New Jersey’s essential workers united in solidarity Monday for a Labor Day rally calling for change.

“We are here today demanding that workers in New Jersey have the right to work with dignity and respect and refuse work that is unsafe for them,” said Kevin Escobar, with the Wind and Spirit Immigrant Resource Center in Morristown.

Escobar was one of many advocates supporting New Jersey’s teachers and warehouse, airport and construction workers. They marched down Broad Street and Elizabeth Avenue leading to a rally at Scott Park in front of Elizabeth City Hall.

Workers shared their stories of working in unsafe conditions when the pandemic first started – companies not following health protocols and people not respecting social distancing. They demanded that Gov. Phil Murphy and state leaders enact and enforce workplace health and safety standards.

"If we had a streamline, it would be easy to estimate complaints and advise the state of when people are in violation and making their employees unsafe,” says Hillside Mayor Dahlia Vertreese.

An Executive Order Violation Reporting Form is already in place on the state's website allowing people to anonymously report if an employer, organization or entity has violated an executive order. But demonstrators said that the response is too slow, and are hoping additional standards from state will provide swift action.

The demonstrators said that all workers deserve to work in conditions that are safe according to Occupational Safety and Health Administration standards.