Today, Governor Murphy vetoed S-2663 / A-4765 (Sweeney / Singleton / Mazzeo / Murphy), which sought to apply responsible contractor provisions to investments made by the New Jersey State Division of Investments. 

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO is pleased to announce that three members of the New Jersey congressional delegation have introduced bills to prevent government shutdowns and protect federal employees and contractors. 

Legislation Raising the Minimum Wage Approved by Two Committees 

Bills Concerning Wage Theft, Paid Family Leave Reform and Assistance to Furloughed Workers Also Advance

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO thanks the first prime Sponsor of S-15, Senate President Sweeney (D-3), for his leadership on behalf of the working poor of New Jersey. Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee voted to approve legislation that would increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2024. The bill was released mostly along party lines, with Democrats Sarlo (D-36), Cunningham (D-31), Ruiz (D-29), Greenstein (D-14), Beach (D-6), Cruz-Perez (D-5) and Cryan (D-20) voting Yes. Republicans O’Scanlon (R-13), Thompson (R-12) and Oroho (R-24) voted No. Sen. Addiego (R-8) abstained. Sen. Andrzejczak (D-1) was the only Democrat to vote against raising the minimum wage. The bill also cleared the Assembly Appropriations Committee along a party line 7-4 vote.  

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 New Jersey State AFL-CIO is proud to congratulate our union brother, Dan O'Connell, for his victory in Saturday's special election for Burlington County Freeholder. 

A respected union leader who advocates for working families, Brother O'Connell is a former Vice President of the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, past Legislative Director of UTU/SMART Transportation Division and a sitting member of the Delran Town Council. Brother O’Connell will stand for reelection this November to complete his full term.

Federal employees from around New Jersey gathered Monday at Teamsters Local 331 in Egg Harbor to call for an end to Trump’s disastrous government shutdown. This grassroots event, hosted by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO and three local federal worker unions impacted by the shutdown, featured several distinguished speakers, including U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Congressman Van Drew (NJ-02) and New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech.

Today, we honor one of our nation’s most influential and inspiring leaders: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

A social activist and Baptist minister, Dr. King sought equality and human rights for African Americans, the economically disadvantaged, and all victims of injustice through peaceful protest. While he is best known as the driving force behind watershed events such as the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the 1963 March on Washington, which helped bring about such landmark legislation as the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, he also stood with working people fighting to make their voices heard on the job.

Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and New Jersey State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Laurel Brennan joined federal employees in Metuchen to call on President Trump and Congressional Republicans to end the disastrous government shutdown.