Mayoral Candidate Ashe-Nadrowski Announce $15 Minimum Wage Proposal For Bayonne Municipal Employees

Photo Credit:  hudsonreporter.com

Bayonne Council President and Mayoral Candidate Sharon Ashe-Nadrowski announced in a statement this morning that she will introduce a resolution at the February 16th Council meeting calling for an immediate minimum wage increase to $15 per hour for municipal employees.

“A $15 minimum wage for Bayonne City employees is a step in the right direction not only for our employees, but for our local economy,” said Ashe-Nadrowski. “City employees don’t just work in Bayonne, they live here, spend their money here and raise their families here. An investment in them is an investment in the success of our whole community.”

Currently in New Jersey, the statewide minimum wage stands at $13 per hour for most private and public sector employees.  Studies show that reasonable increases to minimum hourly wages increase living standards, employee morale and consumer spending, particularly at small businesses.  A 2019 New Jersey state law has these employees on a track to reach a $15 minimum wage by 2024 – a timeline that does not match the needs of Bayonne, according to Ashe-Nadrowski.

“Two years is too long for our working families, and too long for our local business community,” said Ashe-Nadrowski. “While my calls for this move were met with resistance by the City Administration in the past, I hope we can come together, assist those in need and set an example for what can be done by public employers across the state without a direct cost to taxpayers.”

Joining in support of Ashe-Nadrowski’s proposal is current Second Ward Councilman Sal Gullace, who will not be seeking re-election in the upcoming May election.  “Our City employees work hard and their morale is important,” Gullance stated. “They’re part of our team as a City and it’s time that they earn a living wage.”

The February 16th Council meeting begins at 7 pm.