NJ Carpenters Union Applaud Legislature and Governor Murphy For Strengthening Apprenticeship Standards

EAS Carpenters Union Thanks NJ Leaders for Creating Higher Standards in NJ Apprenticeship Programs, Lobbied for Changes

(Edison, NJ) The Eastern Atlantic State Regional Council of Carpenters applauded New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy for signing Senate Bill 4207 into law today. The bill amended “The Public Works Contractor Registration Act” to create stronger enforcement measures for apprenticeship program requirements on public work projects. Additional requirements also include a certificate of compliance with federal apprenticeship requirements on New Jersey public works projects.

“Governor Murphy has taken another step to create a fairer and safer construction industry in the State of New Jersey,” said William C. Sproule, Executive Secretary-Treasurer for the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, “Apprentice programs are the lifeblood of our industry and ensuring that they meet the highest possible standards protects workers and the general public. I am a proud carpenter who graduated from a union apprenticeship program and continue to work every day to improve, protect, and provide that same high level of education to the next generation of New Jersey Carpenters.”

“Too many times we see ‘apprenticeships in name only’ sneak their way in on public works projects,” said Anthony Abrantes, Assistant Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, “Allowing these low standard programs on taxpayer funded projects creates unsafe conditions for workers and cheats the New Jersey taxpayers. Governor Murphy took a positive step today and we thank him and all the legislators that helped pass this bill.”

The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters represents over 41,000 of the most skilled carpenters who live and work in Delaware, The District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Virginia, and West Virginia. In New Jersey alone the union represents 13,000 carpenters. EAS Carpenters are trained in many different trades, including:  commercial/residential carpentry; heavy highway; piledriving; floor-layering; mill cabinet work; and tradeshow construction. The Union’s two state-of-the-art training centers are located Edison and Hammonton New Jersey where over 1,000 apprentices trained in 2021 alone