1199SEIU statement New Jersey “Fight for $15” victory

ELIZABETH, NJ—The healthcare workers of 1199SEIU celebrate today as an historic day in New Jersey as Governor Phil Murphy signed into law hard-won legislation setting the state on a path to a $15 minimum wage.  Tens of thousands of New Jersey healthcare workers are poised to see pay increases in the coming years as a result of the legislation.

“Being a single mom supporting two kids, everything lies on your shoulders,” said Cheryl Roberts, a certified nursing assistant in Jersey City. “It’s really tough when I can’t provide for them in the ways I want to, like buying new book bags and school supplies.  Raising the minimum wage to $15 will make a big difference for families like mine.  It will let me focus more on taking better care of my health, so I can be there for my children and my patients.”

“This legislation will have a profound impact on the lives of one million New Jersey workers, their families and communities,” said Milly Silva, Executive Vice President of 1199SEIU.  “A $15 minimum wage will be a boon to our state’s economy and have an especially significant impact on women, people of color, and young workers.  The Fight for $15 and a Union movement has never been just about raising wages, but about ensuring that every worker can join together in a union for rights, dignity, and respect.  To this end, our movement continues as we fight to secure the rights of all workers to organize.”

###

1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in New Jersey and nationwide. We represent over 16,000 healthcare families in New Jersey and over 400,000 total members throughout New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida, and Washington, D.C.   Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all.