U.S. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Gov. Phil Murphy will be the keynote speakers at the N.J. Building and Construction Trades Council annual convention, to be held Tuesday and Wednesday in Atlantic City at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
Chavez-DeRemer, who was sworn in earlier this year as the nation’s 30th Labor secretary, will be the keynote speaker on Tuesday. Murphy will be the featured speaker on Wednesday.
The N.J. Building and Construction Trades Council represents more than 150,000 rank-and-file members in 15 affiliated trades that comprise the construction industry.
Delegates to the convention will be asked to consider and approve endorsements of a bipartisan slate of legislative candidates running for election in November, all of whom earned the support of the Council’s leadership through an internal screening and vetting process that began with the Local Building and Construction Trades Councils.
“These legislative candidates have shown they have what it takes to earn our endorsement,” Council President Bill Mullen said. “They have demonstrated support to strengthen labor law enforcement, promote economic development, and help make New Jersey a more attractive and competitive place to do business.”
In addition to acting on legislative endorsements, the delegates will vote to adopt several resolutions, including urging the state to continue enforcing labor laws, do more to attract and maintain businesses, and advocate for permanent and steady funding for the state’s neediest school districts.
Mullen summed it up this way.
“As prices of everything from milk to mortgages continue to rise, the state can – and must – do more to build our economy, stave off competition from neighboring states, and ensure that children and teachers have safe and modern buildings in which to learn,” he said. “These overdue school building and renovation projects create thousands of family sustaining union construction jobs and position us for a stronger, more promising future.”
Numerous elected officials are expected to speak, including Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin (D) and both gubernatorial candidates: Mikie Sherrill (D) and Jack Ciattarelli (R).
Other electeds include:
Republican State Senators Jon Bramnick and Anthony Bucco and Assembly members Christian Barranco, John DiMaio and Michael Inganamort;
Democratic State Senators John Burzichelli, Vin Gopal and Gordon Johnson and Assembly members Wayne DeAngelo, Kevin Egan and Anthony Verrelli.
Additional scheduled speakers include State Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo and Jingoli CEO Joe Jingoli.
