at www.gpnj.org/debate.

·         Write letters to the editor of your local newspapers demanding the inclusion of Nader in the debates.

·         Please spread the word to write/fax CNN and Associated Press daily to bring
up the issue of Nader's inclusion in the debates.

·         Write to the Debate Commission:  Commission on Presidential Debates site: http://www.debates.org

Let Other People Know

Many people who would welcome the opportunity to vote for Green candidates and who support Green ideas and programs simply are not aware of the Green Party or our exciting slate of candidates for 2000.  Let your friends, family, co-workers and associates know!  Since we do not take any corporate or PAC funds, we don't have a huge advertising budget.  We are relying on you to be the Green "ad campaign!"

If you need campaign materials (flyers, brochures, bumper stickers, buttons, lawn signs), call our materials coordinator 201-795-5329 or email  at 732-777-0489, email robertsgarden@earthlink.net.

Volunteer

Green Campaign 2000 needs volunteers for routine campaign chores such as placing signs, handing out flyers and stuffing envelopes and for leadership positions in organizing in neighborhoods, special interest communities and whole counties.  Contact our volunteer coordinator at 732-777-0489, email robertsgarden@earthlink.net or sign up at www.gpnj.org.

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