Steve Sweeney

TRENTON – A proposal to increase New Jersey’s hourly minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.15 over two years is expected to highlight Senate committee action on Monday, Jan. 24th, when the measure comes before the Senate Labor Committee.

“I’m confident that we have the support we need to approve this bill so we can start giving our workers a living wage,” said Senator Stephen M. Sweeney, the Senate Labor Committee Chairman and a prime sponsor of the measure, S-2065. “In a high-priced state like New Jersey, we can never forget that hourly workers still need to feed their families and pay soaring utility bills.”

TRENTON – Senator Stephen M. Sweeney, D-Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem, issued the following statement today, regarding Acting Governor Richard J. Codey’s comments on working to increase the State’s minimum wage in his 2005 State of the State address.

“During today’s address Governor Codey touched on the important subject of the State’s inadequate minimum wage. New Jersey has one of the highest costs of living in the nation, but at $5.15, our minimum wage ranks among the states with the lowest cost of living.

THOROFARE – A measure sponsored by Senator Stephen M. Sweeney that would allow emergency volunteer workers to receive paid time off when they are called to alarm during work hours has been introduced in the Senate.

“The events of the past few years have demonstrated the huge importance of emergency workers,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem. “These volunteers put their lives on the line when they go out on emergency calls, and school districts should do their part to encourage their bravery.”

TRENTON – Senator Stephen M. Sweeney, Chairman of the Senate Labor Committee, today said his panel is prepared to advance an increase in the minimum wage and will work closely on the issue with Acting Governor Richard J. Codey.

“We will be working closely with Governor Codey and his recommendations to provide New Jersey workers with a real-time living wage,” said Senator Sweeney, the Legislature’s leading proponent for increasing the State’s minimum wage, currently set at $5.15 an hour.

TRENTON – The Senate Labor Committee is scheduled to hold a public hearing beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday November 8, in Committee Room 1 of the State House Annex to discuss the need for better conditions for the State’s working poor.

Labor Committee Chairman, Senator Stephen M. Sweeney believes that this hearing is important to address and help correct the issues affecting New Jersey’s working poor.