Measure Asking for Increase in Minimum Wage of Atlantic City Airport Workers Approved by Senate State Government Committee
TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Jim Whelan and Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo that would urge the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to increase the Atlantic CityAirport’s workers minimum wage to $10.10 an hour by 2015 was approved Thursday by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism and Historic Preservation Committee.
“There was wisdom in the Port Authority Commissioner’s recognizing that hard-working residents cannot survive on less than $9 per hour, and they made efforts to ensure a more-livable wage for airport employees in the New York City metro area,” said Senator Whelan, D-Atlantic and Chairman of the Senate State Government Committee. “Unfortunately, they left Atlantic CityAirport employees out of the plan, forcing them to work for subpar wages. It’s time for AC’s airport workers to see a raise, too.”
“Atlantic City workers deserve a fair wage. Leaving them out of the wage increase is wrong and unacceptable. If the Port Authority wants to run our airport, it needs to treat our workers with the same respect it does for its other operations,” said Assemblyman Vince Mazzeo (D-Atlantic).
On April 23, 2014, the Port Authority’s Board of Commissioners adopted a policy that would provide contractors at John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International and LaGuardia airports must increase their employees pay one dollar, if their current wage is under $9 per hour. Additionally, they must increase all employees pay to $10.10 per hour in 2015. This resolution, SCR-136, would urge the Port Authority to adopt the same policy for employees at Atlantic CityInternationalAirport.
The resolution was approved by the committee with a vote of 3-2. It now heads to the full Senate for consideration.