U.S. Congressman and labor elected official Donald Norcross from IBEW 351, joined with several lawmakers on Capitol Hill yesterday to introduce a bill that would raise the federal wage from the current level of $7.25 to $15.00 an hour by 2024 and index the minimum wage to the median wage starting in 2025.

“Governor Christie’s veto of a phased in $15 minimum wage is sadly not surprising given his endorsement of Donald Trump, who has said that ‘wages are too high’,” stated New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech. “This is yet another example of the Governor putting politics before the best interests of our state.”

The New Jersey Senate approved legislation to phase in a $15 minimum wage on Thursday, sending this progressive pro-worker legislation advocated by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO to the governor’s desk.

The 21-18 vote was mostly along party lines, with all Republicans voting no and all Democrats but three voting yes. CLICK HERE to see the full roll call vote.

With the strong backing of labor, the New Jersey Assembly voted Thursday to increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour within five years.

New Jersey State AFL-CIO along with its affiliates and community partners have led the fight to raise the minimum wage on behalf of workers struggling to make ends meet while working a full-time job. A $15 minimum wage will help uplift all workers in this high-cost state and will stimulate the economy by giving those at the bottom of the economic ladder more money to spend on groceries and clothing.

We thank the legislators who sponsored the bill in the Assembly – Speaker Vincent Prieto and Assemblymen John Wisniewski and Gary Schaer – and the members of the Assembly who supported working families by voting for the bill.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO and the community advocacy organization Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc., are at the forefront of a new campaign to ensure that every worker in our state has the opportunity to earn a survivable wage.

That’s why the state federation and our allies in the community are championing the bill S-15/A-15, which raises the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour over the next five years.

The Assembly Labor Committee advanced three bills on Thursday that would help strengthen New Jersey’s working families.

The bill, A-15, gradually raises New Jersey’s minimum wage to $15 per hour, giving low-wage workers a much needed raise in this high-cost state. A $15 phased-in minimum wage would give workers a fighting chance to make ends meet, and help ensure that all work is dignified.

The party line vote to advance the bills was 6-3. Democrats Joseph Egan (D-17), Shavonda Sumter (D-35), Craig Coughlin (D-19), Annette Quijano (D-20), Arthur Barclay (D-5) and Angela McKnight (D-31) voted yes. Republicans Ronald Dancer (D-12), Parker Space (D-24) and Jay Webber (D-26) voted no.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO and its coalition partner, Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc., are again leading the charge for a higher minimum wage to benefit the state's lowest earners. Watch as NJ AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Laurel Brennan and WFUNJ Chair Charles Hall Jr. explain why it's time for NJ to enact a $15 minimum wage:

The next two legislative session days are important to working families, as bills on the minimum wage, prevailing wages and pension funding are scheduled to be considered. Please join us in Trenton to show your support for these significant pieces of legislation that will benefit our union brothers and sisters and working people throughout the state.

This Thursday, May 19, at 10:00 a.m. in the Statehouse Annex, Committee Room 15, the Assembly Labor Committee will consider a bill (A-15) to gradually raise New Jersey’s minimum wage to $15 per hour, giving low-wage workers a much needed raise in this high-cost state.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO applauds the members of the Senate Labor Committee who today voted to advance the $15 minimum wage bill (S-15) by a vote of 3 to 0 with one abstention as well as a bill extending unemployment benefits to striking workers (S-2160) by a vote of 3 to 1. Both votes were along party lines.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO encourages all affiliates and community partners to join and testify in support of the $15 minimum wage bill (S-15) on Monday, May 16, 2016 in the Senate Labor Committee. Whether you testify or not, your presence at this hearing will help to demonstrate the strong support and critical need for raising the minimum wage in our state.