Out-of-work Laborers beg Trenton to agree on transportation funding

Workers who have been out of a job for as long as two months because of a political impasse in Trenton are fanning out across the state to ramp up pressure on lawmakers to replenish funding for roads and bridges.

New Jersey members of the Laborers International Union of North America made stops Wednesday in Camden and Gloucester Counties, holding rallies outside the offices of State Sens. Jim Beach and Fred Madden, both Democrats.

Outside Beach's Cherry Hill district office Wednesday morning, a few dozen laid-off construction workers chanted:

"What do we want?"

"Work!"

"When do we want it?"

"Now!"

In Trenton, Gov. Christie and the Democratic-controlled Legislature have been unable to reach an accord over how to replenish the state's empty Transportation Trust Fund.

Late Wednesday, Christie ordered the state treasurer to tap the general fund "to support transportation projects that are determined to be absolutely essential for the protection of the health, safety, and welfare of the people of the state of New Jersey, or are required to ensure the receipt of federal funding."

Christie's five-year funding plan expired in June. Late that month, the governor struck a deal with the Assembly to raise the state's tax on gasoline from 14.5 cents per gallon to 37.5 cents, in exchange for a cut in the sales tax.

But the Senate balked, arguing that the sales-tax reduction - from 7 percent to 6 percent - would blow a hole in the budget.

Without new funding, Christie ordered a shutdown of all nonessential transportation projects. That means 1,000 members of the Laborers union are out of work during peak construction season, according to a spokesman. Many roads cannot be repaired in the winter.

Union members also have rallied outside legislative offices in Cape May County and North Jersey.

In interviews outside Beach's office Wednesday, workers said they feared they would run out of unemployment benefits, lose health insurance, and be unable to pay their bills.

"We're out here fighting for our jobs," said Al Grates, 45. "It doesn't just hurt me; it hurts my whole family."

Jermaine Sumlin, 42, of Willingboro, brought his four children to the rally to show that while lawmakers are on vacation, "we're out here stressing out with our families."

Sumlin said he pays $275 a week for day care for Asa, 3, and Aden, 2. Tianna, 16, returns to school in two weeks, and Ayana, 18, starts at Rutgers University soon.

Paying for clothes, books, and supplies "will be rough," said Sumlin, who has been out of work for seven weeks. He said he had to cancel a planned trip to Puerto Rico over the holidays.

John Washington, 43, of Sicklerville, said he scans the newspaper every morning, hoping to find a new development in Trenton.

"It's very nerve-racking," he said.

The state needs people like Washington back to work, he said. He pointed to cracks on Route 70. "Look at that road. You see that road?"

aseidman@phillynews.com

856-779-3846 @AndrewSeidman