The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is proud to congratulate our union brother, Rob Garrison, on his appointment to the Westfield Board of Education.

Starting TODAY, Workers Can Use Their Accrued Sick Days

As of today, February 26, 2019, workers who started receiving paid sick leave when the law took effect last October can begin taking advantage of their accrued sick days.

On Friday, February 22, Congressman Donald Norcross announced that the memorial to Labor Day founder Peter J. McGuire is now part of the National Register of Historic Places.

Organized Labor Celebrates Gov. Murphy's Signing of Paid Family Leave Reform Law

Today, Governor Murphy signed into law Paid Family Leave Reform legislation (S-2528: Sweeney/Diegnan/Ruiz & A-3975: Quijano/Giblin/Downey). The bill extends the paid leave period from six weeks to 12 weeks, increases the benefit amount from two-thirds of a claimant’s average weekly wage to 70 percent of that wage with a higher maximum threshold, and expands job protection to businesses with 30 employees or more. 

On Monday, February 4, Governor Murphy signed A-15/S-15, a landmark piece of legislation gradually increasing New Jersey’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024. Once fully phased in, this long-awaited wage hike will directly benefit an estimated one million or more workers.

Today, Governor Murphy signed into law A-15/S-15, which gradually increases the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024.

“Today is a vision realized for New Jersey’s working poor and the advocates that have fought for years on their behalf” stated New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech.  Together with our affiliated unions, community partners and labor legislators, workers now have the opportunity to realize a decent standard of living.”

Yesterday two major legislative goals of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and reforming the state’s Paid Family Leave program were passed by both houses of the state legislature. 

It was a busy day at the State House today as several pro-labor bills advanced in the legislature.  We sincerely thank legislative leaders, sponsors and all the legislators that voted in favor of two long time priorities for the New Jersey State AFL-CIO – raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and reforming the state’s Paid Family Leave program. Complete vote tallys will be distributed tomorrow.