AFSCME New Jersey Responds to Governor Murphy’s Announcement on Mandatory Vaccines

Trenton, NJ – AFSCME New Jersey Council 63 members have been on the front lines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring that patients and communities across New Jersey are safe. The recent spread of the COVID-19 Delta variant is threatening the public and economic health of people across New Jersey, while adding an additional burden to frontline workers. We strongly encourage all New Jersey citizens, including AFSCME New Jersey members, to get vaccinated as soon as possible. This is in everyone’s best interest.

However, it has been our stance from the beginning that if the State of New Jersey – or any Employer – intends to mandate the vaccine or weekly testing, they must first meet with us to bargain over the impact of their decision. This is clearly an issue over which the State of New Jersey, and any employer, is required to bargain.

We are happy to announce that the Governor’s office agreed this morning to bargain over the impact of mandating the vaccine or weekly testing for the state workers that we represent. We applaud their willingness to negotiate the impact of this policy and we look forward to working together to find a resolution that makes sense for the state as well as AFSCME members. We hope Governor Murphy’s willingness to bargain with us serves as an example to other employers across the state who intend to mandate the vaccine or weekly testing.

AFSCME’s 1.6 million members provide the vital services that make America happen. With members in hundreds of different occupations — from nurses to corrections officers, child care providers to sanitation workers — AFSCME advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services and prosperity and opportunity for all working families.

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