“Governor Christie’s veto of a phased in $15 minimum wage proves just how out of touch he is with average working people in New Jersey,” stated WFUNJ Chair Charles Hall, Jr. “The vast majority of New Jersey voters understand that minimum wage increases don’t just benefit minimum wage workers. Raising wages for the lowest paid workers helps to build our economy from the bottom up; it translates to better wages across pay scales and boosts consumer demand for businesses.”

A bill to incrementally raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2021 was sent to the governor’s desk following a vote by the New Jersey State Senate. The vote was mostly along party lines and marks a major step forward in our coalition’s ongoing work to raise wages.

Over Memorial Day weekend, thousands of local residents converged in Newark’s Weequahic Park for the Annual African American Heritage Festival hosted by African American Heritage Parades Organization, Inc. (AAHPO). Both Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. and the New Jersey State AFL-CIO were recognized as two of the prime sponsoring organizations that made this premier celebration of African American culture and history possible.

New Jersey is one step closer to raising its minimum wage after the New Jersey State Assembly voted today to pass A-15/S-15. This bill would phase in a $15 minimum wage over a four year period. While the vote was along party lines, we are confident in the universal benefits of raising workers’ wages and the positive impact this will have on our state’s economy.

Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc., and its community allies 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 we are championing the bill S-15/A-15, which raises the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour over the next five years.

A $15 per hour minimum wage would help lift hundreds of thousands of women, children and families out of poverty. Raising the wage to $15 per hour would also stimulate New Jersey’s economy by giving our lowest wage workers additional spending power.

Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. Chair Charles Hall, Jr. recently sat down with Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin (D-34) for an interview on “The Giblin Report”. Charles Hall, Jr. is a champion of working family values, serving in a variety of leadership capacities as Chairman of the African American Heritage Parade Organization, Chair of Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc., and President of the RWDSU Local 108.

You can watch the interview HERE which highlights the incredible progress our coalition has made to uplift working families and build stronger communities.

The $15 minimum wage bill, which advanced from the Senate Labor Committee earlier this week, was released today from the Assembly Labor Committee by a vote of 6 to 3. Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. applauds the members of the Assembly Labor Committee who voted in favor of this important bill that calls for a gradual phase-in of the $15 minimum wage in New Jersey.

With the $15 minimum wage bill (S-15) released from the Senate Labor Committee, our next step is to secure the Assembly Labor Committee’s approval of A-15 – the companion legislation to the Senate minimum wage bill.

Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. represents our state’s many diverse communities, who understand the benefit of an increased minimum wage to working families, businesses, and the state economy.

Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. applauds the members of the Senate Labor Committee who voted to advance the $15 minimum wage bill (S-15) on Monday, May 16, 2016. The vote of 3 to 0 with one abstention took place along party lines.

We thank our coalition partners for their supportive testimony and attendance at the hearing. Special thanks goes to Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Senator Joseph Vitale, the prime sponsors of this legislation.

Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. encourages our 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.