Sweeney Praises Port Authority for Acting To Increase Minimum Wage

TRENTON – Senate President Steve Sweeney issued the following statement today praising the  Port Authority’s Board of Commissioners for acting to expand its minimum wage policy at JFK International Airport, LaGuardia Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport to benefit thousands of airport workers:

“The current wage scale for New Jersey employees at these transportation centers undervalues the critical work they do every day to keep our airports and transit facilities safe, clean and operational. Workers at these facilities are often the first to respond to dangerous situations and help ensure the safety of passengers. These are hard-working people who are important in maintaining the operations at some of the most important transportation facilities in the region. They deserve decent wages and fair benefits.”

The Port Authority’s policy will align the wages of workers at the three airports and raise their minimum wage to $19 an hour by 2023. Following today’s action, a 60-day public comment period will begin in early April and run through early June to determine if any modifications to the draft proposal are warranted. The Board is then scheduled to take action on the proposal at its June 28, meeting.