Gov. Murphy signs bipartisan pro-labor bills supported by unions and workers groups

Gov. Phil Murphy on Sept. 3 signed a pair of bills with strong support from New Jersey’s labor unions and worker advocacy groups.

One of the bills promotes labor rights education; the other protects employees’ freedom to make workplace decisions free from coercion. Both bills passed with bipartisan votes in the New Jersey Legislature earlier this year.

“Workers are the backbone of our state,” Murphy said in a press release. “Today, we are honoring the history of the labor movement while strengthening workers’ rights. Our actions today will help ensure that students understand the history of labor’s fight for fair wages and safe workplaces, while also promoting respect for our democracy by shielding employees from mandatory political or religious workplace messaging.”

Murphy signed the bills at a time when labor union participation has reached historic lows: 9.9% of American workers belonged to a union in 2024, according to federal data, a steep decline from 20.1% of workers in 1983. Despite this trend, New Jersey boasted an approximate 6% higher union membership rate than the national percentage last year.

The first bill, A1682/S1054, directs the New Jersey State Board of Education to adopt standards for teaching the history of labor movements in the United States and New Jersey as part of required instruction for students in grades 6-12. Specifically, social studies curriculums must include the history of organized labor, notable strikes throughout history, unionization drives, and the collective bargaining process and existing legal protections in the workplace. The bill directs the board to create “age appropriate” learning activities and “inclusive materials that portray the political, economic, and societal contributions of individuals involved in the labor movement.”

New Jersey public school districts will have to begin providing the new curriculum material beginning with the 2026-2027 school year.

“Labor history is American history,” New Jersey Education Association President Steve Beatty said. “As a history teacher and labor leader, I understand the direct connection between strong unions and a more prosperous American working class. Students should understand the hardships endured and sacrifices made by working women and men of every generation as they fought for safer working conditions, better pay and retirement security. So many of their hard-won gains are under attack today. When students understand the past, they are better equipped to work for a brighter future.”

The second bill, A4429/S3302, expands state laws that prohibit employers from requiring employees to attend or listen to political or religious communications in the workplace. It states that employers can no longer make employees participate in mandatory meetings regarding the decision to join or support a labor organization or association, often referred to as “captive audience” meetings. According to the governor’s office, some employers use these meetings as a way “to try and dissuade and threaten employees from forming or joining a union.”

The legislation provides for certain exemptions to protect employers, in cases such as the need to deliver legally required information or conduct workplace anti-harassment and anti-discrimination training. An employer may also still hold meetings or provide other materials as long as they make it clear to employees that these communications are voluntary and they won’t face penalties for refusing them.

“These new laws address two important issues – protecting workers’ rights to free speech in the workplace by banning ‘captive audience’ meetings and educating students about the role unions play in the economy and society,” said Charles Wowkanech, president of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, the state chapter of the national federation of labor unions. “The labor education law is important because many of these students will soon enter the workforce, and because of this law, they will be knowledgeable about how and why unions are formed and are necessary. Understanding the positive contributions made by unions is important and will now be taught in grades 6-12 so students have a better understanding and knowledge of how relevant organized labor is. Collectively, these two new laws illustrate that New Jersey continues to be a strong union state.”