City Of Hoboken Adopts Standard Wage Ordinance

Hoboken NJ

26 March, 2021

4:44 PM

Description

Press release from 32BJ SEIU: March 26, 2021 Hoboken Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla this week signed an ordinance into law establishing living wages with benefits for all building service workers, such as janitors, concierges, security, and more at all developments receiving City subsidies. The ordinance also requires the use of competitive contracting for subcontracted building services mandating minimum hourly rates of pay and benefits, and protects workers against displacement. The ordinance signed by Mayor Bhalla passed unanimously through the City Council last week, and goes into effect immediately. "We commend the City of Hoboken for taking the important and approving this ordinance. Adopting a standard wage for building service workers in city-supported development or business will guarantee a direct benefit to workers," said Kevin Brown, Director and Vice-president of 32BJ- New Jersey. "This will serve to not only bolster a healthy and thriving real estate market, but will have long lasting positive effects on the lives of all janitors, security, porters, concierges, and handypersons working in commercial and residential sites in Hoboken. We urge other cities to follow suit." Workers in Hoboken have gone through many hardships when dealing with unscrupulous companies and contractors. Jessica Wrisby, who worked as a Lead Concierge at a residential building in Hoboken says, "It is inconceivable to think that any large business that receives any type of funding or city subsidy would not offer standard wages, health benefits or paid time off to their employees." The ordinance, as approved by council members and signed by Mayor Bhalla, will require employers that are benefiting from City resources and / or tax abatements to generate employment that pays standard living wages, provides reasonable health benefits and affords sensible paid time off policies. The workers could then aspire to be self-sufficient and not rely so much on social services for supplemental support. "Our hardworking middle-class workers deserve to earn living wages to be able to support their families and put food on the table," said Mayor Bhalla. "That's a basic human right and to earn anything less than that will not be acceptable here in Hoboken. I'm proud to stand with the hardworking men and women with 32BJ to enact this important standard wage ordinance, and I'm hopeful other cities will soon follow suit." With more than 175,000 members in 11 states and 13,000 members in New Jersey, 32BJ SEIU is the largest property service workers union in the country. This press release was produced by 32BJ SEIU. The views expressed here are the author's own.