Governor Christie states he will consider it, but wants more job creation first.

During the legislative re-organization in mid-January for the 2012/2013 legislative session, Speaker Shelia Oliver made increasing the state’s minimum wage a top priority. Soon after, legislation was introduced in both houses (S-3: Sweeney/Codey) & A-2162 (Oliver/Greenwald) that would increase the current rate of $7.25 to $8.50 and provide for an annual cost of living adjustment.

The New Jersey State AFL-CIO supports this increase and commends these legislators for making it a priority.

 

“This proposal is long overdue and is modest in its recommendations,” said NJ State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech, noting that other north-east states either currently have or are considering increasing their minimum wages to higher levels than New Jersey. New Jersey also lags far behind many other states with higher minimum wages but lower costs of living. “Mayor Bloomberg and even Republican Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney have expressed support for increasing the minimum wage,” Wowkanech continued. “The self-sufficiency wage standard for a single New Jersey resident is over $13 an hour. $8.50 is a step forward to help close that gap.”

The business community immediately came out opposed to the legislation in New Jersey, stating the same disproven claims that it will result in job lost. Decades of academic studies have disproven that claim, and if fact, when low-income workers have more disposable income, their purchasing power will result in the creation of new jobs due to increased product and service demand, not sacrifice existing jobs.

 

“I’m glad to see the Governor is at least willing to take a close look at this. If he makes a fact based analysis and not a political one, all statistical evidence clearly indicates that our current minimum wage is inadequate. If this policy is passed, it will not only help New Jersey’s working poor, but the state’s economy as well,” concluded Wowkanech.