On Thursday, June 22, the General Assembly and Senate will consider identical bills that would increase the minimum wage to $17.98 per hour for contracted transportation service workers at Newark Airport, Hoboken Terminal and Newark Penn Station.
In addition, the legislation would provide substantial fringe benefits including vacation time and paid sick leave. Including fringe benefits the total minimum wage will effectively rise to $22.25 an hour.
These bills, A-4870 and S-3226, would not only substantially raise costs on business, but circumvent collective bargaining by imposing wage and benefit mandates that are typically determined through the contract negotiation process.
The bills would also create an unfair compensation system where employers located in these transportation centers would be required to pay far greater wages and benefits than the same employer or a competitor at a different location within the same city. A business at one of the transportation centers included in the bill would effectively pay $22.25 an hour while those located outside of those centers could pay a minimum wage of $8.44.
These bills will make New Jersey less competitive with our neighboring states and damage the state’s economic climate. Please click here to send a letter to your legislative representatives urging them to vote “no” on A-4870 and S-3226.
Contact Mike Wallace, NJBIA Director of Employment, Labor and Federal Affairs at mwallace@njbia.org if you have any questions.
