Some relief could be on the way from the high gas prices that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. President Joe Biden announced Thursday the U.S. will release 1 million barrels of oil each day from the nation’s strategic reserves in order to help reduce prices. The administration plans to tap the Strategic Petroleum Reserve for the next six months to allow time for domestic oil producers to ramp up production.
Gas prices in New Jersey are currently averaging just under $4.20 a gallon. Meantime, the state Division of Consumer Affairs says it received more than 90 complaints about gas price gouging, more complaints in one month than in the past two years combined.
Ballot counting is underway after Amazon workers in Staten Island and Alabama voted on whether to unionize. One local labor leader expects to see a resurgence in organized labor. Rich Maroko is president of the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, which opened its first office in New Jersey last week, after workers at 10 New Jersey hotels voted to ratify contracts with the union.
Some companies are finding they have to give better wages to attract workers. The latest to do that is the Santander bank, which is raising its minimum wage from $17 to $20 an hour. The bank says it wants to attract and retain top talent.
Nineteen community-based nonprofits around the state will share $14.25 million in funding from the Department of Community Affairs. This is the largest amount ever awarded under the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program. Organizations will use the funding to put in place plans to address housing and economic development in their communities along with job training and other programs.
