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Jewish Labor Committee Endorses New Jersey’s “Raise The Wage” Campaign

Urges Passage of Question to be on Ballots across Garden State on November 5th

August 12, 2013 – The Jewish Labor Committee announced today that it has endorsed the campaign to ensure passage of the ballot measure on November 5th to raise New Jersey’s minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $8.25 an hour and provide an annual cost-of-living adjustment. Spearheading the campaign is Working Families United for New Jersey.

“Raising the minimum wage in New Jersey is the just thing to do” said Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Jewish Labor Committee. “On August 10th across the state, Jews read a key passage from the Torah, namely, `Justice Justice shall you pursue.’ If we are to provide a measure of justice where it counts to the least-well paid among us, we have to all do our part to ensure passage of this important ballot measure on November 5th.”

“We are proud to have the support of the Jewish Labor Committee,” said Charles N. Hall, Jr., Chairman, Working Families United for New Jersey, Inc. “They are an important member of our coalition and they will play a vital role to ensure passage of the minimum wage ballot measure.”

The last time the New Jersey Legislature authorized a raise in the minimum wage was 2005, and it was phased in over two years. The minimum wage went from $5.15 to $6.15 and then from $6.15 to $7.15. It increased in 2010 from $7.15 to $7.25 to comply with the increase in the federal minimum wage. Despite having a cost of living 30 percent higher than the national average, New Jersey’s minimum wage is among the lowest in the country.

After the Governor vetoed legislation that would increase the minimum wage and provide for an annual cost of living adjustment, the legislature authorized the measure to be placed on the November ballot for voters to decide. Ten states have their minimum wage tied to an annual cost-of-living increase, without a negative impact on their economy or having to wait for their state legislature and governor to finally approve another increase after hard working Americans have not been able to make ends meet for too long.

“We’re reaching out to the Jewish community, the labor movement, and the community-at-large to support this much needed measure,” noted JLC President Appelbaum. “It’s in the interest of the vast majority of those who live and work in New Jersey to see that it is passed on November 5, 2013.”