On Thursday June 8, the General Assembly will consider Assembly bill 4870. The bill 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 bill would provide substantial fringe benefits including vacation time and paid sick leave. Including fringe benefits the total minimum wage will rise to $22.25 an hour.
This bill not only substantially raises costs on business, but circumvents collective bargaining by imposing wage and benefit mandates that are typically determined through the contract negotiation process.
The bill 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 pay $22.25 an hour while those located outside of those centers could pay a minimum wage of $8.44.
This bill 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 representative on A-4870.
Please contact Mike Wallace, Director of Employment & Labor and Federal Affairs at mwallace@njbia.org if you have any questions.
