Madden Bills Concerning Labor Harmony Agreements Advances

Trenton –A package of bills sponsored by Senate Labor Committee Chair Senator Fred Madden, which would address labor harmony agreements for certain projects, passed the Senate Labor Committee today.

“Investment is both essential and risky,” said Senator Madden (D-Camden/Gloucester). “As a state we give incentives to minimize the risk because it often takes years before investors get to see any return at all. This bill is to insure that after a project is completed and a business is operational, that it wouldn’t also be at risk losing the labor needed to run. We all have a stake in the success of our businesses and this is to make sure we minimize the risk as best we can so as to give them the strongest possible opportunity for success.”

The first bill, S-3923, would require that the state include a labor harmony agreement as part of a contract entered with a contractor in connection with hospitality business projects.

The second bill, S-3948, would require that the state include a labor harmony agreement as part of a contract entered with a contractor in connection with retail business projects.

During the duration of each respected labor harmony agreement, any participating labor organizations representing either hospitality workers or retail workers would refrain from picketing, work stoppages, boycotts, or other interference against the contractor.

The duration of the labor harmony agreements would be no less than five years, and if a successor or subcontractor enters the project, they would also enter into an agreement no less than five years in duration.

The bills were release from committee by the votes of 3-0 and 3-0 respectively, and will now head to the full Senate for further consideration.