Sweeney Statement on Minimum Wage Increase

TRENTON – The Senate Labor Committee today approved a measure sponsored by Senator Stephen M. Sweeney that would increase the State’s minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.15 over a two-year period.

“New Jersey’s reputation as one of the nation’s most progressive states is not done justice by the fact that we have the lowest minimum wage in the Northeast,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem, who also Chairs the Senate Labor panel. “New Jersey’s high cost of living warrants an increase in the minimum wage to allow the working poor to adequately provide for themselves and their families.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which will increase the State’s minimum wage over the next two years from $5.15 an hour to $7.15 an hour was signed into law today by Governor Codey.

“Today, New Jersey has affirmed its commitment to provide a real living wage for those in the lowest pay bracket,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex. “Across New Jersey right now, families are struggling to meet the high cost of life in the Garden State with a minimum wage that does not reflect those costs. Hope is on the horizon, however, and soon, workers can expect a $2 an hour State-mandated raise, to help cover the expenses associated with food, shelter, health care, car insurance and other necessities for life in New Jersey.”

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Donald Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester) and Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer) to help residents find work by creating a searchable Internet database listing all available government contracts today received final approved in the state Senate.

“Job seekers shouldn’t have to search various locations to track down which public agencies have contracting opportunities available,” said Senator Norcross. “By creating an online one-stop shop for contractors looking for work, we will ensure that contract listings are easily accessible to all prospective bidders and, in effect, increase our residents’ chances of finding a job.”

“Bulletin NJ will provide an invaluable resource to contractors, giving them instant access to bidding opportunities available at public entities across the state,” said Senator Greenstein. “At a time when so many people are unemployed, this will ensure those looking for contracting work have a wealth of information at their fingertips and, therefore, a greater probability of finding a job.”

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.

THOROFARE – Senator Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem, the Senate sponsor of the law to raise the minimum wage by $2 in New Jersey, released the following statement today following an event held by Governor Richard J. Codey at the Bergen County One-Stop Career Center to kick off the wage increase. The increase’s first installment of $1 goes into effect on Saturday.

“Saturday will trigger the start of giving dignity to New Jersey’s workers as they strive for self-sufficiency. The majority of workers earning minimum wage have families to support, and this increase will help them make ends meet more easily. I chose to sponsor this law because I feel it’s time New Jersey worked to ease the burden on its minimum wage earners – it’s just the right thing to do.”

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Donald Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester) and Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer) to help residents find work by creating a searchable Internet database listing all available government contracts has been signed into law by Governor Chris Christie.

“There are hundreds of public entities in New Jersey with the authority to contract work. But far too often, jobs are advertised in a way that makes them accessible only by those who are in the know,” said Senator Norcross. “By creating an online state database for public contract listings, we will ensure that bidding opportunities are available to all contractors, and that they are all on a level playing field in their quest to find work.”

“Bulletin NJ will serve as a one-stop-shop for contractors looking for work, giving them instant access to all bidding opportunities available at public entities across the state,” said Senator Greenstein. “At a time when so many people are still unemployed, this online tool will ensure that those seeking contracting work have the tools they need to access public contract listings, assess their qualifications and, ultimately, to find a job.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Stephen M. Sweeney that would increase the State minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.15 received approval today in the Senate.

“It’s time that the State stepped in to ease the burden on working families,”said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “A meaningful increase in the State’s minimum wage is the only real way to allow the State’s working poor to make ends meet without having to burn the candle at both ends. It is simply the right thing to do.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Stephen M. Sweeney that would increase the State’s minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.15 over two years received final legislative approval today in the Assembly.

“This measure is about helping the State’s working poor to attain self-sufficiency,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem. “These people are working long hours, and barely earning enough to provide the basic necessities for themselves and their families. An increase in the minimum wage is the only way to ease the burden on the State’s working poor.”

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 – Legislation sponsored by Senators Donald Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester) and Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer) to help residents find work by creating a searchable Internet database listing all available government contracts today received final approved in the state Assembly. It now heads to the desk of Governor Chris Christie.

“This bill would create an online database to ensure that contractors, no matter where they are based, have access to bidding opportunities that are available in all school districts, municipalities and agencies in the state,” said Senator Norcross. “This will go a long way toward improving job prospects for contractors, large and small, who are still struggling in this economy to find work.”

“Bulletin NJ will provide an invaluable resource to contractors, giving them instant access to bidding opportunities available at public entities across the state,” said Senator Greenstein. “At a time when so many people are unemployed, this will ensure that those looking for contracting work have a wealth of information at their fingertips and, therefore, a greater probability of finding a job.”

NEW BRUNSWICK – A measure sponsored by Senator Stephen M. Sweeney to increase the State’s minimum wage by $2 was signed into law today by Governor Richard J. Codey. The increase will take place over a two year period, first raising the minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.15 in October of 2005 and again to $7.15 in October of 2006. The signing took place at a public ceremony, where Senator Sweeney was present.

“The signing of this legislation marks the beginning of a new day for the State’s working poor,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland. “The majority of minimum wage earners are people over the age of twenty, working to support families on an amount that just barely allows them to provide the basic necessities.”

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators Donald Norcross (D-Camden/Gloucester) and Linda Greenstein (D-Middlesex/Mercer) to help residents find work by creating a searchable Internet database listing all available public jobs and government contracts was today approved by both houses of the Legislature.

“Job seekers shouldn’t have to search numerous locations to track down which public agencies are hiring,” said Senator Norcross. “Especially in this economy, we should be looking to make this information as easily accessible as possible. This bill will ensure that public job listings are posted in a central location, providing residents with information about openings, as well as bidding opportunities, with just the click of a mouse.”

“Bulletin NJ will provide an invaluable resource to job seekers, giving them instant access to public employment listings from up and down the state,” said Senator Greenstein. “At a time when so many people are unemployed, this will ensure that residents looking for work in the public sector have a wealth of information at their fingertips and a greater chance of finding a job.”

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Joseph F. Vitale which would increase the State’s minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.15 an hour over the next two years was approved by the Senate yesterday by a vote of 26-10.

“Working class New Jerseyans are struggling under the current minimum wage to realize the American Dream, when the sad reality is that many cannot even meet their basic human needs, working more than 40 hours a week,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex. “We cannot allow the hardworking people of our State to continue to toil away without being able to afford decent shelter, food and health care costs. We must establish a minimum wage that, at the minimum, addresses the cost of living in the Garden State.”