Legislation Raising the Minimum Wage Approved Along Party Lines

Bills Concerning Wage Theft & Fighting Sexual Assault of Hotel Workers Also Advance 

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO thanks the first prime Sponsor of A-15, Speaker Couglin (D-19), for his leadership on behalf of the working poor of New Jersey. Today, the Assembly Labor Committee voted to approve legislation that would increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024. The bill was released strictly along party lines with Assembly Democrats Egan (D-17), Moriarty (D-6), Houghtaling (D-11), Sumter (D-35), Huttle (D-38) and Verrelli (D-15) voting in favor. Republicans Auth (R-39), Space (R-24) and Wirths (R-24) voting against. 

The Senate companion (S-15: Prime Sponsor Senate President Sweeney) will be voted on this Monday, January 28, 2019, in the Senate Appropriations Committee. The bill to expand and improve the Paid Family Leave Insurance Program (S-2528: Sweeney / Diegnan / Ruiz), a longtime priority of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, will also be heard in the same committee.

Also released from the same committee was A-2903, sponsored by Assemblywomen Quijano (D-19) and Lampitt (D-6).  The bill, supported by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, would impose penalties for wage theft.

Finally, the New Jersey State AFL-CIO and UNITE HERE Local 54 testified before the State Local Government Committee in support of A-4439, sponsored by Assembly members Armato (D-2) and Mazzeo (D-2).  The bill seeks to establish a panic button program for hotel workers to combat sexual harassment and assault. The bill was released unanimously.

Thank you to the legislators that voted in support of these two bills and thank you to all the affiliates that were in Trenton today continuing to push for the passage of these important pro-worker pieces of legislation.